Coming Home....after 30 years

[aggie57]

Its 30 years ago on September 10th since I bought this 105.  I driove it for 2 years or so, then started a restoration that included the complete replacement of the front left hand corner (front panel, guard, skirt) with new genuine parts followed by a rebuild of the engine and gearbox as well as various other components.

Since the early 90's she has sat around in various garages and lockups, while other interest and cars came and went. This would be a familiar story to many.

But 20 odd years is long enough looking at walls and she needs to see the open road.  So today we retrieved her from a lock up in Kilsyth and bought the old girl home. 

The plan is simple.  Get her running and drivable, so focus on the mechanicals, then the rest of the body and then the trim.  It's all painted underneath, having been on a rotisserie during the early stage of the work, and the only panel requiring any significant work is the passengers door for which I have a replacement skin from Evan if that's needed.

Oh – it's a Sept '72 build, March '73 registered 2000 GTV.   Apparently 3 owners before me with around 90,000 miles on the clock of which 20,000 were in my care. 

[aggie57]

This is what it looks like underneath - quite a few bits have this light surface corrosion on them that you can see on the axle tubes so that will need sorting but its a driver and not a show car so that will be addressed accordingly.

[BundySean]

Well done Aggie.

You've prooved to all those with unfinished projects that it is never too late!

Is the blue underneath the original colour?

Sean

[aggie57]

Well done Aggie.

You've prooved to all those with unfinished projects that it is never too late!

Is the blue underneath the original colour?

Sean

Thanks Sean. It's Le Mans Blue, and yes that's the factory colour. 

[Evan Bottcher]

Fantastic Alister - what a great move!  I love Le Mans blue as well - it'll look fantastic when it's done.  Keep us up to date...

[Paul Gulliver]

Jeez, without being a wet blanket 30 years of storage costs would have just about paid for a full restoration.

[aggie57]

Jeez, without being a wet blanket 30 years of storage costs would have just about paid for a full restoration.

Friends garages are wonderful things....and it costs exactly the same to store a restored car as an unrestored one. You know that!!

[jimnielsen]

I have room for the 105 as well 

[cjheath]

...and it costs exactly the same to store a restored car as an unrestored one. You know that!!

Think of what you saved on running costs and repairs   

[Ray Pignataro]

Hey Jim can I store some of mine there as well?