£25 car. a challenge.

[bub2006]

I've not had a car this cheap in ten years and even they had no mot and were looking very ropey. I picked this up yesterday from a deceased ladies family. I have had a good poke and prod underneath and I'm pretty certain the mot tester was trying to pull a swift one. I have bought a new centre pipe and front spring up today for 35 quid all in. As it stands the total so far including recovery costs to my home and purchase of car and parts is £80. Hopefully chuck it in for test this week. No oil leaks on it,new oil filter and clean oil says it was serviced not long before it went in the garage. Also one of the rear shockers looks new. Next installment is spring change.

[rantingYoof]

Nicely done. It deserves to go on providing solid reliable transport to someone else's daughter/mother/grand-mother.

[bub2006]

I'm neither of those things but hope it will do for me! With house move etc I cant afford insurance on something large so small will have to do.

[rantingYoof]

That's my embarrassing assumption that you were going to sell it on, but fair-play on sourcing your own vehicle for that princely sum.

 

Reminds me of my favourite TG challenge: Car for £100.   

[bub2006]

Well it was advertised at £100 but the fella said he was just going to scrap it so may friend Made a cheeky bid of scrap price and he said yes.

[320touring]

Noice one BUB!

 

onwards and upwards:)

[oldcars]

Nice one, it appears to have rear arches. 

[auldford]

Nice score there mate!

 

Bodywork looks good for it's age as well.

[egg]

Now that is cheap.

 

From the MOT history, a clean up of the brake pipes and some new suspension bushes could help!

[mercrocker]

Excellent pot there, Bub - a proper car for the price of a curry.   Looks like it started life down in sunny Bournemouth so hopefully has not had the full number of salty winters thrown at it.   

[sierraman]

I had one of these, the price of parts is silly cheap. Dead easy to work on with the exception of the rear suspension arm bushes.

[garbaldy]

25 squid must be the new starter price for cars as that's what the corsa cost.

We could be in for some bargains again

[Christine]

Nearside Rear Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)  

 

 

Really ????

[PiperCub]

£25? Might be the price of my 406 if it fails it's upcoming MoT!!!!

[bub2006]

Nearside Rear Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

 

Really ????

I don't understand what you mean? Excuse me for being dense. No axle stand on that pic just the jack but that was only for clearance to remove exhaust. It has front end on ramps and did have chocks under wheels when removing exhaust.

[taxi paul]

Praise the price of scrap gods! Other gods available.

[Christine]

Well , do they have mcpherson struts  on the back? I thought it would just be a beam axle , springs and dampers?  

[bub2006]

That's a valid point,rear beam,shocks and springs.

[Tamworthbay]

Are you ok for Spring compressors? If not you can borrow mine if you come get them.

[bub2006]

I'm hoping I can find mine mate but ill bear you in mind. I have used ratchet straps before and also removed a spring without any when I was young and daft. Never again!

[Christine]

Lots of heavy things in the boot  ..cable ties round the coils.... jack up.. springs fall out ..sorted .  

[Jim Bell]

Please put an axle stand under that rear end before clambering under (hopefully there's one there and its a trick of the camera that make it look like the rear is just on a jack )

 

Good luck!

You're obviously new here. He doesn't have to be careful. He's lucky.

[bub2006]

I ain't lucky chap. I've had a bad run last year but things seem ok for now

[Lacquer Peel]

The tester had a field day with the advisories, it looks alright actually. Is it a 1.3?

[bub2006]

Yes pushrod engine I think

[dieselassist]

had one of these for about a month; belonged to my cousin, who wanted it NCT tested, n sold before she went away travelling the world.. I was instructed to 'do the welding' it needed for NCT (both sills n exhaust in similar condition to your one), and replace the rear top mounts, which it had failed on 1st time round in a test centre in Cork...

 

there was no money in it for me, naturally enough, bar the parts... I had a right battle to lap weld on a rough outer patch on the sills, and cut up various bits of old scrap exhaust to weld that back up...

 

Anyways, I drove it about constantly, for those 4 weeks - done about 1500 miles in it, as there was tax in the window; my back aching n knees jammed up against the dash... it was 'alright to drive', if a bit dull n cramped

 

I did buy the rear top mounts, but 'forgot'/couldn't be bothered to fit them, and actually left them in their boxes in the boot 'in full view' during the test; passed no probs with the allegedly 'wanked ones' stil on ... n the brake lights constantly on, throughout the test, as the testers seemed involved in heated argument, n oblivious to the tail lamps stuck on... RESULT!!

 

,,,anyways best of luck with it - you cant really go wrong for £25...

[bub2006]

My brake lights seem to stick. Switch?

[eddyramrod]

Got to say, well done there.  I thought the days of manky old bins at this kind of price had gone forever.  You have restored my faith.  Well.... some of it anyway.

[dieselassist]

@Bub - yeah I think its the switch - above pedal mounted I think; some 'switch rejiggling' seemed to cure it... my brother has the same problem with his focus occasionally...

[bub2006]

Great tip thanks