STRATOS Gets PPF & We Go Upstairs To The CAD Studio

Episode 138
We catch up on this week's progress at Retropower HQ, including a rare look upstairs in the design studio.
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[@kougerat5388]

A quick shout out to your bodywork guys! I was carefully watching the reflection of the ceiling lights in the roof of the Morris as the camera panned over it nice and slowly, The reflection didn't wobble or waver, no deviations in the shape, just amazing continuity ! Your bodywork guys really are top of the range. If you didn't pick up on it watch it from 23.00 minutes and see how the reflection of the lights look like they're just sliding over the roof of the car, super smooth !

[@stephenscholes4758]

Yes, top notch but it is really what's expected now from a top dollar restoration /paint. I was at a car show here in Victoria a couple of weeks back and you could see the difference between older and recent restorations and the quality of paint therein.

[@2810Bondy]

Rear door Seal - Excellent!

[@andyfairchild2383]

“Things that are designed to fit a space but can’t get in or out of that space”…. The airbox on pretty much any 70s/80s Japanese motorbike. I’m convinced they are the first thing on the frame jig and the frame is welded around them!

[@dondonXR4i]

Just spent all weekend watching Alasdair and Neil on the Jim Clark,that car is stunning

[@TheLRider]

Not the world's best brakes, ha ha nice to keep the original Mustang features.That paint work on the E Type is stunning.

[@beardymart906]

Please oil the door hinges! 5:29 Great work as always, thanks for taking the time and trouble to put these videos out when you're trying to run a business.

[@catlee8064]

I swear that fkin stratos has been there for 5 yrs !

[@spatchist]

Re: fitting one thing inside other things , just get the 'ship in a bottle' 3-D cad software upgrade package.

[@fredericrike5974]

Cal, about forty odd episodes ago the shop had an orphan- a Lotus Elan, I believe, that had lost it's sponsor; did you ever find a new home for that project? We know your lads have great respect and patience with the filming and such- but break time is sacred! As long as they are as polite as these lot are, just have the wave as they head to the break room! Although they don't often speak, we come to know the work they do and which cars they have bigger hands into. They are very much a port of the Retropower that I come for. Sometimes I wish you could tell us more about the owner's inspiration for these cars- all of them have a story that starts with that mental exercise. But that is in the hands of others.

[@MASI_forging]

Such a good place for work.👍👍

[@teddyr7391]

Is anyone else wondering if the stratos will ever leave the workshop?

[@AlteredCarbons]

i click the video hoping to see it... like what a 30 second clip of it. but lets name the video "Stratos"

[@AdamJRichardson]

I think it's been there since the very first Uncut episode! That's almost 3 years ago, and it was pretty far along at that point...

[@ichiban8558]

Project Binkos

[@fredericrike5974]

@@ichiban8558 There is a fella in Canada who has, with his dad, "unrusted" a Triumph GT6; then took inspiration and decided to rebuild it with an American V8, manual trans, better IRS, AC- the list is long- they started the derust project four years ago- that project from a one car garage and maybe half the tools will likely run first quarter next year. Nik and Richard have built a few cars before and have all the tools- even the wobbly pillar drill- that Fanatik , in Canada doesn't. Binky is undergoing his third "partial disassembly" to perfect some less than perfect brackets, so only static pictures so far, none under power and 7.5 years along. But it will be perfect.

[@allanrichards3752]

I would say all the time a car is at the factory it is generating a project cost, either for work or storage. I think if I were a customer I would certainly want my car back in my hands as soon as possible to minimise cost. Perhaps from a Retropower perspective all the time a car is at the factory it is generating revenue for them.

[@964cuplove]

19:22 ok seal… that took a moment… 😂😂😂 - lovely video as ever, I can’t wait to see Churchill getting there, I just really love what you guys do with the MK IIs

[@MrJimmacq]

It took me a minute to spot the original Seal. "Killer" door seals

[@scotballingall4161]

Can we return to having the 'bloopers' to the end of the videos please. Videos are exceptional both from a quality and technical perspective, but the bloopers give a relatable nod to the team and industry.

[@timbetts7377]

Liking your new camera!

