This is my pride and joy, and I am heartbroken to be selling him after only 1 week of driving. After 2 years of extensive work, this vehicle finally received an MOT and is ready for some b-road action or sideways heat.
We picked this project up as soon as we moved to the UK. It was a non-runner with numerous fixes required. The intention was to complete the rebuild and keep the car, enjoying track days, the odd drive to Wales/Scotland and the numerous brilliant car events the UK has to offer. Unfortunately, life had other plans, and as a NZ citizen, it didn’t make sense to stay in the UK given the exorbitant cost of a visa extension. We completed the car (minus aesthetic fixes), sent it for an MOT and spent 1 joyful week driving it before leaving the country. I’ve put off making this sale ad, as I have been hoping to figure out a way to keep it, but really, this car needs to be driven and enjoyed now. The car is now sitting in the in-laws driveway (covered) and needs to be sent to his new loving home.
This car had been sat in a garage for about 10 years before we got it - from the chalk that was present on our first checkover it looks like rusted sills were the cause of his enforced hibernation. An engine, box, and axle service, including new oil and filters and a coolant system flush, some new spark plugs (rotary ones are expensive!), a turn over with some mineral oil in the bores to lubricate the apex seals, and some fuel in the float bowls lead to a happily running rotary! While we haven’t run it extensively, this car behaved beautifully on our few road trips and hasn’t failed to start or cut out once.
Repairs include:
- Extensive rust work (few things rot as competently as 80s Japanese steel) new tin welded in and covered with copious amounts of anti-rust paint to prevent future problems. Started the filling, sanding and paint-prep process, but still some to go.
- New aluminum radiator, new rad hoses
- New oil/filter, plugs
- New fuel pump and filters, rust treated fuel tank
- New brake discs and pads (old calipers refurbished). New flexi brake lines and a couple of new copper hardlines made up
- New tyres (obviously very necessary, but you win as these have 1 week of use only)
- Recently refurbished wheels are from a Lotus eclat/elite (center caps adapted, and Mazda inserts taken from the stock wheels)
- New gas struts for the rear window
- Loom repairs (several choco-blocks and an awful 90's alarm removed, YAY)
- New front arm polybushes
The interior looks damn good for its age and is FANTASTICALLY BROWN. There are a few problems – a rip in the driver’s seat edge (your mum could likely fix this with her sewing kit) and there are a few cracks in the plastic in the console base (passenger side in particular). Otherwise, the interior is extremely lush, and you are likely to get pregnant sitting in it.
The work I wanted to continue with included finishing fixing up the body (needs some more filler, prep, and paint), fitting new window rubbers (I've got some tucked away somewhere), lowering the suspension (was going to do a coilover sleeve kit on the front struts, and lowering springs at the rear) and replacing the sun-roof with the new one I purchased (this should be a quick job and the new one is sitting in the boot ready to have the brackets swapped). The rear corner on the drivers side will need to be replaced in the future, but we have lovely repair panel ready for the refit (another time dependent matter). Also, the number plate on the front could do with a replacement. Not an
MOT issue, but it was another little thing on the list which hasn't been
ticked off.
The original wheels are also available, but they need work (buckling visible). The rear seats have no seatbelts (the car arrived without them and has no factory fittings in the floor) so it is strictly a 2 seater. It would be fairly easy to add rear seat belts if you were so inclined.
I’d have loved nothing more than to kit him out with delicious Techno Toy Tuning gear, fix everything cosmetic and get him on to some track days, but I didn’t get there. Please contact me if you have these intentions and will take excellent care of him.
If you haven't noticed from the photos, this is not a concours car. He is (now) pretty solid, and drives remarkably well given how long he has sat, and would be a fun, road legal, driving project, and a usable everyday classic once the last few jobs are tickled up. GIven his MOT you can drive and enjoy him now, and slowly tickle away at the remaining tidying.
We picked this project up as soon as we moved to the UK. It was a non-runner with numerous fixes required. The intention was to complete the rebuild and keep the car, enjoying track days, the odd drive to Wales/Scotland and the numerous brilliant car events the UK has to offer. Unfortunately, life had other plans, and as a NZ citizen, it didn’t make sense to stay in the UK given the exorbitant cost of a visa extension. We completed the car (minus aesthetic fixes), sent it for an MOT and spent 1 joyful week driving it before leaving the country. I’ve put off making this sale ad, as I have been hoping to figure out a way to keep it, but really, this car needs to be driven and enjoyed now. The car is now sitting in the in-laws driveway (covered) and needs to be sent to his new loving home.
