I've made this, my Gardner Douglas (GD) Cobra build website, to illustrate my progress during my sessions in the garage; and I’m pleased to say the build was a pleasantly challenging and rewarding experience. The WoW factor coming after the research, the sourcing, the measuring, the remeasuring, the drilling and cutting, and doing things that were not within my comfort zone.
The build also caused me [by choice] to revive my dormant woodwork, metalwork and tech-drawing skills, and I also had to get to grips with the vagaries of GRP manipulation and compounding and finishing, and this is where a cursory knowledge of meteorology was useful too.
The straightforward intricacies of the Dremel were something I hadn't realised would be such a useful skill to get to grips with either; and last but not least, the varied and decidedly nebulous world of electrical jiggery-pokery was something that [to me] was a very important topic of understanding. I do like to know and understand what's going on, and the 'why' is important to me.
And within those themes, I am very pleased that my build went as planned and I [the car] got through the IVA the first time.
Loads of research were enough to focus me to get the build right and done properly, and contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a whiz-bang mechanic to get the job done... Getting oily is a personal option — or not as the case might be.
Website Structure:
- The Pre-Build link takes you to the pages containing my shenanigans up to the point of me taking delivery
- The build articles link takes you to the interesting stuff i.e. what's going on in the garage
- There are additional build photos for all articles in the Photo Album menu on the right-hand side of this page
- I've also set up a 'Facebook' page where we can collaborate. Please send me a request to join to view & post
- I've put together a YouTube page for my build videos
And Last but not least... The "Videos & Cobra Information' link (main menu) has videos, information, and illustrations of why and what we get up to.
But... If you want a quick look at everything before you dive in, get yourself a coffee and take a look at this:
My Build in 15 Minutes... (Click on the photo)
As a final thought, and as a consequence of a car club event where we displayed outside the RNLI at Bridlington and raised £1200, I've decided to sponsor my local children's hospice... Martin house.
So, if you would like to contribute you can donate directly via the below link