[Car_Overhaul] Laser Green 205 1.6 Gti

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So a bit of an update. The weather was mild this year so I ended up keeping the car on the road till the end of November. Had plenty of outings to the Yorks and Derbyshire meets and asking went up to the West Yorks meet in November in the torrential rain!

Had a nice afternoon out in October at a localish car meet on a Sunday afternoon, nice collection of Peugeots with a few of the bastards.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Early December I put it away in dry storage and got my Miami out for winter duties.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Then an opportunity came up for the car to be displayed at the NEC Autosport show, more after the event on that as it hasn't happened yet. However what it did do was prompt me to get on with a few bits that wanted sorting out. The car although clean is not perfect, I have done all the underside and tidied a lot of the rest, but the paint aside from lots of polishing is as I bought the car. So the areas that needed some attention, the worst one was the window ledge on the drivers side, just behind the B post, the lacquer had lifted and was getting gradually worse. Then the other bit that wanted doing was the passenger door, there was a strange dent in the bottom lip of the door, it looked as if someone had shut something in the door, which had pushed it out locally. Finally when I first did the car, I had the rear valance painted, but didn't realise the exhaust back box wasn't quite right, so it ended up melting into my nice freshly painted valance within only weeks

A friend of mines family business is a bodyshop near Wakefield so I took the car up to him for a holiday for him to sort the bits mentioned above for me.

Rear quarter, there were a few stone chips up the leading edge of the c pillar so Rick sorted these while he was there then lacquered the quarter.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Local repair to the passenger door, it dressed back into shape ok then some paint blended in.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

While he had it Rick also did a far better job than me of machine polishing the flat surfaces!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

The finished article! Rick took one look at the rear valance and said he was leaving that for me to fit to the car as he didn't want to break anything, and saw my stainless rivets and didn't think some manky ones he had would quite cut the mustard!

 

Fitted the valance just yesterday in the end.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

The other job I wanted to sort was the drivers seat. I had the seats repaired when I did the car, I have the trimmer a selection of 3 cloth seats and he was able to salvage enough second hand bolster covers to make a good pair. However he did his best but the thigh covers in particular on the driver seat were a bit worn and thin. So when Dave Hickman made the bolster covers I bought some.

So I removed the drivers seat and took it back to the trimmer with the new bolster cloths.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Really pleased with the job, the trimmer did say he had to modify the covers though as they didn't fit quite right. In that picture they look a lot darker than the backrest bolsters but i think the camera flash is exacerbating that as to the naked eye they look fine.

 

Back in the car

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So to bring up to date. Due to the aforementioned show, I had about 6 hours cleaning to do!

Annoyingly the before and after looks no different as far as the camera is concerned!!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr]

 

After, it's gone dark outside but otherwise.....ha!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

Looks great Tom, looking forward to seeing it on the stand at the weekend.

[acox99 74 1 Cars]

Il be up there on Friday so il come and say hi if your kicking about the stand. Car looks great.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So the car left me on Wednesday to make its way to the NEC.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Que many hilarious jokes from my so called friends about "Poland bound" and "on eBay in 3, 2,...."

 

Anyway I of course have spies in all quarters so a bit later that day I knew it had arrived safe!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

So I will be off down there tomorrow (Friday), for anyone going you will be able to track me down helping out Carl on the Force Racing Wheels stand 8233.

 

Just one shot from a friend who has been at the show today

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

To quote Carl, "Christ he has got a rope round his car, we will never hear the end of this!!"

[Jon_Bmw 13]

Tom,

 

It looked very well today. In prime position on that particular stand as well.

 

I did wonder if it was yours, very nice.

 

Jon

[calvinhorse 870]

Top achievement mate! Must be a great feeling!

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Thanks Gents! I haven't been to the show yet (going tomorrow) and I have to say I'm really looking forward to it!

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

All my jokes aside, it looks fantastic Tomes!

 

Sorry I can't make it down, was all for coming until the unforeseen happened!

Edited January 14, 2016 by allanallen

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So a long overdue update here.