This car had been sat in a garage for about 10 years before we got it - from the chalk that was present on our first checkover it looks like rusted sills were the cause of his enforced hibernation. An engine, box, and axle service, including new oil and filters and a coolant system flush, some new spark plugs (rotary ones are expensive!), a turn over with some mineral oil in the bores to lubricate the apex seals, and some fuel in the float bowls lead to a happily running rotary! While we haven’t run it extensively, this car behaved beautifully on our few road trips and hasn’t failed to start or cut out once.
Repairs include:
- Extensive rust work (few things rot as competently as 80s Japanese steel) new tin welded in and covered with copious amounts of anti-rust paint to prevent future problems. Started the filling, sanding and paint-prep process, but still some to go.
- New aluminum radiator, new rad hoses
- New oil/filter, plugs
- New fuel pump and filters, rust treated fuel tank
- New brake discs and pads (old calipers refurbished). New flexi brake lines and a couple of new copper hardlines made up
- New tyres (obviously very necessary, but you win as these have 1 week of use only)
- Recently refurbished wheels are from a Lotus eclat/elite (center caps adapted, and Mazda inserts taken from the stock wheels)
- New gas struts for the rear window
- Loom repairs (several choco-blocks and an awful 90's alarm removed, YAY)
- New front arm polybushes
- New ARB droplinks all round
This 80s beast has a lovely little pig grunt from the fizzy 1200cc Wankel rotary engine when it idles, and it revs spectacularly smoothly. At about 7,000rpm an adorable buzzer sounds to remind you to change up. The box is smooth and the change is satisfyingly mechanical. The steering is decent, but very much of its time - these have a steering box, and while feel is good, there is some slack in it. Swapping the steering box for rack and pinion (especially from an fc) is very common, and there is plenty of info and parts out there to help with this process. I've included a range of repair pics so that you may see the level of care that went into this project.
The interior looks damn good for its age and is FANTASTICALLY BROWN. There are a few problems – a rip in the driver’s seat edge (your mum could likely fix this with her sewing kit) and there are a few cracks in the plastic in the console base (passenger side in particular). Otherwise, the interior is extremely lush, and you are likely to get pregnant sitting in it.
The work I wanted to continue with included finishing fixing up the body (needs some more filler, prep, and paint), fitting new window rubbers (I've got some tucked away somewhere), lowering the suspension (was going to do a coilover sleeve kit on the front struts, and lowering springs at the rear) and replacing the sun-roof with the new one I purchased (this should be a quick job and the new one is sitting in the boot ready to have the brackets swapped). The rear corner on the drivers side will need to be replaced in the future, but we have lovely repair panel ready for the refit (another time dependent matter). Also, the number plate on the front could do with a replacement. Not an
MOT issue, but it was another little thing on the list which hasn't been
ticked off.
The original wheels are also available, but they need work (buckling visible). The rear seats have no seatbelts (the car arrived without them and has no factory fittings in the floor) so it is strictly a 2 seater. It would be fairly easy to add rear seat belts if you were so inclined.
I’d have loved nothing more than to kit him out with delicious Techno Toy Tuning gear, fix everything cosmetic and get him on to some track days, but I didn’t get there. Please contact me if you have these intentions and will take excellent care of him.
If you haven't noticed from the photos, this is not a concours car. He is (now) pretty solid, and drives remarkably well given how long he has sat, and would be a fun, road legal, driving project, and a usable everyday classic once the last few jobs are tickled up. GIven his MOT you can drive and enjoy him now, and slowly tickle away at the remaining tidying.
I am currently living in Singapore, but the car is with my in-laws and viewings may easily be arranged on the weekends. Please note that your morning time is my evening, so it may take a day before you receive a response.
We paid a decent price for this car, and have sunk many hundreds of pounds and almost every weekend into it for 2 years. I just want to recoup some of the cost of the car. You're getting a bargain. As part of the payment, photos/vids of Rick doing well in his new home are expected and would be very much appreciated.
Thanks for looking. If you have questions, please feel free to ask if you have questions.
Thanks for looking. If you have questions, please feel free to ask if you have questions.
Parts were pulled off, cleaned and painted with anti-rust Hammerite. I was determined to have a tidy car for the ages.
So cute pop-up face!
Ample dog space if you're so inclined.
MOT until 6th Sept 2020
He will be tax free in 2024. 