[@keithfarrell3370]

Really interesting to see the behind design crew. Brill vid as per usual

[@simonadshead857]

Lol! Seal! I like it! 😂😂

[@louert]

I had to keep rewinding, so I could pause it in the right place😅

[@westaussiejeff1547]

RE Morrie Clutch slip - Check the clutch reservoir and make sure it isn't overfilled. It needs a good sized air gap at the top.

[@micheltebraake7915]

The good old squeaky door hinge is back. The Jensen and E-type are now on hold. What happens to a customer car if he/she can no longer pay for your work at all?

[@jgilmour5]

Reacting to the first week of your new person on the job .... at some point it would be great to know how you find new employees who can work at your off-the-charts standards. There must be many, many trained people who can do an adequate job but are way below your standards. Do you try them out before you hire them? Is there a waiting list of exceptional people waiting to join? I realize this is far from the usual question for your KZbin but in all these years following you I keep thinking you'll never find another Stu and then along comes a Tom, who isn't yet a Stu but he'll get there!

[@fredericrike5974]

Please do, Cal, Ned! And a comment from them about how they felt the process was.

[@philtucker1224]

I expect Stu was a Tom 40years ago..

[@dcallan812]

Great update 2x👍

[@K1lostream]

Dang - always thought I'd never afford one of your builds, but commissioning TWO builds before I had the money is a ballsy move I'd never do - hope your man comes through with the dough!

[@jerehada]

Which was that the E? Looks relatively commonplace that builds are paused, I suppose you pay out of future earnings and as the job goes along. These are 2+ year projects so I get that. Maybe bonuses or self employed dividends down this year.

[@K1lostream]

@@jerehada It's a whole different world! I can't imagine spending money I don't have on toys!

[@philtucker1224]

@@K1lostream me too K1 but fortunately there are lots of people that can!

[@preonmodel9906]

I like the wheels on Churchill 👍

[@stevemcilroy9518]

Gussetty _ A "bespoke fabricated" piece of steel, Welded to a structure, to strengthen/join the area of a vehicle. ( Retropower )

[@chrisj4444]

superb

[@rebeccajenson2164]

Question! Why do some cars get nicknames, Kaiser, Kuma, Churchill, etc. But others are just the Landcruiser, CV8, Mustang, etc? Just curious if the names, or requests for no nickname, come from the owners. Keep up the amazing work.

[@kougerat5388]

I'd never thought about that, now I'm curious too !

[@jagvette1]

Kaiser/Churchill/Utah are obvious but as for the others we need to know

[@UK_Lemons]

Pretty sure the client is included in the discussion regarding project names since they are paying for every detail.. I remember this being a point of discussion re. Project Vader, black Chevette. The Land Cruiser is project Sant Joan. Morris is Minor Threat. Jensen CV8 is Connery. Mustang does not seem ro have a project name, or perhaps it is classified for reasons of decency.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Things that fit but won't isn't a new problem. De Havilland built the Mosquito's fusealage in 2 halves, installed all the internal equipment, including radios, then glued the halves together. When the time came to remove things for maintenance: Oops, there's no hole big enough to let them out. Judging by the amount of fiddling necessary with Escort replacement panels, and the area to be reworked for flared wheel arches, it looks as though it might be simpler to make the whole thing from scratch.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

I’m sure there’s gotta be some kind of market for a Kevlar shelled mk1 or mk2.. Going on the CV8, it’s possible.

[@gordowg1wg145]

@@Jonathan_Doe_ There may be - don't know if they're still available, but a few years back there was at least one company doing fibre-glass Mini (the proper ones, not the BMW aberrations) complete shells.

[@Chilled_Mackers]

Stella work as always lads!

[@K1lostream]

Surely you mean stellar? If they'd all been at the Stella, everything would be a bit wobbly!

[@Chilled_Mackers]

@@K1lostream Yes indeed haha I suffered the dumb, I can't even say I had a can while I watched it /o\ #noexcuse! Cheers for higlighting the missing R in a well humoured comment! 👍

[@mccash264]

Any chance, in future updates, we can see footage of road tests?

[@Lou-f]

Was the stratos in the background of the Murray escort ? Great to see it done 👍 makes binky timeline not so mad.