 

The NEC show over the weekend was great. The car was in a really good spot on the exhibition it was displayed in, right next to the walkway. I was also really pleased that it still looked good under the harsh lights of the NEC, I was worried that with bits of new paint it may look like a patchwork quilt but in fact it looked great. It was amusing to wander up to the car and see folk looking at it and talking about it, a few times I got talking to folk and then told them it was mine, the reactions were funny actually, 50% were interested and started asking all about it, the other 50% gave me a look along the lines of "yeah right of course it is dickhead!" and walked off. LOL.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

 

However this good feeling was short lived as I got a phone call on the Monday after the show to tell me they had lost the key. I won't fully go into the resulting debacle here, as it still makes me mad with rage at the sheer incompetance of Haymarket Publishing who had borrowed the car via Peugeot UK.

It was eventually delivered back to me a day late in the following condition.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Red strips to drivers door damaged. Tow eye bent and paint damaged. NSR quarter lacquer lifted near bodykit (where they had clearly been man handling the car onto the transport vehicle). Key and immobiliser fob missing. As you can imagine I was furious and sick all at the same time.

Not at all what I wanted, but with some negotiation Haymarket did the decent thing and paid me out to cover all the rectification work. So the car was back off to the bodyshop.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

As ever Rick of Jessop Motor Bodies did a super job of putting it all right. I wouldn't have chosen to have the quarter done but it was needs must and I guess it does improve the car as a whole, luckily it's not in all original paint anyway which softens it a bit.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Anyway so after all that I have to say it knocked my cap off a bit, so I left the car stored away until the end of May.

 

It was then time to put the blue bomber away and get it out again. Also some useful colour coded key rings courtesy of mr higgs to help tell them apart Keys still being a sore subject at this point!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Whilst it was at the bodyshop Rick had painted a spare front valance for me, the original had 20 years of stonechips and a small scuff to the underside, not that visible but I knew it was there, and it was letting the car down.

So with it home I set about a bumper refurb.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Some of Stew Bakers very nice stainless repro sliders

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

New red bumper strip from the Peugeot Museum France

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Ready for the car, the wife must have been out that evening !!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Whilst I was there it was also time for some new number plates. They were showing their 17 years anyway, but the trip in the low bake oven at the bodyshop had finished them off, and the backing reflective strip was coming away from the acrylic plate. So got in touch with Dave DMB Graphics who did a great job in copying them for me. Spot the difference?!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

And with that she was back on the road for the summer, the MOT is early June which it passed with no issues, although I didn't hit my 1000 miles this year, but thats no great shame really.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

So time for a few shows with the Yorkshire Bastards . First one was the Hope Motorshow in Derbyshire, always a good event, luckily the weather was kind this year and it was a lovely evening. As usual a monumental lack of photos of my own car!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Next on the agenda Pugfest. In 2015 I entered the car in the show and shine for the first time, in actual fact I was 50/50 about it until the lads persuaded me on the Sunday morning to shove it in. It won a quite unexpected 3rd in standard show and shine class, well that was the bug bitten, so my goal for 2016 was to improve upon 2015. With the comments from the judges I had some pointers to go on and also some bits I knew myself I wanted to improve. So I set about the car, the main focus was the engine bay, I hadn't really touched it since buying the car, so it was unmolested but could have been a lot cleaner.

First step was trying to resurrect 2 broken pressure washers. After I'd binned these and bought a new one cleaning could begin!

Gave the engine bay the good news with the degreaser and pressure washer which helped a lot. It was then into the more detailed bits and bobs, tidying up and painting bits of brackets etc. The battery tray was original but looking a little sorry for itself, as was the slam panel.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

 

So into the frame again Rick of Jessops in Horbury Bridge, a freshly painted slam panel in a special mixed colour to match the original, and the battery tray also painted in body colour. Whilst these bits were away I set about scrubbing the chassis leg and touching up a few other bits and bobs.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Also the wiper arms given some 2k black to tidy them up from stone chips

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Also the air box I swapped for a better one, and much to everyone's amusement polished and waxed it before fitting!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

The headlamps whilst original were grubby so removed for a clean!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Also the mudflap steel brackets were looking tatty, so I drew them on CAD (extremely complex shape believe it or not!) and had them cut in stainless.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Much better!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

The washer bottle also needed a bloody good scrub, I didn't want to just buy another as it is date stamped so nice to keep the original to the car.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Even the Mrs got involved!!!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So with the engine bay done as much as I could summon up the patience/enthusiasm for, it was time to do the rest. I would say it didn't take much doing but I still managed to spend a full day on it.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

This shot in particular I was very pleased with, I'm no photographer!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

