Hey!

I'm Andrew, and i've just rescued a 1983 1043cc breadvan!

I set off last weekend with all this:

And turned up to find my little Mk2, ready and waiting for me. We had a good chat with the seller who explained it's a bit of a state at the moment - he told me it had been used by the previous owner to teach their younguns, before using it for the tip run for the next few years!

One problem was the exhaust was hanging off. We looked at bodging it back together but it already had a few cans of exhaust putty, a million clamps and a heineken can, so we decided off was the safest solution!!

A full tank of fuel set me back £35! I'm used to filling up my 3 Series, which rapes me of £85 a time, so that was a pleasant surprise!

And off we went! 144 miles later, slightly more deaf thanks to the lack of exhaust, and we are home!!!

Excuse the face, gurning as I got overtaken (again) was the only way I could distract myself from the noise on the way home! :p

So far i've had a good look around the car.

Exterior:

- Doors. I have one red one, which is dented, and one orange one, which doesn't match the car at all. New doors are needed!

- Rear bumper is bent out of shape - new bumper needed. (hopefully sorted)

- Rear left tail light has a broken lens on the indicator bulb.

- Rear lower panel has taken some damage. Will be addressing that.

- Rear left arch has had a bump and rubbish repair. It's still solid metal, it just really doesn't look well. Will be repairing that more thoroughly, and replacing the missing plastic "banana" trim.

- Bonnet is a bit dented. Will probably leave this unless a good one comes up cheap - it's not that bad.

- Wheels ARE SO TINY! I did a 4 wheel lock up testing the brakes - we joked as the tyres are "fate-o". BBS RA or Mahles are required I think - anything 13x6 and cross-spoke!

- Exhaust. I've already bought a new OEM one.

Engine:

- Every fluid is black. Going to do a full service tomorrow.

- Belt looks old, needs changing.

- The entire bay looks like it's never been cleaned. Will be working my way around that.

- Doesn't like running on choke from a cold start. It drops 2 cylinders sometimes. Works better regulating with throttle, rather than choke. Will be addressing this too. Carb needs cleaning?

Interior:

- Seats are OK, apart from drivers right bolster. Repair or maybe replacement?

- Need new rear seatbelts - they were missing

- Need new speakers.

- Rear boot panel that holds parcel shelf in place (with speaker grilles in) needs replacing

- Drivers door card is damaged. Replacement needed.

Otherwise it's fine

So parts to buy:

- Service parts (Bought)

- Exhaust (Bought)

- Rear seatbelts (Bought)

- Rear boot speaker grille panel things (Bought)

- Doors in Gambia Red or any dark red

- Rear bumper (Bought)

- Rear L/H tail light

- Speakers

- SMALL sub!

- Wheels and tyres (Bought)

- Left wheel arch "banana" trim thing

- Lots of bodywork stuff!

- Underseal

Shameless plug, if you can help me out with any of these things, it'd be much appreciated. :)

Edited 3 January, 201313 yr by andrew_baran

should be a minter with a little tlc, good find!

let me know how it goes with the engine, have a 43k 1043cc i need rid of after just swapping for a gt!

Thanks mate. The engine I have in it is only on 85K, and ran fine on the 140 mile journey home, so hopefully i'll be OK for now. Although the car still misfires when the choke is out on cold start. Much better post oil and plug change, but I think i need to strip out the air filter housing, clean the carb thoroghly and check all the choke system.

Progress this weekend included an oil and filter change, new plugs, fitting the new exhaust and finding out GSF have given me the wrong air filter. Bummer.

The exhaust backbox was a terrible fit - it was a "Timax" item from GSF, and the brackets for the rubbers are completely in the wrong place. I've bodged it on for now whilst I look for a permanent solution - it's off the road anyway so as long as it's on the car...

Some highlights of the previous exhaust:

Also, the boot is stuck locked. Key won't turn in the lock. Can't for the life of me work out what has happened - the key(s) look fine, the lock is clean...

rescued a 1983 1043cc breadvan!

Good man

Don't breadvans just suit this colour perfectly?

Don't breadvans just suit this colour perfectly?

It will do a lot more once it gets its shine back. Really looking forward to next weekend - giving it a "deep clean". The combination of the paint shine and back-to-black on the bumpers is going to transform this car.

And some new doors. So if anyone has any Gambia red doors for sale.....

Next update!

The bready was a surprise for my girlfriend. I told her about it the other day, thinking she might actually like to help get it ship-shape. She went bonkers for it.

We had crap weather this weekend, but managed to investigate "Ruby" the Polo's paintwork.

Here's the proud new owner with her bucket and sponge:

The paintwork looks good as new when wet...

And some shots after round 1 - just water and normal car shampoo. We're cracking out the products next week!

Tucked away for the night:

(cough... gambia red doors...)

Edited 21 May, 201214 yr by andrew_baran

Forgot I had some interior shots too!

I love this car so much its total spitting image of my old gambian red Polo minus the mars red door lol. I'm going to be watching this one with interest if I can offer any assistance with the carb let me know good luck dude. Oh where are you based bud some of your surroundings look very familiar? Oh and if you can track one down then try and get a Ernst exhaust they fit soooooooooo well.

I give up with the Gambia red doors. Looks like it's going to have to be a spray job.

Reeeems!

Looking pritty tidy man! loving the previous owners attempts at exhaust repairs lol. I tried to get my gf to have a saloon or bready but she went out and bought a 6R. how boring!!

I like that 2 poster ramp too, how much did that set you back? :-)

Lovely thread, gorgeous little car! Love your wheels, I'm very jealous.

What is it with girls and old polos? My gf loves my polo, unfortunately she can't drive but she loves being passenger :)

ANYWAY. Yes as I say this is nice wee build thread which I'll be folowing!

Can you help me with my running problems?

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=307236

I'll update this with progress later. But in the meantime, have a pretty picture :)

Looks lovely this ! , Nice lil project :) . allready looking awesome :)

FOR SALE

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=309779