Post by bent8rover on Feb 20, 2017 11:57:13 GMT
...which means the comfyish Gold Cloverleaf
This thread is about the tinkering with this little boxy old Alfasud pretender. Most wouldn't bother, but exhaustive (well, two phone calls and bit of chat) research has determined that this is the UK's sole-surviving QO known to the UK AROC and 33 Register, of just 10 33 Mk1 series 1.5 survivors known to the DVLA.
33 was essentially a re-skin of Alfasud, but they bungled some of the original suspension perfection while stretching the wheelbase, changing the beam and also front brakes to outboard. I mean, why remove the anti-roll bar?
The QO inherited the base Alfasud 1.5 running gear: 85bhp with the tallest of the gearing.
It was the 'plush'-spec version with 'wooden' steering wheel and gearknob, electric windows, trip computer, check system, headlamp wipers, foglamps and Geography Teacher seat trim. So it was a bit swish on its 1982 release.
I didn't intend to get this. But I kept passing it and its sister (a red QV, the sports one) rotting unused on a local driveway, and just knocked on the door to enquire. Deal done on the pair.
This car has done 36k, had six owners, most of which have been within the last decade. Then I got it, and after smoking it about for three months I've decided to tidy it up a touch as it deserves it.
Jobs done:
1) Bought silver n/s wing while it was there
2) Bought a cheap garage-load of spares (new and used), including sills, head lights, calipers, bearings, front struts with Konis fitted, screen rubbers throughout, a new front screen that's not going cloudy in the corners....
3) Drove it about with a smile on face
4) Wife has no love for it as it's awkward to drive and SILVER
Jobs to do:
1) Sell the private number plate (a 1934 dateless)
2) By a tub of May Meyer's Met. Grigio Nisida AR 755/A.F. paint (isn't it great to have a car that's never been restored before, so labelling is intact)
3) Paint the repaired areas
----------------------------------------------------------
MOT failure:
1) Paid a welding man to do the inner front wing rails and rear sill boxes
2) Some suspension bushes front and rear needed doing.
Purchases:
1) all front bushings from Powerflex
2) all rear bushings in OEM rubber instead (club advise)
3) alloy wheel set from a 145 Cloverleaf that are the correct PCD and almost the correct offset, but need the centre bore enlarging a few mm from the current
.1mm
Budget improvement:
2) Sold the plate for very good money
----------------------------------------------------------
Car is waiting impatiently.
Rust is sadly taking hold in the rear arches.
Scuffs to body from being stored in a place on the drive that meant the window cleaning man clouts it when outside, yet I do the same every time it is put into the garage instead.
It got filled-up with junk while the house was getting cleared for building work! How did that happen?
----------------------------------------------------------
I need some bullying as nothing's getting done....
Purchases since:
1) NOS rare Twin tailpipe exhaust for Alfasud QV
2) Used wider manifold from 33 1.7
3) Used Alfasud front crossmember with ARB
4) ARB bushings bought-in from Hungary - the last batch in Europe!
What happened to it in all that time:
1) Rolled it about the drive a bit
2) Filled the rear with half the bits from the other 33 that was broken down so it now looks like a shed and it upsets me to look at it, and can't be impressing the neighbours
3) Rolled it about some more
4) Put it back in the shed.
Can't understand where the enthusiasm went!
Missus dislikes it anyhow, so it has ended up out of sight and out of mind while other toys get played with...
This thread is about the tinkering with this little boxy old Alfasud pretender. Most wouldn't bother, but exhaustive (well, two phone calls and bit of chat) research has determined that this is the UK's sole-surviving QO known to the UK AROC and 33 Register, of just 10 33 Mk1 series 1.5 survivors known to the DVLA.
33 was essentially a re-skin of Alfasud, but they bungled some of the original suspension perfection while stretching the wheelbase, changing the beam and also front brakes to outboard. I mean, why remove the anti-roll bar?
The QO inherited the base Alfasud 1.5 running gear: 85bhp with the tallest of the gearing.
It was the 'plush'-spec version with 'wooden' steering wheel and gearknob, electric windows, trip computer, check system, headlamp wipers, foglamps and Geography Teacher seat trim. So it was a bit swish on its 1982 release.
I didn't intend to get this. But I kept passing it and its sister (a red QV, the sports one) rotting unused on a local driveway, and just knocked on the door to enquire. Deal done on the pair.
This car has done 36k, had six owners, most of which have been within the last decade. Then I got it, and after smoking it about for three months I've decided to tidy it up a touch as it deserves it.
Jobs done:
1) Bought silver n/s wing while it was there
2) Bought a cheap garage-load of spares (new and used), including sills, head lights, calipers, bearings, front struts with Konis fitted, screen rubbers throughout, a new front screen that's not going cloudy in the corners....
3) Drove it about with a smile on face
4) Wife has no love for it as it's awkward to drive and SILVER
Jobs to do:
1) Sell the private number plate (a 1934 dateless)
2) By a tub of May Meyer's Met. Grigio Nisida AR 755/A.F. paint (isn't it great to have a car that's never been restored before, so labelling is intact)
3) Paint the repaired areas
----------------------------------------------------------
MOT failure:
1) Paid a welding man to do the inner front wing rails and rear sill boxes
2) Some suspension bushes front and rear needed doing.
Purchases:
1) all front bushings from Powerflex
2) all rear bushings in OEM rubber instead (club advise)
3) alloy wheel set from a 145 Cloverleaf that are the correct PCD and almost the correct offset, but need the centre bore enlarging a few mm from the current
.1mmBudget improvement:
2) Sold the plate for very good money
----------------------------------------------------------
Car is waiting impatiently.
Rust is sadly taking hold in the rear arches.
Scuffs to body from being stored in a place on the drive that meant the window cleaning man clouts it when outside, yet I do the same every time it is put into the garage instead.
It got filled-up with junk while the house was getting cleared for building work! How did that happen?
----------------------------------------------------------
I need some bullying as nothing's getting done....
Purchases since:
1) NOS rare Twin tailpipe exhaust for Alfasud QV
2) Used wider manifold from 33 1.7
3) Used Alfasud front crossmember with ARB
4) ARB bushings bought-in from Hungary - the last batch in Europe!
What happened to it in all that time:
1) Rolled it about the drive a bit
2) Filled the rear with half the bits from the other 33 that was broken down so it now looks like a shed and it upsets me to look at it, and can't be impressing the neighbours
3) Rolled it about some more
4) Put it back in the shed.
Can't understand where the enthusiasm went!
Missus dislikes it anyhow, so it has ended up out of sight and out of mind while other toys get played with...
