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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject: Sunbeam Rapier Garage Find--Follows From Xmas Present Post |
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I saw this car advertised rang the chap selling it and told him I would have it sight unseen.
Leading up to xmas last week the transport guy who was to collect the car was so busy it did not happen.
As it was 150 miles away from me and south of London I really did not want to try to navigate the M25 leading up to xmas in my van with a trailer,what with traffic holdups,roadworks etc.
I thought to myself do i really need this car.
But I woke up in the morning and decided that i would always think about this lost opportunity like some others I have missed out on in the past that I remember.
So yesterday at 6.00am I left home to beat the traffic and went to collect the car before the owner decided to let someone else have it.
The pictures show the garage it was stored in unused for nearly 20 years,and what it looked like in the open.
I was so glad I made the effort to get the car plus the van load of spares that came with it.
Underneath it is very solid,so no welding required at all.
In the late 1970`s it had new wings,front valance,sills and inner wing repairs as required.
The mileage is approx 35,000 miles.
The car was stored away because the owner was allocated a company car.
More info to follow in the next few days,as I clean it up and get it running.
Gresham Flyer
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4106 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Encouragingly, I'm sure that is a tin of waxoyl in the last picture..so looks as if its come from a caring home
Dave |
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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Yes that is right.
The car is very waxy and oily underneath. Also all the components are well oiled,greased or waxed,making the job easier to remove items i.e wheel nuts,brake drums,nuts and bolts etc.
A bit messy to the touch but I do not mind.
I think people who used their cars and were not into displaying them or taking them to shows did not care what they looked like underneath as long as they were greased up and oiled etc.
I just love these old guys who used to spray old engine oil in the doors,under the wings or inside box sections.
That is why this car has not dried up or suffered at all through storage,oil and grease also keeps the damp at bay in these old garages and stops items rusting and seizing up.
How many of these super clean concourse cars would survive in a brick and asbestos roofed garage for 20 years.?
Every super clean item would be rendered useless after all this time.
Gresham Flyer |
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Richard H
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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What a lovely old car. Good luck with the recommissioning. _________________ Richard Hughes |
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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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I filled her with fresh oil and fitted a new filter.
Cleaned out the fuel pump and lines and Bingo she ran up fine with very good oil pressure.
Now I have to get the clutch and brakes working.
Gresham flyer |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22452 Location: UK
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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:32 am Post subject: |
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I found this list of Sunbeam cars for sale folded inside the logbook, cut out of a south London newspaper.
Just look at the prices.
Especially the Sunbeam Tiger....but if this was early 1980`s nobody would want a gas guzzler.!!!!
Gresham Flyer
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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my wifes hillman is covered with oil underneath and grease on some parts and its solid still underneath & never been welded. usually minxes and the like were rotton on the rear chassis legs & a posts which rendered them scrap but some people actually looked after their vehicles and sprayed them/brushed them with oil .nice car by the way
craig |
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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:54 am Post subject: |
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I have been busy since collecting this car a few day`s before Christmas.
Apart from all the usual mechanical items that need looking at after a twenty year layup,the rear arches to the bodywork where completely rebuilt with fresh metal,the sills,front apron and valance cleaned back to bare metal,prepared and prime painted.
I removed the seats and old thread bare carpeting.
A new carpet set arrived from Coverdale Carpets,finished in Claret Red and these were duly fitted.
Everything was thoroughly cleaned before refitment.
After not powering herself on the road for all that time I took her for an Mot.
She passed her Mot last Monday,and with no advisories.
The next job to do is return her to the original colour of Silver Grey Metalic
Gresham Flyer |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22452 Location: UK
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andycars
Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 239 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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I've been looking forward to an update on this thread. Would love to see some more photos |
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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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The car had new front wings,front valance front apron,and new sills fitted prior to it being laid up in storage.
The paintwork had started to lift and peal around the edges of the front arches and the edges of the front apron,so all the paintwork was removed back to bright as new metal before etch priming and then applying the grey primer.
The rear arches had been filled and temporary repairs carried in the past ,so I cut this all away and constructed new rear arches and bottoms of the rear wings from new fabricated steel.
The sills had been replaced but bitumen had been sprayed onto them. This was removed back to bright as new metal and etch primed then grey primed.
New carpets have been fitted,purchased from Coverdale Carpets of Wigan.
I need to fit some press studs to the carpet piece that fits over the top of the heal board - bulkhead as can be seen.
I took the car to the Mot station like this to attain an Mot,this way I can drive and move the car around legally.
I will be able to take it over to my storage unit and bring it home as I please now.
She drives very well, everything works OK and the overdrive works fine, but the tyres will need changing one day as after twenty years of storage they will have flat spots plus must be at least twenty three years old.
The existing paintwork will be removed back to bare metal and a complete respray carried out as soon as my other project I am carrying out at the moment is finished.
This is an Austin 8cwt van (Morris Minor Van) which I purchased last year.
Details and photo`s will be posted on the Austin section or Van and Pickup section.
Gresham Flyer
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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looking good mate .ive got new carpets from coverdales in my oxford .good quality and a good price |
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andycars
Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 239 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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You've worked wonders in a short time, and to an excellent standard - well done mate! The original seats are a lovely touch - retrims never look quite the same. Chrome seems to have cleaned up well. |
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326
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Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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have you got any pics of the engine bay |
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