Popular Post Ben_O Posted June 21, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 21, 2021 Well this seems like utter madness but could well be considered in the spirit of autoshite so I shall proceed. My father in law purchased himself a Mazda 121 1.25 16v with a CVT box to help him out with his increasing mobility issues. He didn't need it regularly so £200 seemed fine for an mot'd example with just 25k on the clock considering it would stand unused for weeks at a time between uses. Anyway, at the end of last year, a hermes courier driver decided that he would realign the side of the mazda with his van and then fuck off which was nice. He was seen so didn't get away with it and after a lengthy arse around with their insurers, he ended up being able to keep the car unrecorded and received a very generous payout. Now for the mad bit.. he can't find a suitable replacement for his money. Everything seems very expensive at the moment so he has managed to persuade me to repair the mazda for him. Absolutely not worth doing but he likes it and bits seem to be available cheaply so I reluctantly agreed and will be repairing it for him. Here it is ready to go Doesn't look too bad in that photo. Odd rubbing strip on the back door due to a replacement off a fiesta before he bought it. So today, I have stripped it down ready to repair. I have a new pattern wing and quarter panel and shall repair the doors. Then paint down the side and do the bumpers too. Hopefully it will keep him happy and give a few more years service. Cheers Ben Cookiesouwest, tooSavvy, High Jetter and 66 others 69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Nice 😀I do love it when cars that would normally just be cubed get repaired. eddyramrod, Shite Ron, Essex V6 and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St.Jude Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 I always wonder, when a car has been swiped like that, whether you could stick a sign on it saying "if you think this is bad, you should see the prick who bumped his trolley in to it" and whether anyone would park next to it in a car park? Good job keeping it going though! Ben_O, Heidel_Kakao, BL Bloke and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 I know I always go ‘scrap it m8’ but it does make perfect sense in this scenario to put it right if it was otherwise all good. The rear quarter panel, are you going to weld it on or joddle a step in and use some panel adhesive? Less of a chance of distortion? Kringle and Vince70 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 11 minutes ago, sierraman said: I know I always go ‘scrap it m8’ but it does make perfect sense in this scenario to put it right if it was otherwise all good. The rear quarter panel, are you going to weld it on or joddle a step in and use some panel adhesive? Less of a chance of distortion? It does make sense really if you consider all the options. It runs and drives lovely so might as well live another day. I shall be welding on the quarter panel so its all as it should be. Cheers Ben LightBulbFun, Dick Longbridge and Burnside 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyrew Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Thats a Top save , worth doing just because you can. LightBulbFun, Burnside, tooSavvy and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 Got a little more done today between jobs. Wing off New wing on Burnside, Dick Longbridge, mk2_craig and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 I got the repairs underway on the doors Total time spent so far... About 3 hours Cheers Ben UltraWomble, JMotor, puntopaul and 31 others 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL Bloke Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Nice to see this getting repaired, there can't be too many of these left on the road. Looks like you're doing a good job so far. 🙂 500tops, Burnside and Ben_O 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 My mum had one of these in 1998 and kept it for about 10 years. The engine is great but the CVT box is dire, ours went through three gearboxes in 60k. When the third one went, we sold it. Ford dealers knew they were shit too and were reluctant to take it in PX for anything. Ben_O 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Accident damage aside, that looks remarkably solid. Well done getting it repaired, if it's not rusty it seems well worth doing. You hardly ever see the Mazda variant now, did we even get the Fiesta Mk5 version? Ben_O 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 4 minutes ago, phil_lihp said: did we even get the Fiesta Mk5 version? we got them up to 02 plate, but the later ones are immensely uncommon. Ben_O, Burnside and phil_lihp 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 The gearbox on this example seems really good. It's quite a laugh to drive and goes well for what it is. He does so few miles that I would hope the box will last him. Last year, he did less than 100 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Love for the unloved! Marvellous. LightBulbFun, phil_lihp, Ben_O and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 Onto the quarter panel this afternoon. Old one off. They really went out out the spot welds! replacement trial fitted and then all cleaned up and prepped ready to fit cheers Ben puntopaul, catsinthewelder, Mally and 30 others 33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 I welded the new quarter on first thing this morning. Yoss, Dan302, Leyland Worldmaster and 32 others 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundwave Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 I'm envious of people who can do bodywork with such apparent ease! Props to you and your FIL for saving it and not throwing away a perfectly serviceable car just because it's got some dents in it. RichardK, Ben_O, 