Q4-2025 - Q2-2026

The first few months of this project haven't involved any tools yet, just many hours behind the computer while I was still finishing my previous project. During that time, I immersed myself in old books and photographs to understand every detail and make this replica as true to the original as possible. I sketched out ideas, transformed them into CAD models, and refined the design until I had a complete set of drawings. With a solid plan in place, I am now starting the construction of the junior car. The challenge is that a design can look perfect on a computer screen, but turning it into a physical object is a completely different task.

Q2-2026

With the drawings in hand, I could finally start work on the chassis, a stage of the project I always dread a little. My goal was to get it more or less finished before the summer holidays so that all the welding and grinding would be out of the way, allowing me to focus on the woodwork during the break. Grinding is by far my least favourite job, and although the chassis could easily have been laser-cut, but i’m far too stubborn for that..

After quite some hours in the garage, I managed to head into the holidays with a chassis that was largely complete. There is still plenty of detailing and finishing work ahead, but having the basic structure in place provides a solid foundation on which the rest of the car can take shape.

Q3-2026

During the summer period, I was able to dedicate a considerable amount of time to the wooden buck of the Atlantic. I am building it entirely from oak, sourced from my parents' old dining table. Working with wood is very enjoyable; it is a forgiving material, and any mistakes can often be corrected easily with a bit of glue. Throughout this project, I have discovered that woodworking gives me a great deal of satisfaction. In addition to building these junior cars, I would therefore like to explore woodworking further in the future.

Once again, this project has shown that while a 3D design may look beautiful on a computer screen, bringing it to life is often the real challenge. Many of the shapes have been adapted throughout the process to suit practical requirements. So far, I am very pleased with the result. In the coming period, I hope to finalize the design of the windshield area in combination with the doors and resolve the remaining challenges. This is a crucial element of the design and will ultimately have a major impact on the overall appearance of the Type 57.

As I mentioned before, I am very pleased with the current progress. I am looking forward to completing the wooden buck so that I can gradually begin work on the metal body panels.

Q4-2026

Will be added soon..