New J-tat, Daihatsu Charmant

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This is in need of an update. Although there isn't much of one. I've tried sourcing a new windshield though - no luck as of yet. No supplier seems to have it.It's stored inside for the time being and I've been scraping off all the bodgework - layers and layers of bondo, glue, some rust crumbs, unpainted metal welded over rust, and other types of "repairs". Occasionally I actually find some metal underneath, but it's fairly rare, really. It amazes me more and more that the outside panelwork actually looks very good and consists of *gasp* metal, especially the rear arches, when the body underneath is so far gone.I've also taken some welding classes in the meantime and have repaired two holes in my Celica, with assistance from a friend. I'm also building some tools for panel forming (professional ones are fairly expensive to buy and too large for my garage, so I'm building small ones)An inspiration:

Although the holes in his Charmant are much smaller than mine, it's basically the same areas that need done. I'll simply weld in larger sections. And *I* don't have to do the outsides of the arches, which need a lot of painstaking work to look pretty.I now have easy access to vacuum out both sills (I can actually fit through a "hand broom" easily - dunno how that's called in english. A broom without a broomstick in the top, but with a handle on the side...). From the middle of the rear doors forward the sills actually look very good inside, hardly any rust.No scrappy still seems to have this car anymore either. Actually, when I bought it there was one for sale in Germany as well - but now, whenever I look, I cannot find ANY for sale anywhere in all of Europe.I've found a scrappy that still has a few panels in their parts shed (I'll be visiting soon for a replacement to my dented front fender) but no windshield.Hirst, you have any ideas where to get a windshield? Does the corolla one fit?I am reluctant to start major chassis work without a good windshield to put in when i'm done. Driving gets a bit cold without one, you know.

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Oh, and due to the number of cars I've sold in the past months, I've had to cut my signature down to about half The good news is, there's still enough shite and the Charmant will stay until I've entirely given up on ever repairing it. Which could be a while.

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... and the Charmant will stay until I've entirely given up on ever repairing it. Which could be a while.

No it isn't - I've given up on it as of last month. The purchase of a '77 Carina did it - it's in MUCH better shape.

 

And realistically, I'm not going to be able to fix two rotten A-pillars, two rotten C-pillars and rebuild from scratch both rear wheel wells. And then still be stuck with four rotten door bottoms on a car worth exactly ten cents even after a complete restoration. Way too much work, and pointless because it would have become way too expensive in time and money to fit its initial purpose as a cheap track car.

 

So I am storing the drivetrain in my stash of old Toyota bits, and part out the rest among what few Charmant enthusiasts I can find. I've found one other, in this country, but that's about it. And of course there's always Hirst - you need anything?

 

Marcel

[mk2_craig]

That's a shame; but isn't the Charmant basically just a rehashed Toymotor anyway? A bit like the Triumph Acclaim was a mildly altered Honda?

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PMed!The Charmant is based on a KE70 Corolla, but bar the floorpan and mechanicals pretty much everything is different, they changed all the panels etc. and the interior is a lot more classy.Unfortunately this means it could be a nightmare if you break a light or something as you can't really get any bits (even in Japan), Daihatsu UK don't support it at all, no one makes panels for it, etc. The Toyota mechanical bits are in fantastic supply though. As a result I'm trying to stock up on all the unique bits I can feasibly get hold of before they're all gone to ensure mine stays on the road.

[mk2_craig]

Ah, so a similar relationship to the Nissan Stanza - Yue Loong Feeling then I shouldn't imagine there's any of those still on the road in the Netherlands.

[gtd2000]

If you want to be exclusive in Holland you really need one of these

 

 

I've only ever seen a Proton in Belgium so far.....