Recommendations for a first classic car restoration project?

Recommendations for a first classic car restoration project?

Author
Discussion

TickingTappets

Original Poster:

20 posts

108 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Have been thinking about doing a restoration on a classic car for a while and am looking for suggestions for a beginner to take on this sort of project. I would be looking to spend just a few hundred quid on a tatty car requiring bodywork, interior and maybe mechanical type work. I have been looking at Austin A30s, Heralds and various other 60's cars. I wouldn't be looking to restore to concours standards so would definitely be looking at doing the bodywork and respray myself and brakes and some basic engine stuff.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated,

Chris.

westbay

2 posts

170 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Drawup a short list of possibles and then check spares availability for each, both mechanical and body panels, before parting with any money !

RyanDD

96 posts

150 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
I'd recommend a model with a good parts basin for your exploitation.
My first restoration was mini, every single part was available as long as you didn't have a super early model or a silly limited edition.

smn159

12,446 posts

216 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
If you're looking for an 'easy' introduction to restorations a Series Landy is worth considering.

Chassis is thick enough to forgive the most cack handed of welding and you can even brush paint it and it will still look good.

Ilovejapcrap

3,274 posts

111 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
mini ?

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
MGB
Land Rover
Mini
Triumph Spitfire
MG Midget/Sprite

Basically, anything they made lots of. More advice, more bits.
My first restoration is a Lotus Excel, so jumping in at the deep end a bit. It was free though!

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
There are 2 key things I'd say you need to look at:

1. A car you're interested in and actually want to drive at the end.
There will be dark days when it's really hard to keep going with a full restoration. Usually when it's below zero in your garage and you still seem to be cutting bits off, not putting them back on the car you've been working on every night and weekend for 6 months. If you're restoring a car you got because it was cheap but you don't really have any passion for it's easier to just close the garage door and take a few days off. Which turns in to a few weeks off, then a few months, then you haven't touched it for 10 years and 3 house moves. If you've always like A30s/wanted a convertable/etc it just gives you that little more motivation.

2. As others have said, something with good parts supply.
Sure, you can pick something unusual but you'll end up with gaps while you endlessly search eBay and car shows for some obscure part, like a heater flap that needs to go on before dash/whole interior can go in.


Based on the car's you've been looking at the Herald is a good choice. Reasonable parts availability, simple separate chassis construction, and really good access to the engine with the full flip front.

TickingTappets

Original Poster:

20 posts

108 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Thank you all very much for the comments, I think the Herald is the favourite at the moment. The availability of parts is massive and I've always liked its looks.

matty0194

95 posts

107 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
TickingTappets said:
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated,

Chris.
Old Porsche 924 944 Jaguar XJS seen few under £1000 that drive away old MGB midget or a classic Range Rover all great projects in my opinion even an old Golf GTi from 70's would be nice to work on depends what you like to be honest there is loads of great projects out there at a steal of a price. If you seen wheeler dealers with Mike and Ed they done some good resterations jobs that will give you some insperation

matty0194

95 posts

107 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
TickingTappets said:
Thank you all very much for the comments, I think the Herald is the favourite at the moment. The availability of parts is massive and I've always liked its looks.
Considered a Spitfire 1500?

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Herald is an easy to live with easy to work on car, parts largely available new or second hand, with the bonnet off (2 people four bolts) you can get at all the front oily bits. Make sure the body tub is sound and check the chassis for rot or accident damage.

alpinemauve

352 posts

154 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Heralds are a great route into classic ownership and restoration. Choose your front end with the original 948/1200 Michelotti designed 'happy face' or the later 1360 revised front end of the later models. Convertibles cost more but offer another dimension to the driving experience. 1360 convertibles are numerous and you can afford to be more picky, 1200s are still quite common again allowing for choosing the best you can find, 948 convertibles - the earliest examples - are pretty much extinct.

Coupes are rare too and prices are on the up. Project saloons can still be found for under £500!

Bodywise is all fixable, engine parts are virtually all available, trim is available new but can be very expensive so go for good trim. Check chassis for rot or if a 'body off' resto route is chosen ensure you have really accurate measurements.
Go for known history on a car, again many are still around with known ownership from new with less than 50k miles. Go for originality and ensure you know commission numbers to ensure you are getting what you are paying for. Running engines always inspire confidence. Good luck and report back how you get on.

Edited by alpinemauve on Tuesday 21st April 22:35

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
TickingTappets said:
Thank you all very much for the comments, I think the Herald is the favourite at the moment. The availability of parts is massive and I've always liked its looks.
Then that's the one you should get. smile
Good luck with it!

SPT28

425 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
To echo //j17's post:

I'm working on two of the suggested options - a '69 MGB GT and an A35, although more the latter at present as I have an impending deadline. Parts and panel availability for the MG is pretty comprehensive as you'd expect, however the A35 is a little trickier, worth factoring in such elements when considering a first project.

Both are also pretty basic to work on but if youre going for a full-blown restoration be prepared to take your time as their construction is reasonably complex when compared to something like a beetle where the body can be seperated from the chassis.

Whatever you decide the usual caveats of research, research, research on owners clubs etc. and go in with your eyes open. Sounds obvious but also buying something you generally want to own and use at the end of the project is always motivational. Sounds like a Herald might be that option.

Best of luck!

Perseverant

439 posts

110 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
quotequote all
My suggestion would be Triumph Herald because they have a separate chassis and nut and bolt technology. Engine access is fantastic and they came in a variety of body types, including a van, so I imagine that a bit of mix and match might be possible. Engines went from around 1200cc to a six cylinder 1600 and a 2000. Standard Triumph worked hard on parts interchangeability to save money and development, which is another plus. Suspension was a bit more advanced than most other small cars of the time, so they are quite nice to drive (as I recall).

TickingTappets

Original Poster:

20 posts

108 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Well, I've now got my first restoration project - a 1964 Morris Minor Tourer. She ain't pretty (shabby chic?) but she's strong, and has passed the last four MOTs without advisories, so her structure is very sound. Parts availability is huge and reasonably priced and I love the simplicity of everything about her. When she's cold you pull a little lever out to get her going; when your cold you wind a chrome handle to make the windows go upwards and when it rains you stand on your feet and pull a hood over which takes about 2 minutes.

I am already in love with her cuteness and lack of complications - now I just need to make her pretty again, and to make some decisions about the new? paint and hood colours.



Poisson96

2,098 posts

130 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Is the Mog a factory convertible or a chopped one? If the latter, check it has been braced properly.

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Excellent!
Have fun mate.

tortop45

434 posts

159 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Get your self a 205GTI great little car as a starter project......

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
tortop45 said:
Get your self a 205GTI great little car as a starter project......
What, in addition to the Moggie he's just bought...?