Tony I have both a MIG and ARC if you need assistance or want to borrow them, or I can suggest Ron France's place: Engineering Fabrication Services on Brookfield Industrial Estate (Behind Conways)  I've taken loads of stuff to him in the past, he always does an amazing job.

Thanks Andy. I am not in a rush with this project so plan to just fit it so I can move it around. I will look for an earlier one and if nothing comes up I can go down the modificatio n route. Been buying bits for it over the last few weeks and just got two tyres re seated at Williams in Hyde. He is a top bloke and respects the alloys. Both were leaking on the rim before he reseated and sealed them.   Getting much closer to moving it around now and then body off so I can really see what I have got.

Not posted anything about the MantaRay as I have mainly been picking up bits here and there and refurbing parts.   Then today Andy (Tucker / the Snorkel) came round and gave me a present.  I am over the moon with this and just love it.  It will fit perfectly below the ridge in the centre of the bonnet and the end of the bonnet.

Love it.   Thank you so much Andy 

Look forward to seeing it off your carpet and on the bonnet.

Look forward to seeing it off your carpet and on the bonnet.

Mocked up for you Sir

I like that a lot 

Well nearly 2 years on and very little progress other than buying bits      Sadly life got in the way.  A couple of operations, new grandchildren, arthritis, general lack of motivation etc etc etc .....  the list goes on.

Well after 2 weeks of digging crap out of my garage, as the Manta Ray had become a storage dump (why would anyone need 38 empty card board boxes as an example) and several runs to the tip / recycling centre.  I have finally re-uncovered the Manta Ray    The garage could still do with another couple of weeks of tidying especially behind the buggy, but at least now I can get to that pile of stuff.

It looks very similar to when it was pushed in the garage with the exception of a massive amount of dust on it.   Had a good sort out of parts that I have collected and to my surprise I think that most things I need are now there. 



Went over to see Brookie this week and now have a rear cage and front bar in black to fit onto it (thanks Richard).

Hopefully my enthusiasm will not dip and I will actually crack on with it now (I did say I was not in a rush to do it in my defence  )

Tatton's your target,  should have enough time to spray it yellow. Maybe Mandy can bring the other one.

Tatton's your target,  should have enough time to spray it yellow. Maybe Mandy can bring the other one.

He's sprayed the hand brake, gear stick and front shock absorber so a decent start.

Oh I do love seeing a MantaRay - this one looks eager to swim the nest,

Good to see it back in focus and the day light hours are getting longer to aid the enthusiasum.

Cheers guys.

Plan to take the body off so I can have a good look at the chassis and give it some paint.  At some point the underside of the body seems to have been painted with something that has not bonded and is just flaking.  So that will all need to be rubbed down and sorted as it would leave a trail black flakes if I dont 

Just for Hugh - I may add a few more yellow touches     

And just to add balance to the colourist comments on here . . . .

. . . .I`m quite liking those sidepods and reckon that would be a great colour for the rest of it