Reflection is Perfection.

 Just another little update for your Cobra lovers of the world, this time I'm doing the rear reflectors, which are a legal requirement for IVA test and future MOT tests.

Initially i didn't want permanent reflectors on the car, I was just going to get some little sick on ones that would have been IVA compliant for the test, and I'm sure they would have fallen off at some point on the return journey home, but re-attached them self's for the MOT years down the line.

My reasoning for this was because i didn't want the back end of the car to look to cluttered/busy or have to much going on.... Less is more for me.

 However with my recent addition with the stand offs for the fog and reverse light i was on the prowl for some similar style reflectors. I cant really remember where i initially got the idea for these ones, i think it was my brother in laws new motor when i saw that. They are the rear reflectors off a Mitsubishi L200 and similar to the fog/reverse stand offs they are contoured to the rear of the bumper and thus fit the rear of the Cobra very well also.

I managed to get a pair brand new through eBay for less than £10 so like most bits lately, not exactly massive expense for a part that looks correct and less of an afterthought. They are fitted with a single bolt through the centre of the unit, which you just clamp into position with a nut. You can see on the picture the little hole in the rubber which is where they had a little locating lug for each one (offside and nearside) this i just simply cut back as i don't want to cut more holes in the body than i needed to, I presume the bumper of the L200 has a recess for these to slip into.

  Next up was to measure a thousand times and drill a mounting hole. I mocked them up first with blue tack to get a good position and play around with the location of them. The IVA does have specific rules regarding the position of these reflectors. Basically in a nutshell they can be fitted anywhere on the rear of the car so long as they are red in colour, mounted lower than 900mm above ground level and above 250mm ground level along with within 400mm from the edge of the car. I tick all of these boxes with my final position so these should not fall foul of any IVA testers checks. But there is also no limit to how many reflectors are fitted so if for any reason that these cause issues i can just use some stick on ones for the test not that i should need to.

 You can see now with this picture of the back end about what i mean about it getting cluttered and busy, lots going on and looks a little uneven with the red of the fog and the clear of the reverse. This will be solved by the use of an red LED bulb for the fog light, but with a clear lens on so it should balance it out a little.

  With this close up shot you can see how they mimic the fitting of the fog/reverse, so keeping the theme at the back and looking like a professional fitting unit.

This will all get tied together nicely with the final body colour and the stripes... when i finally get that sorted.

I'll end this update like I've ended my last few.... Still saving for bigger bits, feel free to send donations.

You wait months for an update..... then two come along at once,

Another little update for those that are following my progress. After travelling down to Silverstone for the classic event back in July i had seen again up close the mounts that GD make for the rear fog and reverse light. It got me thinking more about mine and how piss poor they were basically. Mine looked more like an afterthought currently with them just stuck on the rear valance with no visible mounts or support.

So back towards the end of August i sent GD an email requesting an order for a set, i was pleasantly surprised when after a week or so i had a reply (they were on holiday so office was closed)  For those not to knowledgeable about the kit car market, some manufacturers are strict on what they sell to who. I wont go into name calling but its the same logic as some BMW's, as in you have to supply a chassis/reg number to order parts and only then will the manufacturer sell you the parts, once they are happy your not trying to pull a fast one or fit parts to a non branded car. Either way I'm glad to say GD are not like this whatsoever, a sale is a sale and no sooner had i received the invoice, i made payment and they were dispatched within a day. So thumbs up for GD from me, the quality of the stand off mounts is superb and they fit like a glove... happy happy me.

I don't think i need to go into to much detail on how they fit, its fairly straightforward. Just remove the lens and two long bolts through the lamp unit, through the stand offs and through the rear valance, held in place with two washers and nuts. Re-fit the lens and job done. Lucky for me the mounting holes i had previously cut in the rear valance were perfect location for the replacement stand offs..... so it must have been fate!!

The car is really starting to come together now, and its desperately needing some cash thrown at it to get it all finished. Hopefully the plan is to get wheels and tyres just before Christmas (£2000-£2500) then paint just after Christmas (£3000-£4000) the interior trimmed and fitted around Feb/March (£1000 - £1500) and then the IVA test soon after that...... fingers crossed for next summer (back end of summer) on the road and legal.... but please don't hold me to this ;-)