500tops and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 It's taken so little time to repair so far that it's got to be worth it. The parts were dirt cheap and the materials and paint are at my trade rate so it will be a cheap repair, especially when compared to the cost of a replacement car. I have noticed the undercarriage is getting a bit flaky around the rear axle mounts so I'll get that cleaned up, treated and coated whilst it's still solid. Think I may also repaint the other quarter panel and sill if time allows as they are getting a little scabby round the edges. Might as well make it good for a while. Cheers. Ben Dick Longbridge, tooSavvy, Datsuncog and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 GR9 work Ben!! LightBulbFun and Ben_O 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Nothing but praise for this sort of thing. Ben_O, phil_lihp and LightBulbFun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Cheers guys. I'm actually enjoying doing it which surprised me! Things we do to keep the old heaps going eh? mercedade, LightBulbFun, mk2_craig and 4 others 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort1977 Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Great stuff Ben_O. My mother has a Fiesta of this era, has had it 15 years and loves it. Sadly due to be scrapped soon due to ULEZ and not wanting to pay for the twice a year she crosses the North Circular. Ben_O 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnside Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Seeing a car getting a second chance after a incident that would normally spell the end. That makes my day! We had a MK4 & 5 Fiesta in our family. An both were excellent cars that never let us down once. I can't even remember the last time I saw a Mazda version on the roads. The way I look at cars, is not what there worth. It's what there worth to me, if there reliable, reasonably ok in most departments. Then spending £££'s to keep it going another 12mths plus, is well worth the investment. Sure you can just go out an buy another, but your likely buying a unknown quantity that could leave you worse off. Well done on the work so far. 👍 500tops, BL Bloke, Ian_Fearn and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Cort1977, he isn't a very confident driver and never was. He has tried other cars before this one after a spell without a car and couldn't get on with either. A grande punto and a mk1 punto. He says that the mazda just feels right to him and he finds it easier to pilot. Burnside, totally agree. My current daily cost me £100 and it was only meant to be a temporary get me out of a hole car. It's doing so well, that I've decided to keep it and will spend what us needed to keep it going. This mazda isn't particually pretty to look at and is fairly scruffy but it's good where it counts so it may as well go a bit longer phil_lihp, LightBulbFun, Burnside and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 This is great. Love for the unloved. The spirit of Autoshite. Especially as the these Mazda/Fiestas are so rare. Its at that point where its clean enough to do a good clean job on it but old enough to be worthless so makes it all the better that its being given a second a chance. Will be watching this with interest! Vince70, LightBulbFun, Ben_O and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 Getting nearer to painting this thing now. most of the repairs are complete. Just a few little bits and then prep for some primer. I tried the rear lamp in it fits as well as the other side which isn't perfect but It's fine. I put the spot welds back in the shuts and the slopped some filler over the panel joins and sanded back just the doors to repair now. The back knee just had some minor dents and scrapes but quite a lot of rust tracks under the paint along the bottom. It's too late to save that permanently now as the rust will be in the fold of the door skin but a clean up and grind back should hold it off for a while. The front door was the worst damaged but nothing a quick pull and a skim of evercoats finest won't sort the mirror is trial fitted there too as the old one was ripped off bending the mounting point. Figured I better try it for size after straightening it out. Well that's the doors finished the rest will have to wait till later today or tomorrow. I plan to paint it Monday all being well. Cheers Ben Semi-C, Alan_Green, RayMK and 31 others 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 25, 2021 Author Share Posted June 25, 2021 I decided to go all out so have masked off the back of the doors so that I can paint the back of the doors. They are ready to go now. there was quite a lot of rust up in the rear wheel arch but all seemed to be surface rust so I cleaned it up and chucked some primer on it And up on here too where the new quarter panel joined and then sealed it all up And a bit down here to replace the bit that came away with the flaky rust And that's it ready to mask up for primer LightBulbFun, Cookiesouwest, danthecapriman and 24 others 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Fucking hell you don’t hang about! Credit to you it’s looking fantastic! Isopon, LightBulbFun and Ben_O 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 25, 2021 Author Share Posted June 25, 2021 Live updates Now! Now ready for primer New masking film in too. looks OK.... Fine.. plenty of good stuff comes out of china. I'm sure it's fine 🙂 Oh wait...... what the actual fuck does that mean? are they having a crack?? Isopon, mercedade, UltraWomble and 4 others 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_O Posted June 25, 2021 Author Share Posted June 25, 2021 And that's 3 coats of octoral's finest puntopaul, Burnside, Broadsword and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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