Designers and clay modellers usually develop the themes on one side of the clay. We then scan that side of the clay (either a local scan if a small area has changed, or the complete side if a new theme) and then lay surface over the scan. Then we will reflect these surfaces to the other side to give the full car.

But I was not sure how symmetrical my 917 shell was, so I had the complete shell scanned. Then I started to surface the LHS of the scan and reflect to the RHS, to see if the shell was sym opp (symmetrically opposite) and found that the screen and cockpit area are shifted to the RHS by about 10mm.

Not surprising when you consider that the 917 body was all drafted and manufactured some 10 years before CAD ever existed. The 10mm cockpit shift isn't a major problem, we just had to move the screen hoop across car by the same.

Have added another selection of Catia images, showing how scanning and then surfacing the scan has helped with the chassis design and package to the shell. I was able ensure that roll bars, out riggers, sill frames, all fitted the shell before we even started manufacture of the chassis.

So that the first time we offered the bodyshell onto the chassis, it fitted almost perfectly. Had to make one minor mod to the nose extension tube, moving it rearwards 20mm.

Basically I'm applying the processes I have used in the automotive design business for the past 30 years, to retro engineer a accurate and repeatable replica of the most iconic sports car that was ever created. And have to say, I'm looking forward to driving it around Brands, Spa, The Ring, and any other tracks I can get access to use, to at least get a feel as to what our hero's from the early 70's experienced.