More progress made on the body : )

[The Stig]

[Boostaddiction]

Amazing detail and design, Mike. Steve really did a great job!

[sk7500]

Those pictures should come with a warning. "Install bib before viewing or risk keyboard damage".

Absolutely outstanding!!! I love the light color. It makes the interior look bigger than it really is.

[VD2021]

Mike,

WOW! Just beautifully.

[Motohead]

Over the top incredible!
But I guess that's the way you do everything.

[carbon fiber]

Man that car would look good with a custom hatch too...

[The Stig]

Holy @&%#=## Mike. That looks awesome!!!!! Kudos to you for envisioning that interior and for finding the guy with the skills to make it. You are going to have one sweet ride in a very short time.

Thanks Hugo!

I'm pretty pumped about it. When I walked up to it, and saw everything all together... I was blown away. I've only seen it with "completed" sections installed, in various level of completion. I knew that the individual components looks great, and I had "picture" of what I thought it might look like when it was all brought together... But I wasn't really ready for it when I saw it.

I was doing a great job of keeping the drool from hitting the floor, as I walked around and around the car, soaking in the view that I had in front of me. The Steve fired up the (Concert Hall) sound system. That was it... I was done. Reduced to a slobbering wreck. I had to get myself back together.

Seriously though, seeing this car with this interior, was the second best Christmas present that I got this year.

Working with Steve was fun and a pleasure. And I couldn't be more proud of the result.

More to follow...

Mike

[The Stig]

Amazing detail and design, Mike. Steve really did a great job!

Thank you. And I agree with you 100%; Steve and his team all did an Amazing job!

Steve Kurzman - The Custom Stitching Co (Fabrication, Stitching)
Warren Furr - The Custom Stitching Co (Panel Fabrication)
Ross Fricke - R & L Customs (Electrical / Re-Wired the car)
Sean - (Audio System install & tuning)
Joey Clonniger - (Router work)


Mike - (Spender)

[The Stig]

Those pictures should come with a warning. "Install bib before viewing or risk keyboard damage".

Absolutely outstanding!!! I love the light color. It makes the interior look bigger than it really is.

Thank you Steve,

The pictures make the color of the leather look like an off-white color. It really is Gray. But I agree, the lighter color does make everything seem larger.

Looking forward to Huntington Beach!

By the way, I got a few quotes on transporting the car to California for that weekend... $2k +, each way... (But we'll be there).


I think I know what my next career should be: High end auto-transport business owner!

Mike

[The Stig]

Mike,

WOW! Just beautifully.

Thank you Vidal! Much appreciated! I know what you mean... I couldn't talk for a few minutes when I saw it. I just had to stare, and let it soak in.

You and I have been threatening to get us and our cars together for a while now. I'm finally getting closer to being able to hold up my end of the bargain!

Take care Buddy! I'm looking forward to meeting up with you soon!

Mike

[The Stig]

Over the top incredible!
But I guess that's the way you do everything.

Thank you...! I think...

I'm taking it as a compliment!

I have tried to make sure that this build is done to the best level that I can manage, and afford...

I keep telling myself to stay as much "inside the box" as possible.

I decided early on that I was going to stay as close to Jim Schenk's design as possible, as far as the exterior is concerned.

But the interior would be where I splurged. And I did.

I was told over and over that you can't do this, and you can't do that... That's why no one else has done it before...

Well, I figured that I was going to see for myself whether some of these things could be done or not.

As it turns out, it seems that they can!


Thanks for the kind words!

Mike

[The Stig]

Man that car would look good with a custom hatch too...

Jason...! You know...? You're right!

The custom hatch that you fabbed for me, is next on the list. When the car leaves Steve's shop, it's going to a highly recommended paint shop to have a couple of scratches and rubs color matched and fixed.

They will also be painting the new hatch, and clearing the CF cover. It's happening, and I can't wait to send you the photos!

Mike

[carbon fiber]

Very cool to see your car coming together. Looks great!

[Motohead]

Yes, that was a compliment. Everyone here love seeing your progress. I have done a few things on mine "outside the box". But I would say you wrote the book on custom GTM interior.
GREAT JOB!!!! That's a compliment,

Thank you...! I think...

