My heavily modified metro.

[busta]

Ok, this started life as an ordinary 1991 Rover Metro GTa with a 1.4 K-series. I had it four years before I decided to modify it but it got to a point where modification of this sort was the only way forward. It started life looking like this: (please excuse the poor quality photos, the car looks great in the flesh!)



I started the modification with a roof chop. This required removal of the roof.



Job done

Then I lowered the car, tidied up the roof, customised the bodywork a little and flared a couple of the arches.



Then I lowered it a little more.



Because it sits so low it needs to be trailered.



So there you go, hope you like it. I feel I've done the car justice.

Busta

[busta]

coopers said:

i bet it handles like a beast now.... whats next?

Unfortuantely we've had some issues with tyre scrub since carrying out the modifications. And a disticnt lack of anywhere to sit.

Next on the list, if my dad has his way, is the vauxhall carlton GSi3000 which is in the top picture. It's a non runner but hopefully if i can get her running she will remain intact. Then she shall be used as vauxhall intended (to go everywhere sideways, apparently!)

On a more serious note, it was worrying how easy it was to flatten the metro. It was suffering from a good deal of tin worm but still, in an accident the rollover protection would be a bit less than nill! It had about as much structural integrity as a chocolate mousse.

[busta]

Thing is, I don't actually dislike metros per-se. I like the concept around which they were built (light weight, decent handling with decent engines (k-series head gasket problems aside)) and the fact they were built to replace the mini and as such share a fair amount of its character.

However I dislike the way they look, the people that usually buy them, the total lack of interior legroom and the way the decompose at the same rate as an autumn leaf.

This one was given to me on the understanding that with a new sill and some wiper blades it was MOT-able. For the few miles I drove it on tarmac it was actually a good laugh. It had a carb'd 1.3 (i think?) K-series with about 80hp and 185 profile tyres and under 60mph it was actually a good laugh. I never fitted the new sill of wiper blades. It was thrashed around fiels for a few months until it developed an electrical problem preventing it from running for more thant 10 secs so it was left to rot even more than it already had!)

I'd love a 6R4, or a 1.8vvc metro if i could find a rust free base car!

So there you go, I think the metro was partly underrated, partly misunderstood and mostly a badly marketed, badly put together rust bucket.

[busta]

BoRED S2upid said:

Isn't it about time you started a new project? I see hundreds of cars on the road today that need a touch of your Modification.

I have! Clicky!