For donkeys years I've had tunnel vision, always pointed at Datsun. I've got a huge collection of them and then along comes Lanky Tim and his Allegro.
I've never considered owning anything to do with BL and even now, with an Allegro estate, a Metro and a Landcrab (arriving tomorrow), I'm a bit wary. I don't have the time for the constant repairs I'm sure they're all going to need. I'm used to getting in my Datsuns, turning the key and having them fire up straight away, no matter how long they've been parked up. Breakdowns?
? They don't happen!
So. I'm flicking through the 'Cars for sale' here on RR and theres this Metro. Mike described it as a rust box but it didn't look that bad to me and it was only down the road. Its one of the earliest Metros I can remember seeing, has done just over 38k miles and the interior is mint. Heres a reminder of what I bought.
Wifey and I thought it would be good for our 2nd born. Shes just turned 17 and has started learning to drive. She loved it as soon as she saw it. She's always been helpful in the workshop and when I told her she'd have to do most of the work herself, her smile didn't fade.
We knew it needed a right hand sill but the front wings had been badly filled and the left sill was blacked. After bird stripped the interior out, I set her off removing the rh sill. When she looked at the car with a grinder in her hand, most of the front end fell off.
As well as the rh sill, bird found holes in the front inner wings, both headlamp panels, front panel/valance, x-member, rh floor and both front wings. The beauty of this job though, was that all the panels are available 'off the shelf'. Never had a car with panels so readily available before. I hate Ebay but for £20, I got front wings and front panel, 'just down the road'. My usual Factor got me headlamp panels and front crossmember next day.
The worst job was stripping all that curse word, rubberised undersealing off the body. Cathryn took 2 days over it and I thought I'd never get my workshop back but she was very thorough. Both inner wings were bright and shiny when she finished. The lh sill was the same. There was some very minor surface rust which cleaned up easily and its gone back to red, with the rest.
Cat's welding skills have improved about 200% over the last 2 weeks or so. She did most of the welding on the car and loved every minute. During the build, all the parts were pinned together then dismantled several times just to be sure of the fit and then she started welding. I helped with some bits. After all, I am her Daddy. When it was all welded together, I sold her some of my zinc primer and she coated everything that wasn't going red. (She hasn't paid me yet.)
All the inside surfaces were 'zinc'd' before final assembly and then all the new metal outside was etched and primed.
Bird is very arty and has been using my airbrush a lot. She had a bit of practice with my HVLP gun and then chucked red everywhere. Its a really good job too, considering its her first. Each panel had a run with a monumental one on the rh step but they all rubbed out easily.
Then she blacked all the zinc with Chassis Black.
Everything has had a coat of proper underbody wax and all the cavities have been dosed. Shouldn't have to do these same repairs again for another 25 or so years.
I found some nice wheels in one of my barns. I was keeping them for my Stiletto but I reckon bird deserves them.
This is the car this morning.
There's still some work to do. The rh rear arch has begun to 'swell' and there are a few large blisters on the rear panel. I hate doing rear arches so Cat will get it done over the next few weeks as school work allows. In the meantime, the MoT is booked for next Tuesday. Funnily enough, birds named the car Austin. She looks good in it. It suits her.
Now the Metros done and with school allowing, this is her next project. She's named it Penelope. Every panel needs repair/replacement though I won't be buying any more from those people who built that big east-west wall in the north of England. Most of the Metro repair time was spent modifying their crappy panels.
Daddy's so proud.
if you see the car around Telford/Shrewsbury, give it a toot and a wave. If there are L plates on display, it'll be Cat.
I've never considered owning anything to do with BL and even now, with an Allegro estate, a Metro and a Landcrab (arriving tomorrow), I'm a bit wary. I don't have the time for the constant repairs I'm sure they're all going to need. I'm used to getting in my Datsuns, turning the key and having them fire up straight away, no matter how long they've been parked up. Breakdowns?
? They don't happen!So. I'm flicking through the 'Cars for sale' here on RR and theres this Metro. Mike described it as a rust box but it didn't look that bad to me and it was only down the road. Its one of the earliest Metros I can remember seeing, has done just over 38k miles and the interior is mint. Heres a reminder of what I bought.
Wifey and I thought it would be good for our 2nd born. Shes just turned 17 and has started learning to drive. She loved it as soon as she saw it. She's always been helpful in the workshop and when I told her she'd have to do most of the work herself, her smile didn't fade.
We knew it needed a right hand sill but the front wings had been badly filled and the left sill was blacked. After bird stripped the interior out, I set her off removing the rh sill. When she looked at the car with a grinder in her hand, most of the front end fell off.
As well as the rh sill, bird found holes in the front inner wings, both headlamp panels, front panel/valance, x-member, rh floor and both front wings. The beauty of this job though, was that all the panels are available 'off the shelf'. Never had a car with panels so readily available before. I hate Ebay but for £20, I got front wings and front panel, 'just down the road'. My usual Factor got me headlamp panels and front crossmember next day.
The worst job was stripping all that curse word, rubberised undersealing off the body. Cathryn took 2 days over it and I thought I'd never get my workshop back but she was very thorough. Both inner wings were bright and shiny when she finished. The lh sill was the same. There was some very minor surface rust which cleaned up easily and its gone back to red, with the rest.
Cat's welding skills have improved about 200% over the last 2 weeks or so. She did most of the welding on the car and loved every minute. During the build, all the parts were pinned together then dismantled several times just to be sure of the fit and then she started welding. I helped with some bits. After all, I am her Daddy. When it was all welded together, I sold her some of my zinc primer and she coated everything that wasn't going red. (She hasn't paid me yet.)
All the inside surfaces were 'zinc'd' before final assembly and then all the new metal outside was etched and primed.
Bird is very arty and has been using my airbrush a lot. She had a bit of practice with my HVLP gun and then chucked red everywhere. Its a really good job too, considering its her first. Each panel had a run with a monumental one on the rh step but they all rubbed out easily.
Then she blacked all the zinc with Chassis Black.
Everything has had a coat of proper underbody wax and all the cavities have been dosed. Shouldn't have to do these same repairs again for another 25 or so years.
I found some nice wheels in one of my barns. I was keeping them for my Stiletto but I reckon bird deserves them.
This is the car this morning.
There's still some work to do. The rh rear arch has begun to 'swell' and there are a few large blisters on the rear panel. I hate doing rear arches so Cat will get it done over the next few weeks as school work allows. In the meantime, the MoT is booked for next Tuesday. Funnily enough, birds named the car Austin. She looks good in it. It suits her.
Now the Metros done and with school allowing, this is her next project. She's named it Penelope. Every panel needs repair/replacement though I won't be buying any more from those people who built that big east-west wall in the north of England. Most of the Metro repair time was spent modifying their crappy panels.
Daddy's so proud.
if you see the car around Telford/Shrewsbury, give it a toot and a wave. If there are L plates on display, it'll be Cat.
)