[@Braveheart7914-idfl]

Sorry F1 G/P monoco then ☕️with you guys 👍🏻😉👏👏👏

[@GingerPiston]

What's with the single frame flashed up image of an LA looking dude at around the 19m20s mark?!

[@steverogers7473]

Seal.

[@leighharron]

How do you guys go about finding what parts you can replace from another production model, ie the decision about the Fiat 500 pieces on the CV8 boot lid?

[@ianalderton6683]

nice, subscribed . . . . . : )

[@mysterymete]

Filming with a new camera? Seems like image stabilization and field of view are a bit different.

[@kieranproven4874]

have you guys thought about releasing a few products that you have designed?

[@jerehada]

Laughing at the b pillar on the E type, looks like Mecano!

[@steveharvey2203]

Leonardo di Stu!

[@dommoss4264]

We’re never gonna survive unless we get….a little crazy 😉

[@michaelscott4766]

Another excellent video from this great channel. It's all quite 'laddish' so I was wondering whether you guys had ever had a female client or for that matter a female employee ?

[@davidyates748]

Don't forget that we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy. #sealgags

[@CourtNewsUK]

Really appreciate you explaining what is happening with the CV8. 'Disappointing.' After all that work and design I expect some choice words were used. Could you finish it for me for £500?

[@philtucker1224]

Cal you fell asleep on the beach didn’t you?😂🤣😂🤣

[@bobz1736]

Seal !

[@brianbob7514]

8:55 are those Bentley wheels?

[@aobdesigned3881]

Just get the cameraman to wear an 'A' board, of notes for you / you both to remember....

[@gselzbrot]

i would love to work at a place like yours

[@philtucker1224]

Hi Gsel, that’s exactly what happened to me back in 1972. I had been following a monthly series of articles from a famous race/rally company in my monthly car magazine and dreamed of working there. Out of the blue I wrote to them with my (then) brief CV and to my surprise they wrote back inviting me to visit. I went along and a few days later they offered me my dream job. Of course I accepted and did my 4 year apprenticeship there and had a fabulous time. My advice to you is “don’t wait to be asked buddy”..

[@gselzbrot]

@@philtucker1224 thanks man, great story!!

[@markfoggy9933]

Fiver for the E-type, with a couple of bags of Monster Munch natch. Cutting mtyown throat governor, but it's what it's worth. 🤣

[@18robsmith]

No innocent hybrid cars were damaged in the making of this video.

[@paulroberts5687]

That poor Integra

[@jagvette1]

Who is in the blipvert (ala Max headroom) at 19:22

[@mattsmith4053]

Seal.

[@stuartlew1229]

morrise plate or torsion LSD

[@sishabadab6570]

Re project Churchill... Very disappointing that they deleted the supercharger.

[@jerehada]

Covered before ; no choice think it was space and it’s not a sports car.

[@steverogers7473]

Seal. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍😎

[@gordowg1wg145]

It's unfortunate the CV8 and E-Type were put on hold, but perhaps a more diplomatic way of putting it would be something like "The customer has changed his priorities, for now, but we expect to be continuing shortly.", which doesn't imply anything else other than that? When mentioning it's business related some, that know the owner and his business, may interpret that as suggesting it's having financial troubles.

[@mickthemonkey]

Frustrating, but that'd be the classy way to do it, we can all read between the lines.

[@stevenbrannan9775]

Is it just me or does everybody see the back of an XJ6 when they look at the rear of the Jensen?

[@stephenscholes4758]

If you want to see the XJ6 styling antecedent, see the rear of the Alfa Giulia "Sprint Speciale"

[@stevepearce1913]

Why don't you install your own machining facility to save time and money?

[@keithfarrell3370]

It's a shame the cv8 had to be mothballed. These things happen

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Owners missus must’ve opened one of the invoice emails and lost it 😂

[@davidsolloway9349]

Like # 385.

[@bongosock]

I wonder if you might found sound camera technology helpful in tracking down and isolating unwanted noises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6WwhampnpJnftk

[@DavidBrown-ih2vw]

At 19.22 there is a still picture of an african american about to get into his car - parked RHS of road, evidently in America? LOL

[@absenteeatom]

Is this the first video at 60 fps? It looks terrible. I enjoy the content but the video quality of this one looks weird.