1978 Mitsubishi Colt Celeste GSR

a very worthy save , to be honest its in better condition than you would expect for any old japanese motor that has sat outside in the uk for that amount of time! whats its undersides like??

I spent some time on it yesterday and amazingly after a week of soaking in WD40 the engine turned!!! (plugs out) with hardly a push. First time the pistons have moved in 28 years!! Just did it with a ratchet on the bottom pulley. So far so good. I took the radiator out so I can get to the timing belt, I have to change that before I try and start it. I was thinking, as I had to cut off the old Jubilee clips that this is the first time this has ever been out as it was virtually a 3 year old car at 30,000 miles when parked. Also vacuumed the engine bay and sucked up half a ton of the car in powdered metal!!

I'm going to be so bold as to suggest...

get it totally naked.

blast it.

buy lots fo welding wire and sheet.

Looks like you have it in the right place though - oh to have an area like that to restore a car.

A friend of mine had one the same colour when we were teenagers. We called it the Moleste, not very pc but pc wasn't invented then. From memory there were quite a few 1600s in NZ but not many 2 litres which his was. Haven't seen one in a very long time.

Ahhh, i did not realise the thiness of J-Tin of this era - I stand enlightened.

That's right, When I did the Sapporo I wanted to get the panels blasted but was told then that it makes more work and can ripple the panels, so it was good old sanding down most of the time. It also had quite a lot of rust (although I think the Celeste has more) but we got there in the end.

I'd love a Sapporo! I thought my Celeste was too frilly when I sold it, but yours makes mine look solid! I'll have to dig out some photos for you to chuckle at.

Anyway, if you're looking for a bonnet, i'm pretty sure that one from one of these would fit...



www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Mitsubishi-Pickup-FRONT-AXLE-SHAFT-INNER-Right-/271748241500

or



www.ebay.com/itm/Passenger-Right-Lower-Control-Arm-Front-Fits-79-93-D-50-11856336/352238726007?fits=Make%3ADodge%7CModel%3AD50&hash=item5203106b77:g:lCsAAOSwYwJaPT96&vxp=mtr

It might be worth sending these fellas a message see if they've got much of the truck left. I've an idea that pretty much all the front sheet metal will fit. But do your checks first. Following this with interest!

Interesting point this, and something I'd not even considered with regards to my Toyota which is of a similar vintage. I might have a chat with Envirostrip at the NEC in March, otherwise it's out with the orbital sander.


Slightly more on topic, am watching this one with interest - best of luck!