The Art of Shedding

[Veeayt]

That dark blue 505 in the scrapyard looks to be in salvageable nick?

[Retroshite]

RJC_4882 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4883 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4884 by srblythe, on Flickr



Engine out!

[Retroshite]

Bobberoo99 said:

I hate to add to the doubters but surely that Chevette is way beyond saving???

Nothing is beyond saving if you have the time, skill and money to spend on it but yes, you're right, that gold one is beyond saving for me. I just bought it for the front end because I couldn't be bothered trying to fabricate a front end for the blue Chevette. I'm planning on taking anything decent and weighing the rest in.
It does have a good low mileage engine and gearbox, decent wheels, a nice interior etc. I'm planning on fitting most of the parts onto the blue Chevette.

[Bobberoo99]

Retroste said:

Bobberoo99 said:

I hate to add to the doubters but surely that Chevette is way beyond saving???

Nothing is beyond saving if you have the time, skill and money to spend on it but yes, you're right, that gold one is beyond saving for me. I just bought it for the front end because I couldn't be bothered trying to fabricate a front end for the blue Chevette. I'm planning on taking anything decent and weighing the rest in.
It does have a good low mileage engine and gearbox, decent wheels, a nice interior etc. I'm planning on fitting most of the parts onto the blue Chevette.

AAhhh, all becomes clear now!!! I did wonder if you'd finally completely lost the plot!!!

[BrabusMog]

Bobberoo99 said:

Retroste said:

Bobberoo99 said:

I hate to add to the doubters but surely that Chevette is way beyond saving???

Nothing is beyond saving if you have the time, skill and money to spend on it but yes, you're right, that gold one is beyond saving for me. I just bought it for the front end because I couldn't be bothered trying to fabricate a front end for the blue Chevette. I'm planning on taking anything decent and weighing the rest in.
It does have a good low mileage engine and gearbox, decent wheels, a nice interior etc. I'm planning on fitting most of the parts onto the blue Chevette.

AAhhh, all becomes clear now!!! I did wonder if you'd finally completely lost the plot!!!

[Retroshite]

I had a couple off days off from working on this but was back at it today.

RJC_4886 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4887 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4889 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4891 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4892 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4897 by srblythe, on Flickr


A couple of people have asked for offcuts, someone wanted the rear strut turrets to fit to a Chevette hatchback and someone else wanted whats left of the rear arches.

[Q Car]

I grew up hanging around with a great family friend who kept 47 Rootes groups motors in a field. Feeling right at home here!

[Retroshite]

We gave the ranger a quick paint job yesterday, spent £60 on primer, 2k paint and hardeners which was just about enough to cover the whole car.



RJC_4906 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4908 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4917 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4919 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4920 by srblythe, on Flickr



We did the bare minimum prep, masked off a couple of areas and wire wheeled some of the rust. I'm happy enough with the result, it certainly looks better than before.



RJC_4792 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_0770 by srblythe, on Flickr



Also got rid of that horrendous looking wing on the 305.



RJC_4473 by srblythe, on Flickr



RJC_4911 by srblythe, on Flickr



RJC_4912 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4913 by srblythe, on Flickr



As rough as it looked on top I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is underneath. I still think the scuttle drainage tube which goes from an area under the windscreen, through the inside of the car and out of the inner wing is a daft idea. 



RJC_4924 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4922 by srblythe, on Flickr



I also compared my Chevette front ends after a quick blast of paint in the wrong shade of blue.



RJC_4904 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4903 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4902 by srblythe, on Flickr

[TVR-Stu]

Looks like a black coloured front wing is becoming a 'theme'. Even your W123 has one

[Retroshite]

Just picked up a 3 series 6 cylinder for £10!

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

[Retroshite]

I dug the old Mercedes out,

DSC_0267 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0268 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0271 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0273 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0278 by srblythe, on Flickr



It's in desperate need of a wash, the wings painted and a new fuel pump relay, it's currently wired to a switch which although seems to work quite well I'm not sure if it'll pass an mot like that.

I haven't touched it in months but it started up fine and still runs great.

[jamesson]

Retroste said:

Just picked up a 3 series 6 cylinder for £10!

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

Firstly, what's wrong with it that it only cost £10?!

Secondly, and I could very well be wrong here, but I seem to remember that BMW UK's own cars all came with ARX suffixes (or similar) on the number plate which means that one could have a very nice spec. Someone more knowledgeable than I am may have a better idea about this than I do.

More information, please!

[EarlofDrift]

Retroste said:

We gave the ranger a quick paint job yesterday, spent £60 on primer, 2k paint and hardeners which was just about enough to cover the whole car.



RJC_4906 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4908 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4917 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4919 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4920 by srblythe, on Flickr



We did the bare minimum prep, masked off a couple of areas and wire wheeled some of the rust. I'm happy enough with the result, it certainly looks better than before.



RJC_4792 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_0770 by srblythe, on Flickr



Also got rid of that horrendous looking wing on the 305.



RJC_4473 by srblythe, on Flickr



RJC_4911 by srblythe, on Flickr



RJC_4912 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4913 by srblythe, on Flickr



As rough as it looked on top I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is underneath. I still think the scuttle drainage tube which goes from an area under the windscreen, through the inside of the car and out of the inner wing is a daft idea. 



RJC_4924 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4922 by srblythe, on Flickr



I also compared my Chevette front ends after a quick blast of paint in the wrong shade of blue.



RJC_4904 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4903 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_4902 by srblythe, on Flickr

That looks a hell of a lot better than I expected it would with a rattle can. £60 isn't too bad. I remember last year the guy from Hubnut painted his Reliant Fox pickup with a £10 tub of blue matt emulsion and a few rattle cans of clear sealer. It seems to have lasted well for a £20 paint job.

[BrabusMog]

jamesson said:

Retroste said:

Just picked up a 3 series 6 cylinder for £10!

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

£10 car! by srblythe, on Flickr

Firstly, what's wrong with it that it only cost £10?!

Secondly, and I could very well be wrong here, but I seem to remember that BMW UK's own cars all came with ARX suffixes (or similar) on the number plate which means that one could have a very nice spec. Someone more knowledgeable than I am may have a better idea about this than I do.

More information, please!

Fairly sure this one was used by What Car in a group test many, many, many years ago!

[Retroshite]

DSC_0303 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0306 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0305 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0308 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0309 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0311 by srblythe, on Flickr



Worst raffle win ever...

I hate it so will be trying to sell/swap as soon as possible. Already been offered an MGZT or a Rover r8 216gti for it which I'm awaiting pictures of.

[Retroshite]

Lockdown Boredom by srblythe, on Flickr

Edited by Retroste on Monday 13th April 11:49

[Retroshite]

Last bit of progress!

DSC_0343 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0344 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0345 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0346 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0348 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0349 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0350 by srblythe, on Flickr

[Retroshite]

DSC_0378 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0379 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0387 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0390 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0421 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0415 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0416 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0419 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0420 by srblythe, on Flickr



Wheel arch went in quite well without much distortion...

[Retroshite]

DSC_0451 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0455 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0467 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0470 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0471 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0472 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0475 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0477 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0478 by srblythe, on Flickr

I can't take credit for the majority of the work, my friend is doing a lot of it for free.

[Michaelbailey]

Retroste said:

DSC_0451 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0455 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0467 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0470 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0471 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0472 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0475 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0477 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0478 by srblythe, on Flickr

I can't take credit for the majority of the work, my friend is doing a lot of it for free.

For some really strange reason im really pleased this incredibly average old car is being given a second lease of life. Like im emotionally invested in this car ill never even see. Why?