stamrik

Its starting to look the ABSOLUTE biznizz now my friend! r.

Hi Dr Zee: your posts are now daily 'required reading'! I'm sure you're correct that the rep GP crown is SS, but have to say they've done a good job of making it look plastic! I had a brief try-out of a silver 3200GT yesterday... Not my colour choice; a little older than my target car, and a gap in the service history that I'd have used to negotiate with, if I'd been more serious. The sales guy sat next to me [so I was careful]. I've driven some interesting cars, and like to think I can 'feel' tyres on the road, but --in dry conditions and with no other vehicles to manage, I still lost the Maserati's tail --twice, with very little provocation: I think I was in third gear for one of them! I have to say that the car felt unresponsive at precisely the most worrying moment of those few seconds, and I wondered if we were going to spin no matter what I did. It seemed ages before I got the tail back and calmed things down, although as usual, time 'stood still' whilst I wondered about the guy's insurance and dodgy Italian airbags! The salesman's only comment was "these tyres are a bit expensive --we could have done with a bit of rain to stop us leaving too much rubber on the road"! I'm not sure why, but I came away with the impression that the car seemed to be 'sitting too high' somehow, although today was my first experience driving one. I guess more depends on how well a particular model has been looked-after than would be the case with ordinary mainstream There are some real horror stories about cambelt jobs costing the same as the car itself! English nostalgia has obviously taken you over --and why not, if it leads you to Aston Martin. Tell me what you think of the 80's AM Lagonda V8 [William Towns design] --obviously not as a daily-driver. Its invariably an interesting question to ask... Greetings, r. PS. my cashflow is all over the place [which hasn't really happened before, so I'm having to grow-up fast]. I'm hoping one can spread out both the cash and the work needed to achieve your quite phenomenal GP updates, taking one's time. I'll almost certainly start PM-ing you about this before too long. Do you fancy revealing the cost of your most expensive component? [ I may be wrong, but surely its likely to be the raw forged carbon case? Who knows: you might have an ultra-classy movement lined-up... or, God forbid, a gen one!]. Greetings --I do hope the screws turn-up soon. You're a patient guy, and don't deserve the frustration! r. [ stamrik@me.com ]

Forgive me if I answer you twice --I just had some kind of hidden window prob in this topic... "A modest modder"?! Jeez! Wot does that make me?! You're already seriously close, and getting closer with each shot. Yep, I spent some time on strap alignment [ and ended-up adding-in a touch of scarlet acrylic --although arguing that having the strap screwholes appearing neater than the gen defeats the object! ]. Your offer of assistance is particularly kind: I can't help thinking that you should really be patenting your work! I may very well get back to you, not least because, when your success becomes better known, every single 'non-carbon forged carbon' owner out there is going to feel pretty dumb. And to think I figured I'd calm down about the GP when my blue Montoya arrived last week. Nope! The Montoya seems a very classy rep, but it hasn't made me grow up about the GP! Incidentally, I know its multiple-facetted, but what's the gen GP crown made of? I think the rep's ?plastic crown drops the overall standard a bit. Did you go ahead and buy that Maserati Gransport? I'm afraid the 'recession' has my exotic motoring plans on hold --at the moment I could probably only manage a secondhand 3200GT... A precarious choice. In awe of your work, greetings, r.

Hi Mr Z: You very kindly supplied me with a gen strap for this GP a few months back --it needed patience to fit but lifted my watch to a whole different level. But this carbon etc stuff you're doing is incredible! Obsessive maybe, but what a way to go! You're way ahead of my skills [and probably my resources]. I'll be checking regularly and jealously for your updates! Cheers, r.

Any folks passing by: this 'Zorro' guy is the real deal: passionate, knowledgeable and damned quick --sometimes replies in [literally] seconds! £/$ doesn't seem to be an influence --he respects forum members all-the-way, whatever their enquiry. Detailed and extremely prompt responses from a genuine and sharing enthusiast.

Well friend, if you still have the item and give me the necessary details, I should be delighted to pay for it! Greetings, Richard.

Wow -real decent of you. Let me check a couple of things out before asking you to do that [ if my daughter's orthodontist has many more surprises I might just re-mortgage my house and get the Maserati as well! ]. Where else would one expect to find a true gentleman than amongst the posts of RWG...?!

HI! I still covet your gen AP balck/red-inset strap! Is it still available? inevitably I suppose, my family pretty-much re-mortgaged my soul over Xmas, so I'd prefer to pay for it at the end of the month. I mention this to keep my hat in the ring if you still have it, and because you were kind enough to quote very reasonably and provide measurements etc --I'd fully understand if I lost it to another buyer in the interim. Otherwise, If you'd be kind enough to confirm whether or not it's still available in a couple of weeks, I'll expedite payment. All the best for the New Year, Richard.

Hi! I may be interested, although slightly intimidated if its OEM -- with those guys, anything is possible price-wise: I might be looking at a $1500 strap! Can I persuade you to hint at what kind of price you're looking for? Basically, I'd put it on a latest-issue best quality ROO Grand Prix I have on order. I have a 7-year AP ROO habit, a large wrist that only just copes with the standard issue rep strap, and an appreciation of what an upgrade can do for the overall look of high-end AP reps. Measurements would be very helpful --I'd be looking for an improvement over the standard-issue rep straps that seem to be around 115/75mm on trad buckle models. Thanks for the photos. A rare piece of kit indeed! Regards, S.