I'm taking it as a compliment!

I have tried to make sure that this build is done to the best level that I can manage, and afford...

I keep telling myself to stay as much "inside the box" as possible.

I decided early on that I was going to stay as close to Jim Schenk's design as possible, as far as the exterior is concerned.

But the interior would be where I splurged. And I did.

I was told over and over that you can't do this, and you can't do that... That's why no one else has done it before...

Well, I figured that I was going to see for myself whether some of these things could be done or not.

As it turns out, it seems that they can!


Thanks for the kind words!

Mike

[The Stig]

Everyone here love seeing your progress. I have done a few things on mine "outside the box". But I would say you wrote the book on custom GTM interior.
GREAT JOB!!!!

Thanks again Buddy. Much appreciated.

Mike

[The Stig]

A video of the GTM Interior, posted on You Tube, and on Steve"s Facebook page today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=NgIDjQmnRAU

https://www.facebook.com/TheCustomStitchingCo

[mikespms]

Hey Mike,

Got your email but could not open the link. I've followed and enjoyed the progress on your interior, Steve has done an outstanding job. I am glad to see that Steve came through for you and that you are happy with the results, it is first class all the way. Now for the windows and hatch!

Mike

[xatudor]

Seriously though, seeing this car with this interior, was the second best Christmas present that I got this year.

What was the best Christmas present????

[The Stig]

What was the best Christmas present????

My wife, and kids!

They're my #1 present every year.

Mike

[David Hodgkins]

That interior is the best GTM interior I've ever "seen".

Amazing fit and finish!

[The Stig]

That interior is the best GTM interior I've ever "seen".

Amazing fit and finish!

Thanks David! You'll be able to "See" it in 4 months at the 2015 Huntington Beach Cruise-In in April.

Steve did an amazing job. He was really on a mission throughout the entire interior project, to show what could be done with the GTM and similar cars. He also wanted to showcase the sort of work that he and his shop are capable of producing. In my oppinion, there are very few shops in the US that can match his work.

Mike

[Taz Rules]

That is just unbelievably STOOPID GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

After all you've been through with this project, you DESERVE an extra-special, unique car like this! I'm glad things have finally lined up in your favour!

[fastthings]

Award winning, so nice.

[The Stig]

That is just unbelievably STOOPID GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

After all you've been through with this project, you DESERVE an extra-special, unique car like this! I'm glad things have finally lined up in your favour!

Award winning, so nice.

Thanks Guys. I really appreciate it. Now you see why this interior project has been so fun for me!

Mike

[fastthings]

So, I walk into a shop I frequent and he starts telling about a GTM with this killer interior in it, bla, bla, bla. I pull up your thread on my phone and he says, thats it.

This car is going viral??? WOW, pretty cool Mike.

[The Stig]

So, I walk into a shop I frequent and he starts telling about a GTM with this killer interior in it, bla, bla, bla. I pull up your thread on my phone and he says, thats it.

This car is going viral??? WOW, pretty cool Mike.

Now that's funny! Who would've thought?!? I've always said that the GTM is the rock star, and we're just along for the ride.

Thanks for Sharing,

Mike

[Stage7]

Mike- Fabulous!! There was another build on the ffcar forum that had a really sweet interior but you didn't just raise the bar, you changed the game!!

The vision, execution, and most of all- perseverance you've shown has been impressive. You deserve to have this type of result after what you've gone through with this build.

[WIS89]

Mike-

I have run out of superlatives! The car is simply stunning. I have admired your vision, but also your willingness to stay the course when you had a number of opportunities to give-in to the "it can't be done" crowd. It is without question, worth staying myopic and insisting it could be done. You have certainly showed us all, and I congratulate you!

My best wishes to you and Pam in 2015. You have certainly ushered in the year in a major way; and while the GTM is the rock star as you say, I kind of think you two will be seen as rock stars as well!

I look forward to seeing her up close. All the best!

Regards,

Steve

[Jeff Collins]

Wow Mike that is awesome. Congratulations! I hope you and Pam are doing well.

