Citroen AX GT shenanigans

[Imhotep]

Decided to stop being a lurker and start being a poster.

 

So in 2020 I bought this, a Citroen AX GT. Why? Why not. I've wanted one forever. Unfortunately I'm terminally poor so I've had to buy a rusty project car. It used to be a Targa rally car. Mechanically it's spot on (except the hilariously unbalanced carb) - Sporting Bilstein B6's all round, polybushed... Bushes, group N gear linkages and engine mounts, and a high lift cam to top it off. With 13(!) previous owners and no service history I'm sure I'll find something scary mind.

 

But that didn't interest me so I decided to do something insane and turn it back into a road car. I'm a bit limited with file sizes here so I'll upload a few from purchase and a few now. Currently it's awaiting welding which I'm trying to raise funds for as I can't weld or do much practical really...

So far I've managed to source everything required to actually get it onto the road, sans front seats. As I mentioned though it is really, really in dire need of welding. It's rotten in places I've never seen these rot before. The easy solution would be a reshell but no, I'm a sadist and I hate myself so I'm going to see this through to the end. And then I'm going to enjoy it until it breaks.

 

[Imhotep]

At present all that's really been done on this thing so far are things that won't need to be stripped off again or things that need to be done. So I've so far removed the OMP roll cage (bolt in thankfully), and got to work on reinstating the door electrics and electric windows/central locking as the doors are in good condition and as such can be built up.

Fuel filler neck breather(?) is actually tape, so that's scary and needs replacing. Looks like a nice standard rubber pipe. I've not done it yet as the thing doesn't get used or even started at present as the cooling system is off.

Further photo of rust in places I have never seen these rust before. Thankfully comes with a spare rear quarter/B pillar. Despite it looking missing I do actually have the full GT kit, it's just off the car to stop it trapping EVEN MORE water and mud than it already had.

[PrinceRupert]

I enjoy the fact you bought an extremely rusty project car without the ability to weld.  This is what always puts me off anything a bit rusty, because I know paying other people to weld is either an exercise in paying a little for a patch job to last till the next MOT or paying an absolute fortune for a proper job (in both cases if you can find anyone that will do it, nobody round me seems keen).  Best of luck!

[Imhotep]

14 minutes ago, PrinceRupert said:

I enjoy the fact you bought an extremely rusty project car without the ability to weld.  This is what always puts me off anything a bit rusty, because I know paying other people to weld is either an exercise in paying a little for a patch job to last till the next MOT or paying an absolute fortune for a proper job (in both cases if you can find anyone that will do it, nobody round me seems keen).  Best of luck!

In an ideal world I’d have bought one that was mechanically a pig but structurally sound, but with these especially recently it’s more a case of finding one, then once I’ve found one, finding one within budget is even harder. You’d think it would enthuse me to weld, believe me it hasn’t! The mechanical stuff I’ll happily do and you’ll be seeing updates about that but the bodywork I am just going to throw money at people because I’m crap at it. The longest term part of this project seems to be getting the funds together…

[Tenmil Socket]

Got to love an AX GT!

Good luck with it.

[Imhotep]

23 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Got to love an AX GT!

Good luck with it.

Even nicer is that when we open the bonnet we find the original 8v. A lot of these got 16v swapped… Nothing wrong with that at all but I find something really charming about the original 1.4 

[junkyarddog]

If it's that rusty I'd be inclined to leave in the roll cage.....😂

[Tenmil Socket]

1 hour ago, Imhotep said:

Even nicer is that when we open the bonnet we find the original 8v. A lot of these got 16v swapped… Nothing wrong with that at all but I find something really charming about the original 1.4 

That's a meaty bonnet stay 😄

I had a 1.0 AX when I was younger, it was fun to drive. The understeer on wet roundabouts was hilarious!

[lesapandre]

These are so much fun and collectible whatever you spend on it you will get back.

When you get back on the road put plenty of security on it as they are so much in demand.

Looks OK. With the panels in may be worth sourcing another car to cannibalise the shell if you can find space. 

The original seats were OK - but some nice aftermarket wd do better. 👍

[bigfella2]

Hahaha look what I bought I September, was going to start my own thread shortly, when I get round to starting work on it. Would be a G plate too if it wasn't from Ireland.

[Imhotep]

37 minutes ago, bigfella2 said:

Hahaha look what I bought I September, was going to start my own thread shortly, when I get round to starting work on it. Would be a G plate too if it wasn't from Ireland.

Was that the car that was at Matthewsons by some chance? Looks very familiar! 

[Six-cylinder]

I am a bit under nourished compared to you GT boys with my 1.4 70 bhp TRS!

[500tops]

Here's mine, although this one has a full set of fire exits 😀

 

MoT in the next couple of weeks (hopefully) 

[Noel Tidybeard]

oo a gt5

[bigfella2]

2 hours ago, Imhotep said:

Was that the car that was at Matthewsons by some chance? Looks very familiar! 

Yes it was, well remembered.

that GT5 is ultra ultra rare, nice too.

 

[Imhotep]

Finally sorted out welding for this thing. Hopefully it’s being collected within the next month or so and will come back strong*

*As strong as something with the structural integrity of a cheese string can be, anyway.

Once returned it’ll be full steam ahead to see if I can get it put back together and MOTed. The car will need a respray but for now let’s just see if it’s in an MOT-safe condition. Ideally I want this done before I turn 30, which is the end of May next year. I’d imagine it’s more than possible. I can’t spray paint either though so like with the welding I’m just going to leave it with someone to do and do overtime/moonlight as a Just Eat driver like I’ve done in the past to cover as much of the costs as I can.

[bigfella2]

Whereabouts did it need welding? Has it gone behind the headlights like all AX's do?

[500tops]

14 minutes ago, bigfella2 said:

Whereabouts did it need welding? Has it gone behind the headlights like all AX's do?

Have you started a thread on your GT yet?

[bigfella2]

2 hours ago, 500tops said:

Have you started a thread on your GT yet?

Not yet, how many AX GT threads can autoshite handle?

[Timewaster]

Another in the things I shouldn't have sold file.

I bought one in 2007 for £100 when I was known as tontops.

It had suffered a wiring loom fire behind the dash and the owner just wanted rid.

I had the dash out and spliced new wire in to replace the crispy bits over a couple of weekends and it passed an MOT, I used it for work for a few months while I was away on training courses getting 45p a mile in expenses.

When the small dimensions and having to change my shoes every time  to drive it got a bit much, I stuck it in on eBay and it made £500.

What a result said I.

The winning bidder came 200 miles to collect it and I thought he must have been mad to travel that distance for a common old snotter.

It was not immaculate by any means but I had described it brutally honestly and he seemed pleased with it.

Of course if he just stuck it in a shed and left it he would be quids in by now.

[Dave_Q]

Like this and I like the revert to standard plan.

When I had the Impreza that is now owned by Alcyonecorporation I did a few nice bits of de-modifying, removing excess gauges, putting a standard recirc valve back on, binning the bent 18s for something more age appropriate and most satisfying of all, re-badging.

One tip on the photos, if you make a post with 4 photos or whatever the size limit is, if you post the post then edit it straight away, the server/uploader will have resized your 4 photos down to a small number of kB then you can add another 4 and repeat to get as many photos on a post as you need.

Slightly long winded but there was a near meltdown on forum storage a while ago so the auto-resize is needed.

[Imhotep]

21 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Like this and I like the revert to standard plan.

When I had the Impreza that is now owned by Alcyonecorporation I did a few nice bits of de-modifying, removing excess gauges, putting a standard recirc valve back on, binning the bent 18s for something more age appropriate and most satisfying of all, re-badging.

One tip on the photos, if you make a post with 4 photos or whatever the size limit is, if you post the post then edit it straight away, the server/uploader will have resized your 4 photos down to a small number of kB then you can add another 4 and repeat to get as many photos on a post as you need.

Slightly long winded but there was a near meltdown on forum storage a while ago so the auto-resize is needed.

Please tell me you stuck the stickers on that Impreza that say ‘A burglar alarm on a car’ because that is to this day my favourite sticker on it/most cars.
Thanks for tip re photos, I will keep it in mind!

[lesapandre]

11 hours ago, bigfella2 said:

Not yet, how many AX GT threads can autoshite handle?

I think go right ahead. Original content and well put together repair stories are always welcome.

[Dave_Q]

39 minutes ago, Imhotep said:

Please tell me you stuck the stickers on that Impreza that say ‘A burglar alarm on a car’ because that is to this day my favourite sticker on it/most cars.
Thanks for tip re photos, I will keep it in mind!

Not me I'm afraid, that was an original JP market sticker that survived. 

I replaced the WRX branding on the boot.