Zach's GBS Zero Build Adventure: Car Completed....For First IVA Attempt

Well many thought it wouldn't happen, but GBS FINALLY got the handbrake cables to me! After waiting since June and hearing a number of conflicting reasons why it was getting delayed, it got there 4 months later.

With that sorted, it was a weekend spent with the car, fitting the handbrake, boot inner panels and boot cover, sheet aluminium for IVA purposes - if you can't remove the cover, it can't be tested for sharp edges which it would fail on. The handbrake and cables were straight forward to fit and easier not using the predetermined slots by the wishbones, obviously from the Ford based kit and not changed for the Mazda. These just cause the angles to be wrong and runs the risk of getting caught or rubbing on the driveshafts. Anyway, handbrake on, dash light on, good strong shove on the car and not a single bit of movement. Sorted.

Boot panels were a little more tricky as none appear to fit properly, however, they are in and will be carpeted over anyway once I get onto that stage, making it look more tidy, just like the rest of the car without the worry of IVA regulations.
My make shift boot cover does however look very nice. Much nicer than I was expecting.

Overall, from starting the build in March, I have gotten to an IVA ready stage in just 7 months. When I first started out and stated my ambitions of having it done before starting university again in September/October, I was told I was looking at a minimum of 12 months if I was balancing my work placement at the same time. Well, it's been 9 months from picking my kit up, 7 from actually being able to start it, and probably would have been done in under 6 months if all the parts could have been delivered on time. Not a bad effort I'd say. Either way, I just want to get this beauty out on the road and enjoying my hard work and time.

Enjoy the photos below!