27th May 2004 - Fittipaldi FD01 rides again
Car is almost fully rebuilt, and is at Sid Mosca for painting while
engine is being finished should run within 15 to 20
days regards RD
Back in Brasil, one of the original technical sponsors Dana Corp
(they of the Hardy-Spicer joints and steering boxes) is refurbishing
it as part of its 100 anniversary celebrations... this bodywork
(original) is the aluminum one done to take molds off, then used on
a show car... the other one is as stored after Ingo Hoffmans race at
interlagos with side rads.... shots of extremely rare Hewland TL
gearbox... we and Shadow got suckered into buying them from hewland,
it was to be the next thing... unfortunately was clunky , heavy and
gear cluster so heavy we were initially bending gear linkages due to
inertia/mass of system... rapidly abandoned on next car for a
FGB... RD
ps below the original state of car...
hey, look chimneys not so modern after all..... Hewland TL.
far car original bodywork.. mid one side rad version
closest one f3 dallara and those are not MY brake scoops...
atrocious looking
don't those tyres look gorgeous? I cant stand the modern F1 narrow
tyres...
1st June 2004 - More Copersucars
... these the original F6 and the F5a backup that eventually raced
at Long Beach.
[DLG] Interesting front suspension mounts on the first photo.
..mmm, this was the discord between me and Bellamy... suspension
mount was a casting bolted to honeycomb panel... not exactly
rigid... plus notice wishbones (actually rocker... ) this was acticg
as a leaf spring, so car bounced on rocker, not spring... eventually
we cantilevered wishbone to stiffen it up... original layout was
insensitive to 500 lb/in spring changes.... note strut already
applied to casting ... regards RD
23rd June 2004 - More on the restoration
8th October 2004 - Rebuild Finished
17th November 2004
Bunch of photos from Brazil, saw rebuilt car at the S Paulo Motor
Show, fully rebuilt and mint. Jo Ramirez still had hair!
7th December 20040 - The Old Mob with FD01