[The Stig]

Mike- Fabulous!! There was another build on the ffcar forum that had a really sweet interior but you didn't just raise the bar, you changed the game!!

The vision, execution, and most of all- perseverance you've shown has been impressive. You deserve to have this type of result after what you've gone through with this build.

Thank you Roberto. I have to say though that you're build kept me motivated to try to build the best car that I could (and that I could afford). I can't wait to meet up with you and Allan at some point.

Mike-

I have run out of superlatives! The car is simply stunning. I have admired your vision, but also your willingness to stay the course when you had a number of opportunities to give-in to the "it can't be done" crowd. It is without question, worth staying myopic and insisting it could be done. You have certainly showed us all, and I congratulate you!

My best wishes to you and Pam in 2015. You have certainly ushered in the year in a major way; and while the GTM is the rock star as you say, I kind of think you two will be seen as rock stars as well!

I look forward to seeing her up close. All the best!

Regards,

Steve

No superlatives needed. I just appreciate your comments and support throughout this build. Looking forward to meeting you.

Wow Mike that is awesome. Congratulations! I hope you and Pam are doing well.

Thanks Jeff. I was in a meeting when you called this morning, so I'm sorry that I missed your call. The GTM is pretty close to finished and it has turned out almost exactly as I had hoped it would. I have to get this thing registered and get it ready to be driven when everything is finished up.

Mike

[flotowngtm]

WOW!!! This is what I get for being offline for months at a time! That is incredible! I love it! I am in Greensboro, were going to have to organize a ride one day for sure!!!

[mhrobichaud58]

That's what I call taking it to the extreme!
Beautiful car. enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

[The Stig]

WOW!!! This is what I get for being offline for months at a time! That is incredible! I love it! I am in Greensboro, were going to have to organize a ride one day for sure!!!

That's what I call taking it to the extreme!
Beautiful car. enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

Thanks guys. The response to this interior has been overwhelming to say the least (for me & Steve). He says that his phone hasn't stopped ringing, and that easily 50% or more of the calls have to do with questions and/or congratulations for his work on my car. He has booked out 8 or 9 new custom jobs if I understood him correctly. And I'm happy for him. Good job!

Still waiting to get the windshield tinted and installed. Apparently, the painted edges aren't cooperating with the tint, and have had to be re-worked a couple of times. But they expect to have it handled soon. Then Sean will be back out to do a final tune of the audio system. At that point the the interior project will be 100% complete.

Next step was supposed to be to have the car sent to Scott Auto body, here in Charlotte, to fix a couple of scratches and chips in the paint. But... they apparently either don't have time in their schedule or just can't take on new work for a while...

So I think I'll send it to have the suspension dialed in, while I figure out what "plan-b" for the paint work will be.

Fun Fun Fun...

Mike

[flynntuna]

I follow a few of the GTM build threads to look for ideas to "borrow" for my upcoming 818 build. I admire your perseverance in your build, and I look forward to see your masterpiece in person.

[Tarmac]

Doesn't it... looks fantastic!

[Taz Rules]

So I think I'll send it to have the suspension dialed in, while I figure out what "plan-b" for the paint work will be.

Fun Fun Fun...

Mike

How about this?
PornStar-Pink.jpg

[The Stig]

How about this?
PornStar-Pink.jpg

Taz, Taz, Taz , Taz, Taz...

If only you had suggested it sooner...

mike

[The Stig]

The glass has been re-installed.



The rear plexiglass is back in.



I was really happy with how the windshield was re-installed. The seal around the glass gave it a finished look.





Steve made up a set of floor mats to help keep the carpets clean.



Sean (Audio guy) is coming back out this week to do a final tune of the audio system, now that the windshield is back in. The plan right now, is that the GTM will be back in my garage next weekend.

The rear hatch will be installed next. Stay tuned!

Mike

[WIS89]

Mike-

I am jealous beyond words; she looks fantastic!

You need to burn through a set of tires here soon! Thanks for the continued updates.

Regards,

Steve

[The Stig]

The GTM saw sunlight this morning for the first time in 9 months. I was really surprised at how much more "finished" the car looked sitting on the ground, and out in natural light. Looks pretty cool to me!

Mike