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Austin Somerset - pickup conversion
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:19 am    Post subject: Austin Somerset - pickup conversion Reply with quote

This is my austin somerset i bought this in June 2012 after it had been left for 10 years or so & was in a sorry state, used to belong to Rick on this forum. Got it back to my workshop & managed to get it running sounded lovely the only problem was that the car was beyond economical restoration due to body rust, trim, brakes etc, although the chassis was sound. I decided i would restore it as a pick up for use in my restoration business rather than break it, i did advertise it first to see if anyone would take it on as a restoration but didn't get any takers, so i set to work.







rust in n/s floor, just a small part to repair


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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22423
Location: UK

PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to see the old girl again, although she was looking sad when you found her Sad I don't remember who I sold it to now, but I acquired it in a swap for a red E28-type 535i BMW (dressed up like an M535i).

RJ
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It was in a sorry state after years of neglect, i started the rebuild by removing the rear body & building the cab back, that way it looked like i had less left to do.
Off with the roof.


Then the rear body


Then i was left with this


Then i tried this, not the right look wanted it to look more factory.


I ended up using a rover p6 roof panel which with a bit of a trim gave me the curve i wanted.





Then i fitted 6 inches of the rear doors & boxed them in, the rear edge has been curved to match the shape of the door to door glass.

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Brucekoukalaka



Joined: 27 Jun 2013
Posts: 39
Location: Camrose Alberta Canada

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 1:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's going to be a nice little "truck" when you finish it. Keep up with the pictures along the build.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yup it's a very neat conversion, what 'til the later photos appear on here Wink

Coincidentally, today - for the first time in years - I drove over the fateful bridge where, driving this car in 2001/2002, the rear wheel made a bid for freedom and I ground to a halt, leaving a deep rut along a freshly tarmac'd piece of road.

RJ
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Brucekoukalaka



Joined: 27 Jun 2013
Posts: 39
Location: Camrose Alberta Canada

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hope the tarmac was the only thing that was damaged.
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
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Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After reading up on the wheel incident, one of the first jobs i did was to re cut the threads on the rear wheel studs & fit new nuts.
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After many hours of filling & rubbing down i had the shape i was looking for.



The rear of the cab matches the profile of the rear of seats.





Once i got to this stage it was time to find a rear window.



Decided to use a morris minor pick up window, spent about an hour cutting & fitting the window & about 3 hours looking at it & measuring it over & over again.

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Brucekoukalaka



Joined: 27 Jun 2013
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Location: Camrose Alberta Canada

PostPosted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking good, I wish I had the skills and patience for body work. Being a technician is bad enough!!!
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
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Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A few pics of the o/s door step to floor work.



Had to make it up as i went along, not alot of the original left to go by.

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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
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Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just removed the small amount of rust in the door step.




Now try & put it back together.



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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After many hours i was nearly there.



Just the other side to do.



Oh dear, i do wonder why i started this.

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Brucekoukalaka



Joined: 27 Jun 2013
Posts: 39
Location: Camrose Alberta Canada

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You do have to wonder why and how we get into some of the pickles we seem to.
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Joined: 04 Feb 2014
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Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, i did say i wouldn't do another car as rough as this, that was probably 4 cars ago, just can't resist the challenge.
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Get Smart



Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Location: Bristol

PostPosted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Time to start building the pick up back.



Started with the bed, used some box section i had lying around.




Then added some angle to make the frame.

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