Hi.

Gone and bought another old Polo. Can't pull myself away from these things. Anyways the story..

Upon arriving to carry out a Valet at a customers house, I spotted this Arctic Blue Parade laid up in someone's front garden, surrounded by grass and rubbish it looked pretty abandoned and unloved. Carried out the work I had to do and decided to pop a letter through the door showing my interest in the old girl.

"Spotted the Polo in the garden, if you're ever looking to sell her then please drop me a line"

Thought nothing of it and left, 20 minutes later I get a call and the old boy offered me it for £150! Apparently it had had new brakes all round, lines and shocks six months back when it was taken off the road - since then it had been laid up due to no test, tax and lack of interest.

In short, I couldn't say no so I turned up the following day, loaded it up and brought it home!

42K on the clock and two owners - despite the bodywork being a state and not running I was chuffed, my first proper project. Dealer plates, dealer stickers and un molested, even down to having no radio fitted.


ProjectArctic by R.White., on Flickr

Got it home, immediately started stripping it down - didn't even take a photo of when it was complete!
Here are the results, the front wings were shot so they were binned and a new pair were sourced at a bargain price of £60. The engine was running on 3 cylinders and had dropped compression so it was lifted shortly after. Bar that all looked solid and pretty good. It was clear the old guy who had owned it the first 16 years had done his own DIY repairs and paint jobs, which explains the 20% metal 80% filler wings..


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

First time I've ever lifted an engine, or done any engine work so was pretty giddy at this point..
Simply applied a grease remover and got handy with my work Jet wash on the bay, again, surprisingly clean!


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

Stripped and binned the original interior as well, so it really was a empty shell as I loaded it up and took it around the corner to AutoMagic - cannot recommended these guys enough. Amazing work.


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

Dropped off Tuesday morning; popped by today to confirm the paint code and was greeted with this.


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

Couldn't believe the speed they had got on with things; then come 4pm today I got sent these two snaps and was asked if I wanted to collect it tomorrow night. That's full prep, arches rolled, painted and mopped in four days.


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

So yeah, this is where we are now, happened all pretty quick - only got the thing three weeks ago.
I have a G40 interior waiting to go in, although I need some rear door cards and a black carpet if anyone has any?
New suspension along with new top mounts, bottom arms, ARB bushes and the like are waiting in the conservatory.
Another low mileage little 1l lump has been sourced to drop in, just so I can hit a few shows this year and gather bits to build a lovely 16v AFH.

The one problem I'm having is finding the right wheels.. I'm trying to bide my time and wait for the right set but we shall see how far my wallet can stretch.
See you on the other side.

looks good will be keeping an eye on this

Amazing!

Did u put the lottery on too! Finding one of these in someones garden in this colour.. just never happends haha awesome luck bud and its looking sweet now after some proper love. glad it didnt get scrapped and went to someone whos guna enjoy it. cant wait to see it back together and running!

Collected it yesterday from AutoMagic, pretty chuffed with the turn around and the finish! Gonna have to bob the bonnet back as I think the paint has slightly react on the leading edge but no rush at the minute.

Here she is upon collection!


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

Slightly built it up today, all the windows and bumpers are on. But my main job was to swap the full interior to the G40 items I had waiting to go in.

Black carpet, G40 seats, MotorSport Gearknob, leather gaitor with blue stitching, G40 steering wheel, Black parcel shelf, VW Radio blank and a pair of Genesis doorcards (still need a pair of rears if anyone has any?)

Pretty successful day in the sun to be honest.
Can't wait, suspension and engine next.


ArcticProject by R.White., on Flickr

Edited 9 March, 201412 yr by RobWhite1992

Epic, lovely work!

Little update, had some issues getting various bits and bobs for this - been travelling here, there and everywhere only to be let down with incorrect parts or parts that don't even fit! Or worse yet, wheels that are "mint" and then turn out to be painted by what can only be described as a paint by numbers brush and curbed to death.

Anywho.. She's looking a bit prettier now.
Pushed her out the other day for a couple of hours, had a play and removed the front springs + bumpstops for giggles. Yet the steering arms are still clearing the chassis and brake servo?


image by R.White., on Flickr


image by R.White., on Flickr

Then hunted down some more wheels, turned out to be a eBay bargain; big thanks to Ryan who knows how to advertise correctly! A lot of people said they wouldn't work and advised me to steer clear but hey ho, I took the risk. I'm chuffed to bits with them in all honesty.

BBS RZ 515 in a Grey/Blue shade, carbon centres and red BBS barrel stickers. 165/50 Bridgestones albeit need replacing sharpish.


image by R.White., on Flickr

Sunday I picked them up and got hit with the hailstones and gails pretty hard; hood up and carried on regardless fitting the rear suspension and bolted the BBS on. I'm currently on the hunt for some meaty spacers to bring the rears out to match the fronts, I'm also aware the rear needs lifting a tad but here she is at the minute.


image by R.White., on Flickr


image by R.White., on Flickr


image by R.White., on Flickr


image by R.White., on Flickr

More to follow when the sun comes out and I find the various bits and bobs I need to finish this build.

Perfect choice of wheels! Looking very nice.

Edited 24 March, 201412 yr by vdoubleu

Love it!

15mm spacers would be spot on (demon tweeks do alloy ones for a good price)

Edited 24 March, 201412 yr by citrus

Amazing, slightly in love.

Thanks for the kind comments, currently after a pair of 20/25mm as that's what I was running on the rear of my MK2 - BBS RM's at 6.5J and they sat level at that.

If you aren't getting coilovers soonish I'd think about not spacing rear as of yet as it's gonna scrub surely, love the colour of this and the wheels look brill!

They standard arches on my MK2 didn't rub and I was running 15 x 6.5 ET8 out back.

This I currently 15 x 7 ET25 out back with 10mm spacers and has loads of clearance due to rolled arches. As said I plan to raise the back 10mm and then space them out a further 10-15mm to suit the front poke at ET35.

Wheel choice is prime! Liking this a lot

That's really nice. Paint looks really good and I like the wheels, bit different for a mk3.

Glad the carpet went to a good home. Shame, I binned a bumper a week before you came round you could have had for nowt to put you on for now.

Love this. Shouldn't look at it though as makes me miss mine too much.

This is really nice! What's the front lowered on? Coilovers?

Love it! P.S I hate you :p

wow looks amazing!