My SD1 - Welding Completed

[Guest Breadvan72]

Someone doooooo it

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C713754#

 

[Cleon-Fonte]

The big question is: who nicked the front spoiler? Should have been standard fit on a Vanden Plas.

 

Pretty decent looking motah otherwise.

[Sudsprint]

The big question is: who nicked the front spoiler? Should have been standard fit on a Vanden Plas.

 

Pretty decent looking motah otherwise.

 

Would I be wrong to say it looks okay without the spoiler?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I agree

[trigger]

I love this car so much, I'm honestly considering selling my Cortina for one, it's just the rust and electrical problems which puts me off doing it.

 

There's a blue 2600 VDP around the corner from mine that never moves of the driveway which I've thought about knocking about more than once.

[Guest Breadvan72]

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

 ARSES.  I rented a garage four miles from  my house.  The rental started on Monday and I paid a month up front.  The owner told me yesterday that he is busy and I can get the key some time early next month.   His approach to a binding contract does not bode well for the future so I have terminated the lease and now have to hassle for repayment.

[LC Torana]

But did the VDP SIX have the chin spoiler?

[Cleon-Fonte]

Would I be wrong to say it looks okay without the spoiler?

 

I always find the series IIs look a little naked without the front spoiler. But I guess the original design did without it and still looked good, so perhaps this one is closer to Mr Bache's original design?

 

But did the VDP SIX have the chin spoiler?

 

So far as I'm aware, without buying the lowest of the low from the SD1 range you were pretty much guaranteed to get the chin spoiler. The only ones I've ever seen without have all been 2.0s and 2.3s. I'm sure front foglights were standard equipment on all Vanden Plas models, and they were always bolted on to the spoiler.

[Timewaster]

Standard on all but the poverty 2000

 

 

 

Still would.

[EssDeeWon]

That would have come with a front spoiler being a 2600, especially a VDP!!

 

It looks lovely but it would have to be Moonraker for me.

 

One day I will own a Moonraker blue SD1. I will.....

[Cleon-Fonte]

The formerly hacked up SD1 now sports a new nearside sill, a B-pillar with no crumbly bits and a floor without holes. The offside sill was thought at first to require similar attention to the nearside, but closer inspection reveals it to have only needed a few small patches (is this the first time an Austin Rover car has been found to be less rusty than expected?). This means the welding is now done and dusted, and the only bit of rust requiring attention is surface rust on the front valance area.

 

 

As you can see it is now coated in a protective layer of dust. Enough to be able to sell it for £3,000 more than it's worth as a 'genuine barn find'. Paintwork still immaculate underneath, though.

 

 

Other customers had left their mark.

 

 

I observed the vast expanse of engine and ancillaries.

 

 

I also saw the gaffer's nephew's new motor. Automatic, 22k on the clock and mostly immaculate.

 

 

So, that's structural work, the rear axle rebuild and rear brakes done, what's left to do?

 

-New springs and dampers

-Fitting of polybushes, as having to fit a full set of replacement rubber bushes before each MoT is a bit annoying.

-New exhaust and manifolds, a Rimmer Bros stainless steel item which will probably need fitting with a sledgehammer.

-Four new tyres

-Fit new thermostat, vacuum hoses etc.

-Sort infernal gearbox oil leak, which seems to unsolve itself everytime it's solved. The gases created when the oil hits the hot exhaust could be distilled and sold as psychedelics.

 

Plus there are finishing touches like a bloody good tune up and service, and sundries such as a working windscreen wiper motor. But the finishing line is now in sight, and completion should be speeded along as I'll be going down to help spanner/carry stuff around gormlessly over a few weekends (which should also help cut down on the probable prodigious labour bill).

[Bren]

I have an o/s front wing and o/s rear arch to fit on mine before paint.

 

I had repaired them with sections however I would always be drawn to those areas so I will repair them properly.

 

Thats going to be a laugh. - finding a bodyshop that wants to do it...

[Cleon-Fonte]

If you're anywhere near the south west, the bodyshop that looked after this one its entire life (and did the excellent complete repanelling/repaint job way back in 1999) is based in Salisbury. I'm sure they'd love* to see another SD1.

[EssDeeWon]

Good work. Look forward to it being completed.

[Bren]

If you're anywhere near the south west, the bodyshop that looked after this one its entire life (and did the excellent complete repanelling/repaint job way back in 1999) is based in Salisbury. I'm sure they'd love* to see another SD1.

I have done all the welding myself - I will fit the new panels. It's a respray that I will have to farm out.