rickjames8
Member
Ok, so I started a thread before, but it was more of an intro than an actual built thread, so I'm going to start over if that's ok with everyone.
So as of 2022 I'm living in France. France is very strict on kit cars - they're generally frowned upon and hard to register. I just sort of accepted that I'd never own a kit car until I met my friend Alex. He buys kits from the UK (mostly Lotus7 clones) and resells them here. He said that as long as you can prove that the car you're trying to import was once sold in France, and the title reflects that's its a kit (and not just registered as a the donor) there is a *chance* that you might be able to register it. But maybe not. The organization that decides if you can register it is the FFVE. You need to send them photos of the car and any documentation, and they'll either issue you the FFVE paperwork or deny the application. They have you put a current newspaper in the photos (it looks like ransom photos) to prove they're current.
Luckily, the Sterling was sold in France under the name Defi:
So right now, my next step is trying to apply for the FFVE certificate. That was something I was going to take my time with, but Alex said that he and other people who work with importing cars have noticed that the FFVE is getting more fussy with what they're approving. There has been no official change in what they accept, but he said, 'the sooner you apply, the better'. So I'm trying to get the car looking good enough to photograph and make the application. If it's denied, then this becomes the shortest build thread ever. In fact, one of the reasons I started with a cheap car, is because I knew there was a possibility that the application will fail, and I'll be forced to ship the car back to the UK to sell it, or abandon it for parts.
Here is what the car looked like when I got it.
It looks like the car was originally orange/red. I'm not sure if the hood or the top are original to the body, as neither line up very well. Obviously the rear hatch-thingy isn't original. In fact, it's just a sheet of fiberglass-ish material with that gasser scoop slapped on it.
My main goal was to get it all one color, so I used a roller and white enamel furniture paint. I bought some lights off a Bollore Bluecar (60€ for the set) as I figured it'd be easier to get approved with lights that we're approved for use in France already (as a bonus, they're the type of lights I want to use when I build the car. I'd found a photoshopped rear-end that I really like, and it uses round lights. I also bought a rear hatch off an mk2 MR2 which fits in the engine well of the Sterling perfectly. I was able to buy the side pieces from the MR2 seller so when I install it properly, I'll have the bits I need to do so. For now, it's just resting in place. My wife is a professional photographer and said she can photoshop it for the FFVE photos.
This is the back end I'd like to try to recreate:
I think the BlueCar lights will work well if/when I try to make this back end.
I bought some tires off our local marketplace and will replace the drag radials on the rear. The current ones are 265 width tires on 6-inch rims! I'm going to change those out on Monday. I've also bought some seats that sort of fit. They're not what I want to install permanently so if I need to hack them up to get them in there that's fine. Again, the goal is to get the FFVE cert as cheaply as possible. I also have some budget industrial carpet I'll throw in there. So next update will be pics of the inside. I also need to install my exterior mirrors, and buy some plexiglass to make makeshift headlight covers.
So as of 2022 I'm living in France. France is very strict on kit cars - they're generally frowned upon and hard to register. I just sort of accepted that I'd never own a kit car until I met my friend Alex. He buys kits from the UK (mostly Lotus7 clones) and resells them here. He said that as long as you can prove that the car you're trying to import was once sold in France, and the title reflects that's its a kit (and not just registered as a the donor) there is a *chance* that you might be able to register it. But maybe not. The organization that decides if you can register it is the FFVE. You need to send them photos of the car and any documentation, and they'll either issue you the FFVE paperwork or deny the application. They have you put a current newspaper in the photos (it looks like ransom photos) to prove they're current.
Luckily, the Sterling was sold in France under the name Defi:
So right now, my next step is trying to apply for the FFVE certificate. That was something I was going to take my time with, but Alex said that he and other people who work with importing cars have noticed that the FFVE is getting more fussy with what they're approving. There has been no official change in what they accept, but he said, 'the sooner you apply, the better'. So I'm trying to get the car looking good enough to photograph and make the application. If it's denied, then this becomes the shortest build thread ever. In fact, one of the reasons I started with a cheap car, is because I knew there was a possibility that the application will fail, and I'll be forced to ship the car back to the UK to sell it, or abandon it for parts.
Here is what the car looked like when I got it.
It looks like the car was originally orange/red. I'm not sure if the hood or the top are original to the body, as neither line up very well. Obviously the rear hatch-thingy isn't original. In fact, it's just a sheet of fiberglass-ish material with that gasser scoop slapped on it.
My main goal was to get it all one color, so I used a roller and white enamel furniture paint. I bought some lights off a Bollore Bluecar (60€ for the set) as I figured it'd be easier to get approved with lights that we're approved for use in France already (as a bonus, they're the type of lights I want to use when I build the car. I'd found a photoshopped rear-end that I really like, and it uses round lights. I also bought a rear hatch off an mk2 MR2 which fits in the engine well of the Sterling perfectly. I was able to buy the side pieces from the MR2 seller so when I install it properly, I'll have the bits I need to do so. For now, it's just resting in place. My wife is a professional photographer and said she can photoshop it for the FFVE photos.
This is the back end I'd like to try to recreate:
I think the BlueCar lights will work well if/when I try to make this back end.
I bought some tires off our local marketplace and will replace the drag radials on the rear. The current ones are 265 width tires on 6-inch rims! I'm going to change those out on Monday. I've also bought some seats that sort of fit. They're not what I want to install permanently so if I need to hack them up to get them in there that's fine. Again, the goal is to get the FFVE cert as cheaply as possible. I also have some budget industrial carpet I'll throw in there. So next update will be pics of the inside. I also need to install my exterior mirrors, and buy some plexiglass to make makeshift headlight covers.