So then time for Pugfest! Stella my German Shepherd is always on edge when a car gets loaded up with stuff as she doesn't want to be left behind, she tried a couple of times to climb in the back with the rest of my gear.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

To the show, another good Pugfest, marred by a few dickheads on the Saturday night, however my secret weapon earplugs to the rescue so I slept OK.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

On the Sunday the downside of showing, I spent the majority of the morning cleaning away, the trip down had been partially in torrential rain which had not helped.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So judging time came, hard to know how you have done, the competition seemed to have definitely stepped up a notch though, all the cars on display looked fantastic.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

So presentation time, and I was double chuffed to win show and shine standard class 2nd place. Adam Burrows with his red 205 took 1st, whilst last years winner Chris Hughes was up into the concours class this year where he took 2nd. Speaking with Adam it was telling that he thought my car was cleaner than his, whilst I thought his was cleaner than mine!

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Team Bastards

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

With Pugfest done time to stop cleaning it and use it a bit!

 

Ashover show was next, a good day out at a local show with a wide variety of stuff there, it will certainly be on the calendar for next year.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

So finally to come more or less up to date.

 

A distraction came along in the form of the 106 GTI as owned by the previous owner of the 205. Namely, he had passed away, and the 106 had gone. Gutted not the word, as I was always hoping to buy it. However fate played a card and only a few days later, the 206 GT as featured earlier in this post, owned by the previous-but-one owner of the 205 crossed my path. Cutting a story short I now own the 206 GT, this is the very car that the 205 was traded in at the local Peugeot dealer in 1999 to be bought new. It has remained with Ruth ever since, although due to her circumstances it needed quite a bit of work which she could really afford. So now with me, I think its a nice bit of provenance for both vehicles, its very much a work in progress at the moment, but its back on the road now, which is a different story as it was close to having the bumpers and wheels removed and being scrapped. Perhaps a story for another thread if anyones interested.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

This pic from 2011 when I bought the 205

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Anyway the final outing for the 205 was the local Rotherham show. A wide mix of all sorts of different stuff it features a car show, so a couple of us had the day there. There was option to have the car judged so I entered, however a bit of a strange category, all the older stuff was in 9 year bands, so 1960-69, 1970-79 etc. That goes to 1980-89 and then the following class is 1990-onwards which meant I was in the catch all with all sorts of stuff up to virtually brand new, not really a level playing field for a 25 year old car, but that was the class and in any case it was only a bit of fun.

 

In the end I won 3rd place in the 1990-onwards class, pleased with that in fairness although it seemed a hollow victory to the bloke with a 5 year old Merc....!

 

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

The end of September meant it was time for bedtime for the 205 for winter, so with a clean and wax its gone away for winter, under its nice soft stretchy cover again from Mr Higgs.

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Tom Fenton, on Flickr

[GLPoomobile 958]

Nice update Tom. Such a sweet example

 

But what happens when Ruth has worn out a pair of knickers? Will you have them too?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

 

But what happens when Ruth has worn out a pair of knickers? Will you have them too?

STALKER LEVEL = EXPERT

[Andya 2]

Really enjoy reading this thread, thanks for the updates.

 

Great attention to detail.

[calvinhorse 870]

Nice work Thomas!

[Gaz205 50]

I've scrapped better ????

 

A very rare gem, you're very lucky and skilful to bring it up to that standard

[dale205mills 39 7 Cars]

Please stop updating Tom, you are make me jealous off not touching my silver 205, I would really look at selling my silver 205 to buy your lazer 205, keep up the good work pal as the nights are coming in and we all need to see the projects coming threw over the winter.

[speno 239 2 Cars]

One of the best things about Tom's car is that it's get driven and its a credit to him for this . Many folk would never drive it !

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Cheers Spen, I do enjoy driving it, its fun to drive, OK its not the quickest thing out there, and you have to work at it, which makes it all the more enjoyable. In honesty I don't just drive it, I drive the wheels off it, thats what the 205 GTI has always been all about! Its a good contrast to modern cars, a roundabout I can drive round in my BMW at 60mph whilst talking on the handsfree bluetooth and altering the music with the Idrive with one hand, in the 205 50mph is a full attack both hands required tyres chirping experience!!

But I have to be honest that as the prices are going skywards for nice 205's, I'm starting to get nervous about leaving it anywhere. Its partly the reason I've got the 206 as its something I can use, run miles up on it, and I can leave it places without worrying too much about it.