SambaS in AlpineLE Oh-dearage!

[Timewaster]

That first buff after the tcut is a satisfying moment. Good work!

[Tickman]

Wow!

[dollywobbler]

Bufftastic.

[Simcat]

That's this side flatted and buffed.

 

Front wing yet to be fitted properly as jacking point still needs finishing this side.

 

Glass to be refitted. 

[vulgalour]

very, very nice!

[alpinerapier]

Well worth all the hard work and determination as its looking seriously good. Gallons of waxoil required to keep the rust at bay. Brilliant progress chaps and look forward to seeing it back on the road later in the year.

[oldcars]

That's very good. Are you polishing out colour sanding marks by hand? Major respect if you are, it was hard with a rotory polisher and g6 when i did mine.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I would seriously LICK that 👅

[dollywobbler]

I'm already looking forward to Shitefest 2017 because of this car.

[hairnet]

[Simcat]

That's very good. Are you polishing out colour sanding marks by hand? Major respect if you are, it was hard with a rotory polisher and g6 when i did mine.

Yes by hand, it's cellulose paint so stays quite soft initially, so not too much work required. Final buff and wax in a few weeks will really finish it off. 

[Simcat]

I'm already looking forward to Shitefest 2017 because of this car.

Oh shit - a deadline!

[Simcat]

Glass back in, and external black trim back on, though will come off again to be painted at the final leg.

 

 

 

Delved into rehab stock and came up with a set of new door handles, only the LE, LS and Talbot Rancho used the black version.

 

 

 

 

That's about it for now, as SambaS is in working in warmer climes for the summer!

[vulgalour]

It's even more remarkable when you remember that is the same car as THIS:

 

[Simcat]

Whilst progress on the LE is on hold for a while, other Alpines ARE getting some attention. This car first appeared on p13 of this thread when it arrived at Talbot Rehab at Christmas.

 

Today I tackled the front end, removing both, very rotten, front wings. The even more rotten bonnet will stay on for now to assist alignment of the replacement wings. With the lamps and bumper removed as well, the true extent of the decay became apparent.

 

I contemplated some patch repairs, but decided that complete replacement with NOS panels will be altogether more satisfactory.

[vulgalour]

Here at the Talbot Sanctuary, we never put a healthy car down.  Even if we really should.  We have the technology, we can rebuild them all.

[Simcat]

Here at the Talbot Sanctuary, we never put a healthy car down.  Even if we really should.  We have the technology, we can rebuild them all.

There's bit of a story behind this car. The elderly owner who had it new in 77 approached the club offering it for free, but wanted to retain the registration number (which was off his previous car, an early sixties Hillman Minx, and had been on the Alpine since new) The problem of course is that it needs an MOT for the transfer, and as it's stood since 1992 in a damp garage, there's no small amount of work to do, apart from the rust. So in a slightly rash moment, and only having seen photos of it, I agreed to take it on...

 

So plan now is to do enough for the MOT to enable the transfer, tidy it up sufficiently to be presentable, and then probably make a user car of it in due course, as it will be tax exempt in around 18 months.

[Simcat]

These early cars didn't have front plastic wheel arch liners, so the rot tends to be quite comprehensive. Compare with the LE which did have them, and consequently is all solid around the front end.

 

Better stop chopping back before the drive line falls out...

 

 

 

Main chassis rail rotten at end on nearside, and inner wings both sides, easy repair though with everything being so accessible now.

 

 

Repairs done on nearside and new cross member offered up

 

 

[SambaS]

Stu you are mad! Another lucky Alpine!!

[Simcat]

Stu you are mad! Another lucky Alpine!!

Yeah should really have thought twice on this one!

 

Also just remembered there's no second gear either - stripped! Not exactly an MOT item, will probably limp to the station without it for now..

[Simcat]

That's the front end sorted, with replacement driver's wing offered up. This is a used but genuine one, I never use pattern wings as they just don't fit.

 

Next job strip out seats and carpets ready for sill replacement, and attend to some holes in rear floor pan.

[Simcat]

More crusty rustiness..

 

Jacking point coming off.

 

Whilst jacking point was off a rust patch in side of chassis rail was cut out, which then gave access to the cage nuts and bolts holding on the front anti roll bar. Here being persuaded to undo!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Massive restepc to you for the work you're doing on these old buses. What's the crack with the blue one - do you do the work on behalf of SambaS, or is it s joint venture sort of thing? Can't remember where/when I asked, but do you know the fate of the burgundy early R plate Alpine which was 'saved' a couple of years back?

[quicksilver]

Here's anoher candidate for the Talbot sanctuary, Doesn't seem too bad compared with the heroic work going on in this thread.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-TALBOT-ALPINE-LS-GREEN-/272247084967?hash=item3f6330d7a7:g:bOMAAOSw41xXPHbO

 

[Simcat]

Massive restepc to you for the work you're doing on these old buses. What's the crack with the blue one - do you do the work on behalf of SambaS, or is it s joint venture sort of thing? Can't remember where/when I asked, but do you know the fate of the burgundy early R plate Alpine which was 'saved' a couple of years back?

We work on the LE every so often when SambaS drops in for a couple of days, he's working abroad at the moment, so it's on hold for now.

 

The R plate red car is in good hands, though no progress has been made towards it's restoration yet. It's fairly rotten, but well doable. 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That green one looks quite appealing, I might have a dabble on it

[beko1987]

Ha, you would have to get an AA badge on that green one if you bought it.

 

Or flog the plate to the rac for £££££

[quicksilver]

That green one looks quite appealing, I might have a dabble on it

You misspelled 'appalling'. To be fair, for a Stondon car it really doesn't look too bad apart from having some random missing bits like the mirrors and gearknob. It's certainly in better shape than that rotten old Sunbeam that's just sold for 2 grand.

[trigger]

The interior had what looked like a dead cat in the footwell when i last saw it at Stondon, trust me, it's pretty grim in the flesh.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

WTF!