[Car Restoration] One Owner 1.9 Gti Phase 1.5 Re-Commissoning

[205Rallee 59]

It didn't rain so I avoided doing some decorating and had a tootle up and down our estate road. Took some photos, thought it looked rather good and then thought what am I going to do with it? It's got 11 months MOT (passed with no advisories), 179,990 miles (about 10 miles in the last decade), FSH and I've only one garage for two 205's. Maybe I'm just having one of those days?

Edited February 14, 2017 by 205Rallee

[toolie72 67 1 Cars]

Mmmmmmmmm shiny-love it

[Anthony 1,003]

I've only one garage for two 205's.

The man maths answer is to have a bigger garage that'll hold two 205's....

[205Rallee 59]

The man maths answer is to have a bigger garage that'll hold two 205's....

We are looking at moving at the moment but trying to find something with a double garage in a place where I can start up my Rallye without having to push it 100 yards to the road (which I have to do on early mornings as the pops and bangs really annoys the neighbours and her indoors) isn't easy. Even considering selling and going into rented until we can find something. As it stands I've two 205's in separate garages and it's a 120 mile round trip between the two. I've got access to an industrial unit nearby but it would get nicked from there and the thought of storing in a barn just doesn't appeal.

 

Oh and I have a totally irrational desire to buy a Caterham. My brother has one and it is such fun, but knowing me I'd get bored of it within 12 months.

[205Rallee 59]

Just driven it on dry roads before it rained and boy am I pleased it doesn't rattle at all even over speed humps, the original gearchange is still smooth and no more slop than new, engine idles beautifully. It's taken a while but was worth the effort. Oh and it had less miles on than I thought as it just passed 172,000 this afternoon.

 

Insured it this morning with Hagerty, covering this and my Rallye, dead easy, no problem with me swapping them between my two garages, agreed valuations etc etc. Maybe not the cheapest but I've heard lots of good things about them.

 

Would love to have picked my son up from work this afternoon but it started to rain.

[Robbiedundy 58 4 Cars]

The GTi is looking great ????

 

Should the want for a Caterham get worse and you have to let go of one of the 205s I'd be happy to buy the rallye ????

[toolie72 67 1 Cars]

Aye right-your mam was such a grump when I dropped that block off for you that she'd eat you alive if you got yet another one

#getawayfrommydoor

[205Rallee 59]

Got the flip top tray and another bit of the dashboard signed by Ari Vatenen at Race Retro today, so that'll increase the cars value by 50p. Quite surprised that he recognised the bits were from a 205 so he must have done it a few times. What a lovely bloke!

[205Rallee 59]

I've managed to clock up 600 miles in the last two months including a day of the PSCUK Rallye North Yorkshire. Don't want to tempt fate but absolutely no problems to date and it gets better and better every time we take it out.Today's trip out was a run out to Hartside Cafe near Alston to meet up with about 100 other classic cars for a photo shoot with Practical Classics magazine. Low point of the day, but very amusing was an idiot in a really nice Honda S2000 who drove out of the car park, full throttle 540 degree spin and I'd guess £3k's worth of damage to his floor and sills...

 

Off to Total Retro show at Kendal tomorrow.

[205Rallee 59]

Have now clocked up 1,000 miles since putting it back on the road. Had a slight rattle from the front end on rough roads, so I assumed the original arb drop links were worn. Spent weeks tracking down some TRW ones. However when I came go change them, there was nothing wrong other than a loose nut on the part that bolts to the strut....

 

It's getting smoother and smoother all the time as everything beds in and I'm now confident to take it anywhere without worrying about 1987 bits failing etc. Did 250 miles on Saturday and it just feels like a new modern car with heavy steering, loads of glazing, thin pillars and light weight. Ok it does feel a bit less rigid than a Golf!

 

Took it to a local car show yesterday, had only been there 15 minutes and was approached by a very keen Escort RS owner who wanted to buy my 1.9. I stopped him at £20k

 

My sister and her family came along for the day and she was amazed at the interest in the car.

Edited July 3, 2017 by 205Rallee

[205Rallee 59]

Have now managed to scratch the Caterham itch and decided I'd get sick of one of them after a month or so but now have another plan so the Pug might have to go. PM me if interested but it would have to be a really good offer. It'll never end up with the dogs on e-bay and I'd rather it went to a Pug enthusiast.

[dannydub 3]

Excellent story of the car. Must feel like a sense of achievement to be able to drive all those miles and for nothing to go wrong!

 

What did you paint the underside of the car with?? Was it just undersealer?

[205Rallee 59]

Not a bad couple of weeks, rear ride height re adjusted back to 325 mm dummy shock length, realised an interior light problem was due to no earth because  the screw was missing on the drivers side door switch. (I'd previously put a new switch on the passenger side door which was hard work as the connector had fallen inside the a pillar).

 

Having had lots of issues with the central locking, I swapped out all the motors, including the grey drivers side one careof Farmer) and that's now all working like new.

 

Checked all the other electrics and lights for the MOT, one of the number plate lights required a friendly tap and the only other fault was the rear washer pump motor seems to have failed, probably from lack of use, picking up a new one tomorrow. Once that's replaced everything on my snagging list will now have been fixed...........

[205Rallee 59]

Took the old rear Siem washer pump off and then followed a tip from another thread on here, squirted GT85 in the inlet and outlet, shook it up for a minute, plugged it back in and it works perfectly. Checked the front washer pump and that had stopped working, full of grungy waxy looking blue stuff, probably 30 year old windscreen washer additive, cleaned it all out of the reservoir and tried the GT85 on the front pump, no luck so put the new pump from Eurocraparts in the front reservoir. 

 

So that's it, everything fixed, repaired, repainted, cleaned,replaced and working almost 30 years since it was first registered on 15th December 1987 and a year since it came back from paint. In hindsight I'm amazed how much of it is still the original parts from 1987.

[Nobbly 22 2 Cars]

Hi David,

 

Great story and a lovely car!  I am across in Penrith and looking to get my cherry red 205 painted soon, can you tell me who did the paint on yours as it looks really good.

 

You've probably heard, but Hartside cafe burned down last week by the away!  Also if you need storage, I know a place - PM me for details ;-)

 

Cheers,

David

[205Rallee 59]

Good news it passed the MOT today and it stayed dry, but the cooling fan didn't come on whilst waiting for the test and the driving lights have stopped working. Before I get too depressed I'm going to assume there are some loose electrical connections....

 

[Telf 224 2 Cars]

Really nice car, great read.

 

Don't get depressed, these electrical gremlins are all part of the wonderful world of old cars, they do it to keep your attention.

[205Rallee 59]

Thanks,  the driving lights fault was down to the green plug in the relay being loose and the fans are ok, just cleaned up all the connections and think the problem was the plug connected to the switch into the radiator which may also have been a wee bit loose. Too lazy to move two cars to get it outside go run it up to temp. 

 

Also took the the opportunity to do a bit more unerbonnet cleaning

Edited March 18, 2018 by 205Rallee