My SD1 - Welding Completed

[danthecapriman]

Lovely car, and well done for keeping it and getting it sorted.

I've always liked the SD1, they're very striking and stand out like very few other cars. I've not seen one for ages.

I'd love an early V8 in that cool 70's yellow.

[Cleon-Fonte]

The insurance underwriters have a funny way of working. They laughed in my face when I tried to insure a Vitesse and most wouldn't even quote, quotes for straight-sixes and carb V8s were extortionate, which left me with the 2 litre and Vanden Plas EFi. EFi was cheaper than the four-banger so I went with that.

 

I would have got quotes for the 2.4 diesel just to complete the set, but they're all rotten or in France.

 

That was back in 2011 which should give you a clue to my age now.

 

And am I the only one whose SD1's gloveboxes have always remained bone dry?

[EssDeeWon]

 

And am I the only one whose SD1's gloveboxes have always remained bone dry?

 

Mine were always dry but the bulkhead had gone lower down so the front footwells used to get soaked instead.

[Captain Slow]

The insurance underwriters have a funny way of working. They laughed in my face when I tried to insure a Vitesse and most wouldn't even quote, quotes for straight-sixes and carb V8s were extortionate, which left me with the 2 litre and Vanden Plas EFi. EFi was cheaper than the four-banger so I went with that.

 

I would have got quotes for the 2.4 diesel just to complete the set, but they're all rotten or in France.

 

That was back in 2011 which should give you a clue to my age now.

 

 

 

 

Partridge's age then, 2 years younger than me. Jammy sod! I seem to recall the cheapest to insure for me was the 2600 but even that was ludicrous.

[UmBongo]

Me shudder at the thought of paying for engine rebuilds.

 

I feel physically sick on MOT day until I get the call to say it's passed or something worse...

[Captain Slow]

Cleon-Fonte, on

[LC Torana]

 

Cleon-Fonte, on

Cleon-Fonte, off

[Dippy]

Great shite keep the updates coming.

[lisbon_road]

Good story.  Thanks for sharing.  Autoshite

[EssDeeWon]

Yes lets keep this stuff at the top where it belongs !!

[Cleon-Fonte]

So today I crossed the Pennines to see what progress had been made on the old girl. As you can see some quite serious demolition work has taken place but now the new nearside sill is ready to be welded in.

 

 

Unfortunately the more rust that's repaired, the more new rust is discovered. This used to be the nearside jacking point.

 

 

So, once the nearside sill is in, which it should be by the end of next week, it's time for the offside. This is apparently nowhere near as bad and should be a relatively quick job in comparison. It also seems like it's hiding a lot less rust than its nearside counterpart.

 

Luckily the underside itself is still as new, so once both sills are done it's onto the waxoyling and suspension work. All in all, we're looking at it being back on the road sometime in the latter half of March.

[Uncle Jimmy]

they're very striking

[mat_the_cat]

All in all, we're looking at it being back on the road sometime in the latter half of March.

Which year? Watching with interest, good luck with it!

[Cleon-Fonte]

At this rate I am beginning to think I'll be too old to drive it by the time it's back on the road.

[EssDeeWon]

Damn I really want another SD1 now

 

At least I know the good folk on here will talk me out of it....

 

Won't they?? Please!

[Bren]

Exactly like mine.

 

Sadly lack of paintage may see me moving mine on.

[EssDeeWon]

Rare EFi Bren?

 

Keep it and cherish it.

 

Paint is over rated anyway, just get it running, tested and on the road.

[Bren]

Black with caramel leather - still has the lambswool mats, phillips stereo and MOT's going back to 1988.

[EssDeeWon]

My goodness, keep it and get it up to scratch in good time man. It'll be worth it in the end...

[Bren]

TBH I am playing my own violin - I have done so much work on the car but now I feel like devon loch - the finish line is in sight but I have fallen. I have approx £1k saved for paint but from speaking to bodyshops I am miles short.

 

Only a decent job would do it justice - lets see what happens.

[TagoraSX]

Jesus

 

Thankfully mine had zero rot in the sills and floors.

[For Fiats Sake]

My first car was my dads turbo diesel SD1.

 

Rotten from new, needed door skins painting every year, sills, floor, etc etc.

 

In the early 90's when shells were still available I got a quote for a new shell and doors etc etc  4 grand, seems cheap now but was a fortune to me then.  Had a huge garage bill and gave the keys to the mechanics in the end.

Shame as it was a great car apart from the huge bills, bits randomly falling off, brake failure, radiator failure, failure to start, rear springs breaking......

[Cleon-Fonte]

Damn I really want another SD1 now

 

At least I know the good folk on here will talk me out of it....

 

Won't they?? Please!

 

 

Do it, you're a long time dead. Prices aren't likely to be this low again and petrol prices are currently pretty conducive to SD1 ownership.

 

TBH I am playing my own violin - I have done so much work on the car but now I feel like devon loch - the finish line is in sight but I have fallen. I have approx £1k saved for paint but from speaking to bodyshops I am miles short.

 

Only a decent job would do it justice - lets see what happens.

 

 

They're worth the work when they're running properly, however rarely that may be.

 

Jesus

 

Thankfully mine had zero rot in the sills and floors.

 

Yes, for a Series I yours was remarkably rot free. And should hopefully remain so now it's coated in paint and not the Crayola BL preferred to use.

 

Luckily the paint was the only good bit about this one, it's already been done which has allowed more resources for every other aspect of the thing.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Late to join this party but as another SD1 botherer, I just wanted to say yayaaaaaay!

[Guest Breadvan72]

Two announcements

 

(1)  The gloveboxes in my 2600 SE are always dry.

 

(2)  The car will be available for driving at Shitefest, straight six fans.

[Skizzer]

Great work this, keep the updates coming.

 

I really, really hope the sills on mine don't look like that underneath.

[Cleon-Fonte]

(2)  The car will be available for driving at Shitefest, straight six fans.

 

 

This one shall also be whored out to anyone who wants a go. You can see what you're missing by not having a V8 under the bonnet

 

Great work this, keep the updates coming.

 

I really, really hope the sills on mine don't look like that underneath.

 

The inner and outer sills tend to go together apparently so one always has a visible gauge of how borked they are. How thoughtful they were to build them like that.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Drive everywhere like a fuckah and so push warm air through the sills.  Result;  speeding tickets.

[Bren]

Two announcements

 

(1)  The gloveboxes in my 2600 SE are always dry.

 

(2)  The car will be available for driving at Shitefest, straight six fans.[/quot

 

Pity I will not be there - I would enjoy the whiny sound of an SD1 straight six.

[Guest Breadvan72]

The boot is not dry, BTW.  Must dry it out.  Have finally got (one) garage.