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I first became interested in Marlins when at school and saw my then science teacher pull into the staff car park in a red Hunter (I think it was anyway, long time ago now). Then when I discovered the Sportster with its updated look and the possibility of using a BMW donor, the school boy in me was straight on the phone to Terry to place the order, having first convinced my Dad to be my partner of the build, as he was an engineer before retiring recently.
Two and a half years later on 22nd July, a date that will be forever etched on my memory, our Sportster passed its IVA at Vosa Bristol! Couple of close calls, but overall the guy was very fair. He never even picked up the spheres of doom, check about 3 points for radius, had a brief look at seat mountings etc, but again didn't get too bogged down with the prescribed tolerances/requirements. Had to bend over the ball joint washers on the front whilst there and re-align the headlights a bit, and disconnect and disable/remove (and then plug the holes with grommets) the 2 extra side repeaters that were 2 too many, one is all that is allowed apparently.
Then major brake testing, which looked pretty brutal, but passed with loads of extra in reserve, self centred ok, he was (dare I say it) very impressed with the quality of the kit, and the build we had put together.
Had the sound level checked, with revs at 5,500. Db Limit apparently is 99db, clocked in at 98.9, he even checked it twice, and read 98.8 second time! I kid you not!
Two and a half years of blood, sweat and tears by myself and my Dad have produced a rather frisky 1994 M3 3.0 L powered Sportster. It took longer than expected, took many more hours per week than I thought I had free, cost more, and threw up so many problems that needed working around, that I really never thought the day would come!!
So now just have the DVLA paperwork to sort out, and the M3 based Sportster is good to roar through the Cotswolds!
Two and a half years later on 22nd July, a date that will be forever etched on my memory, our Sportster passed its IVA at Vosa Bristol! Couple of close calls, but overall the guy was very fair. He never even picked up the spheres of doom, check about 3 points for radius, had a brief look at seat mountings etc, but again didn't get too bogged down with the prescribed tolerances/requirements. Had to bend over the ball joint washers on the front whilst there and re-align the headlights a bit, and disconnect and disable/remove (and then plug the holes with grommets) the 2 extra side repeaters that were 2 too many, one is all that is allowed apparently.
Then major brake testing, which looked pretty brutal, but passed with loads of extra in reserve, self centred ok, he was (dare I say it) very impressed with the quality of the kit, and the build we had put together.
Had the sound level checked, with revs at 5,500. Db Limit apparently is 99db, clocked in at 98.9, he even checked it twice, and read 98.8 second time! I kid you not!
Two and a half years of blood, sweat and tears by myself and my Dad have produced a rather frisky 1994 M3 3.0 L powered Sportster. It took longer than expected, took many more hours per week than I thought I had free, cost more, and threw up so many problems that needed working around, that I really never thought the day would come!!
So now just have the DVLA paperwork to sort out, and the M3 based Sportster is good to roar through the Cotswolds!
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