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 Posted 8/5/2008 11:03:47 AM |
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Junior Member
 
Last Login: 8/10/2008 7:35:13 AM
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| Hi - I'm finally, after many false stop-starts, about to "put together" an '89 model Batmobile. In a way, I'm going to cheat - buying the fibreglass body and parts. Still, the project requires a lot of work - fitting the body on a chassis, etc. I'm thinking of using a Jaguar XJS 5.3 V12 2dr Auto Convertible as the 'foundation' of the car. It's big and powerful, and will sound great. Most importantly, I'm thinking of two things: (1) being located in England, I don't have easy access to buying a '94 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. If I did, it would be an American car - and would have to comply with UK motor regulations (and the biggest problem here is emissions). So, working with a car made for the UK is somewhat easier. (2) Again having to think of UK road laws, if I want the door/cock-pit to open as it should, I'm going to need a convertible. The Jag XJS soft-top works fine on both counts. BUT ... will the body shell fit onto a Jaguar XJS? I realise the body is a fixed thing (one size must fit all), but will it fit the chassis of a Jag XJS? Can the Jag chassis be 'adapted'? Does anyone know how I might find these things out? Does anyone have any useful suggestions? As I work through the process of construction, I'll post updates. Anyone want to share info? Thanks.
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| Posted 8/5/2008 11:12:49 AM |
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Getting Better at Internets
Last Login: 11/13/2022 6:06:37 AM
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| As i have read thru most builders progress, i have seen that any chassis will have to be adapted to the '89 length, even the elongated Caprice still comes up a tad short. I have also read that most people dont recomment using a "unibody" car with a subframe. I would assume with such a long chassis, the unibody frame would just fold in on itself. I, myself plan on using my 87 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon, the frame measures only 2 feet short of the original '89, and since im building my '89 body from scratch, i think i've decided to just adjust the body to fit the frame, that way i eliminate some hassle, and since the body is now "smaller" it will cost less in materials to build i hope. AND that way i can put as many dips in it as i want, lol. 
“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me”
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| Posted 8/10/2008 5:48:24 AM |
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"Andy Smith is my Hero".
Last Login: 3/29/2024 12:55:58 AM
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| UK cars are unibody (ie:one piece chassis and body). Do not cut up these cars, without a lot of knowledge about car body constuction. I did think about using a hearse at one time. Problem in the UK is not emissions, more a case of complying with the extended SVA restrictions. Look at the issues with windscreen material/wipers/fog and headlights placement, etc. An 89 replica would never pass to go on UK roads. The side-mechanics and turbine nose would rule that out. Check out the SVA scheme for more details (PM me if ya need a copy) Good piece of advice.........contact DVLA and ask them all the questions before ya start. BTW: I would love to see a Jay built kit in the UK, let me know when and where 
 
"There is no end but the end is near!"
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| Posted 8/10/2008 10:57:20 AM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/26/2023 1:14:45 PM
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| Hey Simon99, this is BWD a fellow builder on this site.....I can emphatise with you about the restrictive smog and safety laws in England because I live in Lala land or California as it is most commonly known.....We use specially blended gasoline,have US car manufactures build special Caliornia for cars to comply with our crazy smog laws and I feel one of the most aggressive police forces in the country, the CHPs or California Highway Patrol. These guys are probably one of the toughest highway policing agencies in the country. If your car is not right they don't let you drive home and get it right, they have your car towed to an impound lot and let you prove it to them how it is street worthy. That being said our motto among car builders is "if there is a will there is a way". I definitely agree with my pal Shaggy about options to get your 89 body to conform to a variety of chassis. And Mr A's advice is great as well as being specific for your situation in England.....Knowledge "about the laws" is power...I've always promoted the idea of building the car on paper before you commit resources to something that won't work. Infact its valuable to think of your car as already built, now how am I going to get it registered. Start going to the different agencies as if it is built and ask them what do I do next. What codes and restrictions do I have do meet next. Next..... I can give you three options that I have seen done that might work for your situation. First adapt a car that is already fuctionng registered vehicle. Mark Towle used an 85 Chevy Corvette with a unibody frame. He adapted a steel structure to lengthen the vehicle, removed the body panels and added another steering cradle. The 89 body was then mounted directly to the extended chassis with the original cockpit lining up with the 89 cockpit.....BWD
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| Posted 8/10/2008 11:01:36 AM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/26/2023 1:14:45 PM
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| Here is a picture of MT build for you. It is actually a great idea and there are many geat details that are not easily seen.... 
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| Posted 8/10/2008 11:14:10 AM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/26/2023 1:14:45 PM
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Visits: 4,909
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| A second option is to lenghten a steel chassis. Again probably an American car like the Caprice Shaggy suggested. I had initially started with a 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood which was already 133" long and lengthen it by 11" to get the correct 144". But I was mostly interested in the width of the car a the time. I was going to fabricate a hood and rear fins and had mounted a 98 Camaro body shell. This was before I realized 89 bodies were available.....Here is the car before I lengthened it....BWD 
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| Posted 8/10/2008 11:24:27 AM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/26/2023 1:14:45 PM
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| And Thirdly a custom chassis with a prefabricated body....Believe me no one will think you are cheating going this route. Its actually the hardest. My buddy Jack is in the last days of finishing his beautiful 89 Batmobile on a custom chassis. Here is a picture of my chassis fabricated to accomodate an 89 body.....Actually it belongs to another buddy here Justin..... 
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| Posted 8/10/2008 11:36:14 AM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/26/2023 1:14:45 PM
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| So there are a couple options I hope that helps and there are other options like the Opel Batmobile and the Corvette Bat that incorporates the least amount of modifications. The options are only limited by your imagination and money..And many times the money can be substituted by your labor [or labour as you Englshmen like it]. I've been to England many times and nothing would make your countryside look more wonderful that a powerful, stealth black 89 Batmobile cruising through the hills and villages of England.......Good luck and keep the dream alive......BWD
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| Posted 9/6/2008 11:44:28 PM |
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Junior Member
Last Login: 3/4/2013 10:48:13 AM
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bwd any idea on the size of the square stock used on the frame? is there any reason you didn't go with a tube chassis, just wondering? thanks.
you ever dance with the devil under the pail moon light?
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| Posted 11/18/2008 2:16:46 PM |
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Forum Newbie
Last Login: 9/7/2010 8:05:03 PM
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| i have wondered about this kinda thing for a while. it would probably be really hard to find, may need to spend several months on autotrader, but you could try and find a right hand drive car. i dont know how many there would be, if any but it may be worth a look. yeah the uk laws are a ba***rd but it would still look uber cool in your drive or garage. i dont know how feesable it would be to make a street legal version, or how much you would have to change the design. i hope to be able to do this (in the distant futute, once i can actually afford to) so good luck to you if you can.
Lets take the car -BatmanGreat, which one...? - Nightwing
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