Jump to content

Six Cylinders Motoring Notes


Six-cylinder

Recommended Posts

  • Six-cylinder changed the title to Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - A Citroen BX exploded in the FoD!!

Back in February I had a message to say the Mitsubishi Sigma V6 Estate I had admired was in danger of being scrapped and would I be interested in saving it.

The immediate problem was the clutch had failed and Talbot organised its recovery and for the Clutch to be replaced at a garage he knows.

Next Talbot took it for MOT, not a disaster but a few things to fix. Talbot did all the mechanical work, new rack boots, drop links, welding, lamps, etc.

There are still two outstanding items, corroded headlights and tyres. There are tyres available in the correct size but are quite expensive so we are looking for part-worns. The main concern is the head lights, Talbot has tried to separate the glass from the plastic reflectors to tidy them but they are firmly attached and likely to break the reflectors if forced.  There are no headlights in the UK so we are going to attempt to get some from Australia. 

A very big thanks to @Talbot who has done so much to help save this car.

IMG_20230908_174022 broad.jpg

IMG_20230908_174031 broad.jpg

IMG_20230909_183117 broad.jpg

IMG_20230909_183100 broad.jpg

IMG_20230909_183154 broad.jpg

IMG_20230909_183044 broad.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Six-cylinder changed the title to Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - Incoming!

Im very glad to see that the Sigma estate has been saved! We had one as a family car when I was a child and I have quite the soft spot for them, especially the estates.

When looking in Australia for parts, keep in mind that is was called the Mitsubishi Magna in the home market, specifically it is a TS Magna (1994-1996) but the TR Magna (1991-1993) is essentially the same.

If you need any assistance in Australia sourcing spares, drop me a line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

Im very glad to see that the Sigma estate has been saved! We had one as a family car when I was a child and I have quite the soft spot for them, especially the estates.

When looking in Australia for parts, keep in mind that is was called the Mitsubishi Magna in the home market, specifically it is a TS Magna (1994-1996) but the TR Magna (1991-1993) is essentially the same.

If you need any assistance in Australia sourcing spares, drop me a line.

I should also mention that as yours looks to be a posh spec one, the Magna was also sold in a more luxurious version called the Mitsubishi Verada (KR/KS).

If it’s headlamps you are looking for, may I recommend a set of Verada lamps as they look a bit nicer than the Magna lamps with the smoked look and gingercators.

Magna Lamps:

image.jpeg.cbfc51694405c80577ea285b9f9a35f1.jpeg

Verada Lamps:

image.thumb.jpeg.0f9fa4efa5b071454bcd3204adfd3415.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The issue with the headlamps is that the silvering on the plastic reflector has deteriorated quite badly, meaning there is no clear dipped-beam cut-off, hence MOT fail.  I was hoping that I could ping off the 6-or-so stainless clips each side that hold the glass lenses onto the plastic reflectors and get in there to re-silver the plastic, but they are also bonded, and the bonding appears to still be in tip-top condition (of course!).  I've been told that putting the headlamp in an oven at about 80c, then the adhesive softens and they can be prised apart.  However, the nearside headlamp plastic does have a significant crack in it, and I am not confident about pulling them apart without destroying them, hence I didn't.

The Aus-specification lamps for Magna and Verada look to be a higher quality lamp with a metal reflector in the body of the headlamp, hence may have remained in far better condition.  As far as I can see, the body mounting and steel pressings appear identical, hence they can be swapped out.  It might be nice to get a replacement grille too, as the Sigma one is rather damaged on the nearside (which matches with the NS headlamp being cracked and the slight dink in the bonnet edge).  I believe it had a coming together with a deer at some point.

As far as the Sigma goes, I was quite surprised at how big it is.  I could easily get my pushbike in the back without taking the front wheel off, which is a bit of a rarity.  It seems like quite a high specification car, and I rather like it.  Only thing it lacks (IMO) is A/C.

Tyres are a bit of an oddball (and old-fashioned) size at 205/65R15.  It currently has mismatched 195/65 and 195/60 tyres on it, which are all fairly knackered anyway, so getting the right size seems like a sensible thing to do, especially as the tyres look a bit small on the car at the moment (no surprise).  I realised this when I saw the spare was a different size, which I assumed was wrong, but it turned out was the only one the correct size.

Also, despite wearing a 1995/1996 "N" registration, it's actually a 1993 car.  Imported from overseas and given a new registration at date of import, rather than age-related to the year of manufacture.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

38 minutes ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

I should also mention that as yours looks to be a posh spec one, the Magna was also sold in a more luxurious version called the Mitsubishi Verada (KR/KS).

If it’s headlamps you are looking for, may I recommend a set of Verada lamps as they look a bit nicer than the Magna lamps with the smoked look and gingercators.

Magna Lamps:

image.jpeg.cbfc51694405c80577ea285b9f9a35f1.jpeg

Verada Lamps:

image.thumb.jpeg.0f9fa4efa5b071454bcd3204adfd3415.jpeg

@Talbot has been looking into them and thinks Australian headlights will need a grill to match. I am happy to do that partially as my grill is broken anyway and as soon as we can find good useable parts I am ready to buy them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

20 minutes ago, Talbot said:

Also, despite wearing a 1995/1996 "N" registration, it's actually a 1993 car.  Imported from overseas and given a new registration at date of import, rather than age-related to the year of manufacture.

Where did you find that information?

The V5C says declared new at first registration and the service book also says 16 miles on 30 March 1996. Sometimes cars sit a long time unregistered with the importer before being sold but I can't see how I was used overseas first?

IMG_20230912_051720 crop no of owners broad.jpg

 

 

 

 

IMG_20230912_102744  no vin broad.jpg

IMG_20230912_102806 crop broad.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

 

Where did you find that information?

The V5C says declared new at first registration and the service book also says 16 miles on 30 March 1996. Sometimes cars sit a long time unregistered with the importer before being sold but I can't see how I was used overseas first?

T'was information from the previous owner.  Which, given the evidence you have there, would appear to be either erronious, or I've mis-remembered or mis-interpreted.  I am absolutely sure it was mentioned to be a 1993 model, but maybe it was simply that it sat around for a while before registration rather than anything else.

I wonder if an owners club or similar can date it's manufacture by the vin...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Talbot said:

T'was information from the previous owner.  Which, given the evidence you have there, would appear to be either erronious, or I've mis-remembered or mis-interpreted.  I am absolutely sure it was mentioned to be a 1993 model, but maybe it was simply that it sat around for a while before registration rather than anything else.

I wonder if an owners club or similar can date it's manufacture by the vin...

I will ask on a couple of facebook groups now I have the car.

Any news from the headlight/grill man you spoke to?

We now have  @MorrisItalSLX to help us.

Was there just one key?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...