As you will all have to do at some point, I had to make some pretty serious decisions about the IVA. I knew I was building this car to be able to pass the IVA but there are different approaches to achieve this. I decided to try and embrace the standard and to build the requirements in to my car with a view to keeping them post IVA, not changing them after.
There are a few key visual impacts of this decision;
1) reverse and fog lights
2) fuel filler
3) side repeaters
I spent days, weeks, months of my time looking at images online, reading the IVA standard and making decisions about how I wanted to tackle this. During my research I came across the Porsche 550 lights and immediately loved them - as I am keen to create something different I decided to use these lights as my reverse and fog lights for a permanent solution - not just to pass the test.
The fuel filler has always been a big decision. I had looked at the 'hack' that can allow for a though-the-bonnet design but decided this was not the right solutions for me and my car. Partly this was down to cost, partly down to aesthetics. I looked at aftermarket options but felt the look was too jarring (the metal against paint). eventually I decided to go for a custom in-wing fuel filler flap, again with a view to retain this after the IVA.
The side repeaters are, for me, the most annoying part. I have bought a pair of IVA compliant side repeaters but they were not installed at the point I took the below photos. Even now I am expecting to remove these after the IVA... but we will see.
As mentioned previously my original wheel choice simply wasn't right for the car. I had suggested to Gary at SpeedsterClinic that I would replace them with 17" versions but he very strongly advised me not to go above 16" wheels. As there are very few wheels I can find in the 5X205 fitment at 16" that I actually like I really had I dilemma. I made some enquiries in to a set of custom wheels which would be interesting to me but they are rather expensive. I turned my attention to a more original steel wheel design and eventually found these wheels in the US in a 16" X 5.5". With a nice chunky tyre I am happy for now but I fear this contentment will not last!!!
My other design choices include front indicators without horn grills for a cleaner look, vents on both rear wings for added airflow in to the engine bay but really more for the look than the functionality and finally the 50's style racing wing mirrors. I will cover off interior thoughts and decisions in a separate update.
Here is a more up-to-date view of the car with the new wheels and lights in place. I am keen to hear any opinions on my choices, including the rather controversial fog/reverse lights!!!
...Will enjoy watching this develop