SambaS in AlpineLE Oh-dearage!

[Simcat]

Rear skin from the now defunct R J Grimes, front Czech Republic!

[sierraman]

Are they still on the go then RJ Grimes?

[steve_earwig]

Long since defunct apparently.

 

I was thinking of RJ Grimes when I saw those panels, in the days before t'internet I was having real trouble finding panels for Avengers and the best I could do was wait for Grimes to throw something out, probably complete with a boot print where someone had stood on it. And here we are, some 25 years later, and you're managing to source stuff like rear quarters and door skins. It's mind blowing.

[SambaS]

Merry Christmas all - today we are reskinning doors.

 

 

Here I have been painting things that will never be seen again to give them a good chance at longevity.

 

 

 

When the front wing came off to our amazement it was a genuine Peugeot Talbot panel - result! So all the new panels that have gone into this car thus far have been genuine parts.

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Merry Christmas!!! Now that's what I call a Christmas morning. 176/10!!!!

[Anglevan]

Good luck, if only my missus would let me work on my cars today !

[alpinerapier]

Merry Christmas.  Looks like Talbot rehab is very busy once again.  Door frames look in great shape considering.  Usual rot under the front screen- every Talbot I have owned has suffered from this and as a result soggy front carpets

If all goes to plan then I should make an appearance at Talbot rehab on Sunday with a Chrysler Alpine on tow.

[dollywobbler]

By the way - pretty sure that RJ Grimes was absorbed or changed into Speedyspares. Run by a lady and her daughter I think. Lovely people, though I haven't spoken to them in years.

[captain_70s]

I do like that first picture with all the Talbots scattered around in the background.

[Simcat]

R J Grimes and Speedyspares were run concurrently by the same family. When Grimes closed some stock was transferred to Speedyspares, but available space there was always at a premium, so, in the event, only a fraction of the total actually went there.

 

A large amount of the Grimes stock (Rootes, Peugeot, Simca/Talbot) was saved by various individuals (including myself) but many tons of iron were scrapped, some of the Peugeot stuff went to Africa, and the rest went into landfill when the buildings were demolished for a housing developement.

 

By the end there had been a lot of vandalism and several fires, so there wasn't really much else worth having.  

[twosmoke300]

I blame 28dl ! 😄

[Richard]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157622583443010/

[anonymous user]

 

When I saw this shot, I thought for a moment that you had gone all motorshow cut-away and fitted perspex door skins

 

Sorry about the distorted photo, I don't know how that happened

[SambaS]

I'm beginning to think I could have chosen a less rusty Alpine.

 

Right. Door skins are finished, fitted and aligned and crimped on.

 

 

Then there was this teeny bit of rust in the A pillar/ windscreen frame:

 

 

Stu said right from the beginning if you can't see the little V for the water to drain then there will be further trouble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We haven't finished this area yet, it still needs a few more fills before painting and refitting of wings and scuttle. So 2 days on the doors and 2 days on the A pillar!

 

THAT IS THE LAST OF THE RUST ON THIS SIDE!

[SambaS]

Chrysler Alpine on tow.

 

This came down with AlpineRapier today relayed from Billingham, County Durham. 

 

 

[lincolndanny]

This thread just keeps giving! MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS INDEED!!!!

[r.welfare]

Is that rusty red one on Triumph Acclaim wheels?

[SambaS]

I though they were Civic but Stu assures me they are Horizon

[vulgalour]

They do look like Horizon steels.

 

 

[hairnet]

edward you are fuggin insane

 

love it

[Simcat]

...here it is in it's lair of 24 years, on its correct wheels.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

***SWOON***

[AnthonyG]

Amazing. Can't believe the blue one from Shitefest is still going, and was actually quite sound despite all the wob, holes etc.

 

I vaguely remember all the Chrysler ones vanishing from the roads in about 1986, the Talbots seemed a bit more rust resistant.

[Angrydicky]

Oooh I noticed DFH 191T in the background of one of the photos, what's the situation with that one currently? I think it was benjyp who bought it when it was on Ebay, but does someone else own it now? That car stood out as an Alpine that had been off the road years and wasn't actually rotten as a pear!

 

Great work!

[Simcat]

Oooh I noticed DFH 191T in the background of one of the photos, what's the situation with that one currently? I think it was benjyp who bought it when it was on Ebay, but does someone else own it now? That car stood out as an Alpine that had been off the road years and wasn't actually rotten as a pear!

 

Great work!

Yes it's very solid, but unfortunately it had sustained some quite heavy accident damage in it's past to the n/s/f, which was 'fixed' rather than properly repaired. So not sure yet on the fate of that one. 

[Angrydicky]

I nearly had a bid on it myself when it was on eBay actually. Shame to hear that.

[Simcat]

We thought the driver's side welding was finished... wonder what's lurking under this old patch?

 

 

Oh dear - not a lot once off, along with the bottom of the jacking point. Had the latter been used for its intended purpose then a crunchy collapse rather than vehicular elevation would have been the result. With likely outer sill and wing damage thrown in. 

 

 

Right off with the rest of it...

 

 

...but not before checking that the NOS one on my stock list actually existed! The other L shaped piece supports the rubber seal between headlamp and bumper, also required for this side.

 

 

Crustiness mostly removed, ready to reconstruct the all important vertical inner sill supports, which form a strong box section the jacking point fixes to. Bottom of A pillar fine, and of course we already have a new sill this side (just as well!)

 

 

New sections offered up prior to welding

 

 

New jacking point also offered up.

 

 

That's as far as it got today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Simcat]

Once this is all done, we can attend to the actual floor pan rust, which the original patch was slapped on for. 

[dollywobbler]

The car that just keeps giving. Rusty headaches. Inspiring work though.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Still gobsmacked by the effort going into this one. When it's done*, you need to drive it over to visit the previous owner, then start smacking him across the chops with a stale baguette. Maybe leave all the filler and rotten metal you've cut out strewn across his doorstep as well.