Buffalo Builds Design & Fabrication

Project Tovarishch 1973 Lada.
I'm trying to be as faithful as possible to the interior dimensions of the original car whilst making it more luxurious and finding room for that v8. The sheet metal is nearly done in the main passenger compartment although the rear seat bases won't be fixed down for the minute because it's easier to put the exhaust silencers in from the top. At the front I've made the mounts for the Alfa Romeo front seats and so far I've managed to squeeze somebody who is 6ft2" into the drivers seat. The pedals will need a slight adjustment though.

Loved seeing some of my handiwork at Williams Crawford Cars and Coffee this morning! Very proud of this one!

When you see your handiwork out on the streets and it makes you beam with pride!

When you see your handiwork out on the streets months later and start beaming with pride...

Project Tovarishch
1973 Lada
Sheet metal is really taking shape. The bulkhead is 90% complete and I've started on the floors and tunnel. The biggest headache is the rear seat. I can use the seat back but the original base is no use and it's construction didn't lend itself to modification. I've decided to modify an Alfa 156 rear bench and create 2 individual bases either side of the tunnel. Next up is to complete the construction of the passenger compartment and move into the boot/trunk area.

All the symmetry

Project Tovarishch
1973 Lada 2103
At some point this car has had its entire left hand side rebuilt badly after a smash. As a result of which it is out of square and there are lots of bits to replace. One of the major areas is the A pillar. I've managed to get hold of a pattern part but it needed modifying a bit to fit properly. I've also made the passenger side footwell and firewall - it's a different shape to the other side as I have to mount the wiper motor and mechanism ...on it. I repaired the rusty parts of the scuttle panel first and sprayed epoxy in all of the hard to get to areas before welding in the footwell. Then the A pillar repair was completed and joined to the new footwell making it a lot stronger than factory. Between every layer of metal, it was all treated and zinc rich primer applied. Finally everything gets a coat of epoxy to protect it during the rest of the build.
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I don't know who this company is. They keep putting up Instagram posts with @buffalobuilds on them. This is the last straw though - making it out as if I'm part of their project... The pictures they've used for this chassis are from the Fiesta🤣😂 I've also spoken to Jags Body shop and Zurawski motorsport and they're none the wiser either. The internet is a weird place...

Project Tovarishch 1973 Lada 2103
With the car on wheels I've put some eBay coilovers on it without springs. This shows me where the extremes are under compression and steering lock. The brake servo and pedal box has been positioned and mounted and the drivers footwell is taking shape nicely. Also made up a table for my home brewed bead roller. This is so that I can get the main floorpans done. It's starting to look like a car!

Project Tovarishch 1973 Lada
It's off the jig and on wheels! All wishbones, hubs and wheels are on. I haven't put the shocks in yet as I want to check clearances and its not too bad actually. The car isn't going low (at the moment...) but I need to make sure that at full compression and lock, the wheels clear. The rears need tubbing on the inside and a bit of massaging to clear the sidewall. Next up is firewall/bulkhead and floorpans.

Project Tovarishch
1973 2103 Lada
Bit of an update. The chassis is about ready to come off the jig now. This will allow me to get the car rolling so that I can check footwell clearances for the front when steering is on full lock and suspension is fully compressed. Engine mounts are all done and I decided to make the front chassis crossmember removable. The drivers side mount proved to be fun to design as the steering column has to pass through it. Things are tight! At the rear I've fabricated the rear suspension supports and these also help support the shell while all the gaps get filled in with fresh sheet metal.

Project Tovarishch 1973 Lada
Things are starting to come together now. The shell is in place and I've started on the firewall / bulkhead. The footwell is one of the hardest parts. Because the car has a very short front end, it gets quite cramped. On the drivers side the front wheel, steering column, pedal box, lower suspension wishbone and a big v8 engine all compete for space! So far so good though. Next up is to mount the servo, master cylinder and pedal box.

The MG is pretty much all done and ready for collection. The handbrake works a treat with a lovely ratcheting action. The footplates have turned out well and the passenger side doubles as a support for the exhaust. The owner asked me to investigate a coolant leak. I discovered that the lower coolant plate on the block has corroded through. This has now been sorted with a new stainless steel version.

More progress on the MG. Really happy, as is the owner, with progress so far. The end is in sight!

MG bits are coming along a treat. But my god, I hate polishing!

Another prewar MG in for some shiny bits. It's getting Aluminium floors, stainless external handbrake, mg logo side steps and aluminium spats on the leading edge of the rear wheel arches. CAD is well underway and a dummy plywood handbrake has been cnc routered by the legend Jon Huddy. This will allow me to check for fitment and scale. The drivers floor has been completed and is ready for fitting, the passenger side will get done when I remove the original handbrake.

Placed the shell so that I can set up the steering column. Because I'm using mx5/miata suspension, the shock towers are nice and low giving enough room for the air intake. The wipers all clear but it will be close with the underside of the bonnet/hood. Just chucked a wheel in there for a bit more of an idea. I'm getting excited!!

Project Tovarishch
1973 2103 Lada
The main chassis is very nearly done! The prop is mocked up with the ctr bearing in place, the diff has been remounted lower to get a better prop angle. The front suspension turrets are taking shape and its all starting to come together nicely. The only snag is we've discovered the car has had a proper whack on the left side at some point and as a result of which, it is not square or symmetrical... So quite a bit more to do!! Ho hum!

Project Tovarishch
Transmission tunnel is taking shape but I've hit a snag - shortage of CDS tube! Arrgghhh! Should be here soon. In the meantime, I need to set up the prop ctr bearing position and shorten both sides of the propshaft considerably. I also need to chop all of the shit out of the inner sills of the lada shell and prep it for joining to the new chassis.

Top work and easy going

Came up with some great ideals and the fabrication skills to match.

“Improving on perfection not a problem”

Really pleased with my custom sun visor, amazing work. I would highly recommend. Can't wait for more work to be done. Dan's a really nice guy too.

My brake lights didn't work. After checking the usual problem of bulbs myself. I ran out of knowledge. Dan a.k.a rufio managed to locate, explain and solve the problem in no time at all. Showing his knowledge of wiring harnesses to be extensive, as it was not the simplest of fixes. But for those who know how!! Geddon mate. Ta

Dan tubbed my rear arches ready to accept overfenders and I couldn't be happier with the results. The workmanship is top quality and Dan kept me updated with photos through out the process. Very quick turnaround too and overall top guy