Leyland Princess Resto
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:40 pm
After I said no more restorations, I won this 1980 2200HLS Auto on ebay at the end of September 2011, and going by the sellers description it seemed it would need very little work to make it nice again. And it did have a long MoT.
When I arrived at the sellers address and first clapped eyes on it I have to say I was quite disappointed.
Quite a lot of the body work needs attention and although the seller did say the rear arch panel needed painting he didn't say it would need replacing first!
No oil or battery warning light were concerns, but it did drive very well and the stainless steel exhaust sounds nice!
Anyway I had bid to buy, not kick the (four new) tyres and as I know these cars so well I knew what I was letting myself in for. The seller knew I was disappointed so he threw in a load of spares that he was going to sell seperately and he also apologised for the lacklustre listing.
We then made our way to the Post Office to tax it then dad drove it back down the M3 for the 50 mile journey home. Despite the hot weather and the fact we got caught in three traffic jams due to accidents, the Wedge made it back with no issues at all.
Here's what's happened so far...
Bought on 1st October 2011.
Dad used it to go to the chip shop!
The reality of it all...
Off side arch needs replacing.
Nearside arch needs replacing.
Nearside front wing is different colours!
Offside front wing has a dent in it.
Front just needs tidying, bonnet is perrfect!
And the back end is perfect too!
The black interior is in excellent condition, though.
I get the feeling, though, that if anyone else had bid and won this car they would have walked away once they saw it...
04/12/2011.
A bit more done on the resto Wedge. Cut the front wing off.
Just waiting for the welder to arrive and fit the new wing and fit and weld the new rear arches.
04/01/2012.
Nearside rear arch replaced.
Front wing replaced.
Found a few holes in the sills as well so more patching required. Again, never believe what a seller in an ebay listing says!
22/01/2012.
More cosmetic work. The drivers door and the nearside rear door are rotten and will be replaced.
At least it's not yet another bloody MGB resto!
Kev.
When I arrived at the sellers address and first clapped eyes on it I have to say I was quite disappointed.
Quite a lot of the body work needs attention and although the seller did say the rear arch panel needed painting he didn't say it would need replacing first!
No oil or battery warning light were concerns, but it did drive very well and the stainless steel exhaust sounds nice!
Anyway I had bid to buy, not kick the (four new) tyres and as I know these cars so well I knew what I was letting myself in for. The seller knew I was disappointed so he threw in a load of spares that he was going to sell seperately and he also apologised for the lacklustre listing.
We then made our way to the Post Office to tax it then dad drove it back down the M3 for the 50 mile journey home. Despite the hot weather and the fact we got caught in three traffic jams due to accidents, the Wedge made it back with no issues at all.
Here's what's happened so far...
Bought on 1st October 2011.
Dad used it to go to the chip shop!
The reality of it all...
Off side arch needs replacing.
Nearside arch needs replacing.
Nearside front wing is different colours!
Offside front wing has a dent in it.
Front just needs tidying, bonnet is perrfect!
And the back end is perfect too!
The black interior is in excellent condition, though.
I get the feeling, though, that if anyone else had bid and won this car they would have walked away once they saw it...
04/12/2011.
A bit more done on the resto Wedge. Cut the front wing off.
Just waiting for the welder to arrive and fit the new wing and fit and weld the new rear arches.
04/01/2012.
Nearside rear arch replaced.
Front wing replaced.
Found a few holes in the sills as well so more patching required. Again, never believe what a seller in an ebay listing says!
22/01/2012.
More cosmetic work. The drivers door and the nearside rear door are rotten and will be replaced.
At least it's not yet another bloody MGB resto!
Kev.