Classic Wrong colour, OK I'll get it changed.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

So I have been looking around for a classic with decent body and chassis for about the last 2 years.
Everytime I saw one advertised (French sort of ebay site ) there would be at least something badly wrong, eventually just before xmas last year I saw one about an hour away which was advertised as having no rust!!
Took the doris with me to have a look and the 1st comment was "I don't want to ride in a green car", my comment of "you could run behind" perhaps wasn't the best response

but I did agree to spend some dosh on a colour change.
Had a really good look underneath and under carpets etc, and it really was solid, so I bought it.
Might have been over-priced at 4600 euros for a 1988 2.4 Vm but it really was the best I'd seen in a long time so had to have it.
Anyway every time I tried to start prepping there was always something more pressing to do on the house, so it was only about 6 weeks ago that I finally got to spend some time on her, in that time - the last 6 months I had only put on 50 miles - really did not want to start using her until works had been done, otherwise it would all just slip away and it would never get done.
First thing I wanted to do was sort out the non- working heater fan, so that meant the bleedin dash had to come out. Found a dodgy earth tag on the blower motor, and a few relays that had gone tits up, on a roll now so it makes sense to renovate a sun tired dash with a good clean up and a coat of plastic paint.

A few photos if I can get them on here.

Not sure what happened there ! Anyway general view as bought.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Don't like the light guards, deffo coming off. Bits of the underside.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

She has spent most of her time in the south of France, really good order, with no welding, only done 160k Km and well looked after by last couple of owners at least.

My line-up, the red disco has now been sold on to an enthusiast.

Rear c-member, body rubbers are on the to-do list.

These little sods were giving me some grief while taking the bumper off.

Rubbing strips off and panels flatted down, mudflaps ordered.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Taking the dash out.

Earth tag on top of blower motor replaced with a crimped and soldered tag.
I'm convinced when the magicians at Solihul make one of these they start off on the line with a couple of beer-crates with the heater unit balanced on the top and then build the rest of the bleedin car round it.

Quality controll not too impressed with the dash renovations.

I thought it looked OK.

Mulcaster1 · Jul 10, 2017

Looks a honest enough motor, little work and be great. The price you pay is irrelevant to the vehicle if that's what you want. Looking forward to see some more pics

frog hopper said:
So I have been looking around for a classic with decent body and chassis for about the last 2 years.
Everytime I saw one advertised (French sort of ebay site ) there would be at least something badly wrong, eventually just before xmas last year I saw one about an hour away which was advertised as having no rust!!
Took the doris with me to have a look and the 1st comment was "I don't want to ride in a green car", my comment of "you could run behind" perhaps wasn't the best response but I did agree to spend some dosh on a colour change.
Had a really good look underneath and under carpets etc, and it really was solid, so I bought it.
Might have been over-priced at 4600 euros for a 1988 2.4 Vm but it really was the best I'd seen in a long time so had to have it.
Anyway every time I tried to start prepping there was always something more pressing to do on the house, so it was only about 6 weeks ago that I finally got to spend some time on her, in that time - the last 6 months I had only put on 50 miles - really did not want to start using her until works had been done, otherwise it would all just slip away and it would never get done.
First thing I wanted to do was sort out the non- working heater fan, so that meant the bleedin dash had to come out. Found a dodgy earth tag on the blower motor, and a few relays that had gone tits up, on a roll now so it makes sense to renovate a sun tired dash with a good clean up and a coat of plastic paint.

A few photos if I can get them on here.
View attachment 127166 View attachment 127166 View attachment 127167
Not sure what happened there ! Anyway general view as bought.

l

Mulcaster1 · Jul 10, 2017

Love the garage line up

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Dash back together and off to my mate for paint.

Stupid bonnet clamps taken off, all it needed was replacement buffers on bonnet to slam panel to stop the wobble, doh.

Rear side panel loosened off to ease away from the glazing rubber, make sure paint gets underneath. Bit of a compromise I know, but we wer'nt ever going to take all the panels off. The metal underneath is in good order.

Lights/door rubbers etc off, that's about as much as I can do to help. Over to Dale for the skilled bit.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Back to Dales' place for an update, I could'nt believe the number off little dings he found to fill.

Jesus, the only good panel on it is the fuel filler flap !!!!

At least I can see where he's been.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

So while my mates been slogging away with the filler, I had a go at doing something to the bumpers where the PO had cut them off.

As luck would have it I had some 3mm plate kicking about, did struggle to get the right bend in it though, eventually my 6" vice and a couple of big adjustables did the job.

Not pretty but it wont fall off.

And that's the front one done as well, must say the camera makes it look a better finish than it really is.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

The two of them together, I am aware the bumpers would normally be short anyway to allow the fitment of the plastic end caps, but the PO had cut them back a bit extra. Rather than buy new and spend extra on the end caps I decided to extend them in a similar size to the old style, don't really like the plastic jobbies anyway.

Just hope they look alright when fitted. Also had a go at refreshing the rear body vent panels, or whatever their called, a couple of small dents to fill and then it's all out with the rattle cans.

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Back to my mates for a kodak moment or two.

A better view of the rear side panel eased out to allow seamless painting.

Mulcaster1 · Jul 10, 2017

Looks well prepped

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Brought it back home today after spending 6 hours helping Dale put back some of the more important bits to be able to drive it, like drivers door handle, windscreen filler strips, lights, that sort of thing. It took us an age to get the drivers door handle back on until we realised that when I took it off I put the wrong fixing plate on it to keep it safe, I had marked the plates L/H, R/H and managed to mix them up. How the fecking hell could I do that? I blame it on excitement, either that or old age.
More photo's when I get the grill, bumpers etc back on. Must say really pleased with the results so far.

Mulcaster1 · Jul 10, 2017

frog hopper said:
Brought it back home today after spending 6 hours helping Dale put back some of the more important bits to be able to drive it, like drivers door handle, windscreen filler strips, lights, that sort of thing. It took us an age to get the drivers door handle back on until we realised that when I took it off I put the wrong fixing plate on it to keep it safe, I had marked the plates L/H, R/H and managed to mix them up. How the fecking hell could I do that? I blame it on excitement, either that or old age.
More photo's when I get the grill, bumpers etc back on. Must say really pleased with the results so far.

Did a few similar things myself when re assembling my defender

frog hopper · Jul 10, 2017

Mulcaster1 said:
Did a few similar things myself when re assembling my defender

Yes but I managed this as I was taking things apart for christs sake

I think I missed my calling as a village idiot somehow.

brianp38dse · Jul 11, 2017

Looking very nice.
Awaiting the big reveal on colour

norseman · Jul 11, 2017

I've an unrestored/corrosion free RRC myself, a year earlier than yours & a V8 auto so I'll look forward to seeing the finished article. I must say the pics appear to show a really good example which is so rare with these old duchess's & I'd say it's well worth the price paid. Judging by the design the top tailgate could well be original. Shame about the wheels/lamp-guards/bonnet catches but of course all can be easily sorted

gold rover · Jul 11, 2017

I have nothing to add, I just keep checking back for the big reveal

Disco1BFG · Jul 11, 2017

You lucky sod - that looks in really nice condition. It's on my bucket list to own another RRC ( or two!)

Mulcaster1 said:
Looks a honest enough motor, little work and be great. The price you pay is irrelevant to the vehicle if that's what you want. Looking forward to see some more pics
l

Absolutely - worth every penny IMHO.

Mulcaster1 · Jul 11, 2017

COME ON!!!!! Pictures of the. Olour

Classic Wrong colour, OK I'll get it changed.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads