604 STi The story unfolds.

[Pete-M]

What age restrictions do you have on your policy?

 

None, but there's a 5 car restriction on the number of cars I can have on it as daily drivers.

[Pete-M]

 

It's getting there. Needs chrome refitting and a bloody good clean, but it's not looking too bad.

[Volksy]

Looks Lovely!

 

I so want one of these. But with the mare you seem to have had with this one, I'm thinking it wouldn't be wise. Maybe one day!

[dollywobbler]

Brilliant stuff. The number plate still makes me laugh.

[M'coli]

That looks splendid - I want to see a video of the wipers going, they look really cool.

[dieselnutjob]

Congrats Pete !!

 

Does yours do that thing where the left wiper sweeps 180 degrees but the right only sweeps 90 ? Early ones like mine have LHD wipers that park on the other side.

[cort16]

Looks great. Is the kitten still in there?

[Pete-M]

Congrats Pete !!

 

Does yours do that thing where the left wiper sweeps 180 degrees but the right only sweeps 90 ? Early ones like mine have LHD wipers that park on the other side.

 

Yup. I'd forgotten just how mental that is. Painter couldn't suss it out at all. Wipers came back in a "V" formation.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Looks fantastic Pete!!! Nice one.

[RobT]

Quality motor there squire, a round of applause is due!

[warren t claim]

I can't believe you're virtually giving this car away when it's finished.

[andrew e]

13/12 Pete - top job!

[trigger]

Impressive work there Pete, It's looking really smart now!

[Pete-M]

The whole idea has just been to make it solid, reasonably presentable, and useable. If I can get it to the point where it can be used as a daily and isn't going to fall apart on a regular basis, that'll do. There are still the odd rot bubbles here and there, it wasn't completely repainted. The roof, bonnet and bootlid haven't been touched and the colour match isn't perfect. However, it will be an honest old thing again. If the work I've had done to it extends its life by even five years then it will have been worth doing. If someone at some point wants to do a proper restoration on it, or even a rolling one, then at least it is solid, running, complete and doesn't look a complete shambles.

 

It is now at the point where it is easy to look at and think "Yeah, that was worth saving". With a few interior bits tidying - the door trim vinyl is cracking and various bits of trim are looking a bit tired - it could probably blag its way onto a show stand. It's not shiny underneath, the original green paint is still showing under the bonnet but it still exists. Which was the whole idea of saving it.

 

I don't want to add up how much the total cost to get it back on the road will be, or indeed exactly how much it has cost to get it to where it is, but once it is up and running and I've had a bit of use from it I'm gonna stop work on the 604. I'm pretty sure I've spent a fair bit more than I'm ever likely to recuperate from it, and I've only driven the thing about 1/2 mile in total, but I really don't want to get into a full proper restoration on this. The Escort will be getting a proper restoration, so the 604 will have to go soon.

 

So, Autoshiters, ghosts and mere onlookers, if you would like to make an offer on it, it will be up for grabs soon.

 

07731 744088.

[boobydoo]

Good luck with the sale Pete. You've done a worthy job. I hope it goes to a good home. If I wasn't bursting at the seams with cars I'd truly love to own that!

[Pete-M]

Well, the time has come. It'll be time to leave the welders and head to the MOT station this week so I gave the outside a quick scrub. It looks quite nice. Still needs the mudflaps, a bloody good valet and the side rubbing strips refitting, but they can wait until after the MOT.

 

Can't believe nobody on here is interested in this.

 

[eddyramrod]

Well, the time has come.

 

Can't believe nobody on here is interested in this.

 

Somebody is, very much so! But as you say at the beginning of this post, the time has come. Well it might for you, but it hasn't for me and won't for a few months yet. Dammit. Timing has been a recurring curse throughout my motoring history...

[Guest]

Well, it's not a Proton, is it? FFS Pete, what do you know?

[warren t claim]

Sell the Jag and Jeep and keep the the 604.

[Pete-M]

Mustard mitt, it does have an insane amount of grin factor to it.

 

When it's MOT'd I'll consider my mission to be complete. It just had to be saved and after a lot of swearing and insulting the French, it will have been.

 

It has a lot of character, and to give it some credit, everything still works. Sitting in the huge great velour seats with the huge sunroof open looking out over a big brown dashboard, one finger on the wheel will be a bloody good way to get around. The auto box is actually quite smooth in it, the steering is light as are all the controls. All the vacuum operated stuff is fun too, when you move the lever for the heater vent flaps they make great noises "Shhhhhtup" but still work. Even the vacuum central locking works as it should, as does the global closure thing.

 

Would I sell my Jag to keep the 604? No, but that's because the XJR is a different kind of car.

 

The Jeep has to stay until I've got the Escort back from Czech.

 

The Senator and 604 are the two that have to go first. You have no idea how irritating that is for me.

[sporty-shite]

Mustard mitt, it does have an insane amount of grin factor to it.

 

When it's MOT'd I'll consider my mission to be complete. It just had to be saved and after a lot of swearing and insulting the French, it will have been.

 

It has a lot of character, and to give it some credit, everything still works. Sitting in the huge great velour seats with the huge sunroof open looking out over a big brown dashboard, one finger on the wheel will be a bloody good way to get around. The auto box is actually quite smooth in it, the steering is light as are all the controls. All the vacuum operated stuff is fun too, when you move the lever for the heater vent flaps they make great noises "Shhhhhtup" but still work. Even the vacuum central locking works as it should, as does the global closure thing.

 

Would I sell my Jag to keep the 604? No, but that's because the XJR is a different kind of car.

 

The Jeep has to stay until I've got the Escort back from Czech.

 

The Senator and 604 are the two that have to go first. You have no idea how irritating that is for me.

 

Easy.

 

Jag - Daily

604 - For when you fancy a change

Escort - Show-toy/investment

Jeep - Sell after Czech trip

Senator - Sell now before it gets nicked!

 

Job done.

[Pete-M]

They're all gonna be up for sale with the possible exception of the Jag.

 

Senator and 604 already advertised, Jeep needed for now, Jag undergoing surgery. Escort nearing completion.

VR4 will end up being the daily when it arrives. Jag for Sunday best, rest can go. No point in having five cars at the moment, out of space / time / enthusiasm.

 

The old car 'scene' has lost its shine for me recently so I'll keep the Jaaag, flog the rest and do something else for a few years. Chodmongely will probably be my last car show for the forseeable future.

 

Big temptation to buy a widebeam canal barge and go and live in Europe.

[Skizzer]

You are going to stick around on here a bit though, aren't you Pete? Be a sad loss otherwise.

 

Don't think I'm the right person to give the 604 a good home, at least not at the moment, but hope it does go to one - it's practically family, that car, ever since that photo in the tunnel of it on the trailer behind the Jeep.

[dieselnutjob]

you could have let me have a go in it first

[sporty-shite]

 

Big temptation to buy a widebeam canal barge and go and live in Europe.

 

Boatshite.

[warren t claim]

Owning a 604 will turn your daily commute around Queens Drive into a trip around "La Peripherique", I'll even buy you a soft pack of Gitainnes! You may even start wearing a sports coat and jeans combo to work and start a relationship with an young, blonde artist with an ex boyfriend who's in the mafia/KGB.

[Pete-M]

you could have let me have a go in it first

 

I'm not even gonna get a proper go in it myself..... although I suspect it'll be around a for a short while yet.

 

Owning a 604 will turn your daily commute around Queens Drive into a trip around "La Peripherique", I'll even buy you a soft pack of Gitainnes! You may even start wearing a sports coat and jeans combo to work and start a relationship with an young, blonde artist with an ex boyfriend who's in the mafia/KGB.

 

Hopefully.

[warren t claim]

The 604 has a presence that no other French car made since has, it's the only West European car that should come fitted with diplomatic plates as standard.

 

Slightly lower it with a mild tune and a couple of fruity exhausts and you'll be in Alain Delon heaven!

 

Pete=M, next week.

[Pete-M]

 

Lying in wait outside the MOT station.... Wednesday is the day of reckoning. First MOT for about four years.

[hhhugues]

This car looks incredible !