I bought this Princess in October 2009. Here's the story...
I dragged a trailer over to Swindon today to collect this Princess from the barn. It was driven in there in 1994 and left. Surprisingly it was quite easy to move out as somebody had the foresight to leave the handbrake off. I took some wheels with me as I knew the ones on it were flat as a bats wings. This was its first time in full daylight since 1995!
This is the side that was closest to the barn wall. All sorts of creatures living on it.
Ready to pull onto the trailer. We took a battery and tried to turn it over, but it had seized solid!
Strapped on the trailer, ready for the journey back to Southampton.
Arrived safely back home. The first thing we tried to do is free the engine, so we removed the plugs and sprayed WD40 down the bores, and with a little coaxing we finally got it turning. It seems to want to fire but I think the fuel is duff. Big spark available, though. The clutch isn't working as the pedal just goes straight to the floor; looks like the slave cylinder is shot.
Anyway, I managed to give it a quick wash and pump the suspension up.
But, underneath it's rotten as a pear, this sill is rotten all the way along and the front wing needs replacing. I haven't been able to look at the otherside as yet.
Oh, and I got it for £120 in the end.
Got the car running, and not bad at all...
I managed to free the clutch off today, so now it will move under its own power. Seems to be okay. Took some pictures of the nearside as well, and that rear arch is very frilly. Luckily, I have a repair panel for this side!
Took some pictures of the interior today after giving it a good clean.
Did a bit more today after the rain. Ground off the rusty front wing ready for the new one.
Here are some pics of the wheel arches, or what's left of them...
Offside rear which was obviously hit at some point.
Nearside rear, which has rotted all the way around. Enough to keep the welder busy!
Right, all the welding is done. Not pretty, but a whole lot better!
I sprayed a load of primer on the panels to protect them for a while. Next job is to pressure wash the inner arches and slap some paint in there.
15th July 2010,
Drove it to the MoT station today; it's first journey under its own power for 16 years!
She failed on rear brakes and exhaust bracket! Not bad at all, but there's still a lot of work to do.
But it does drive really well, though the front nearside driveshaft is in need of replacement.
22nd July 2010,
Took it back for the MoT today and it passed!!! In the meantime here's a few pics of the rat-look Wedge!
1st September 2010,
Well work has continued on the car, it's just a matter of the arduous task of rubbing it down and getting it ready for the respray on September 27th. I still need a rear door, so if anyone has one...
I replaced the driveshaft and all is well now, a nice smooth drive.
I won the exhaust system on ebay a couple of years ago... For £10! Genuine Unipart as well.
19th September 2010,
Thanks to the donor Wedge I acquired I was able to fit some good rear doors, which has boosted my enthusiasm no end, and not too soon as it will be going for the respray next Monday. Here's how it looks now..
1st October 2010,
It's blue!!
Spent a few hours doing a few jobs, but rain stopped work.
October 17th 2010,
Starting to look like a proper Wedge again...
Not too much to do now, just needs an aerial, wheel arch liners refitting and a few other minor bits. Can you beleive that it's 12 months to the day today that I picked this Wedge up!!
Other bits...
October 2009.
October 2010.
Kev.
I dragged a trailer over to Swindon today to collect this Princess from the barn. It was driven in there in 1994 and left. Surprisingly it was quite easy to move out as somebody had the foresight to leave the handbrake off. I took some wheels with me as I knew the ones on it were flat as a bats wings. This was its first time in full daylight since 1995!
This is the side that was closest to the barn wall. All sorts of creatures living on it.
Ready to pull onto the trailer. We took a battery and tried to turn it over, but it had seized solid!
Strapped on the trailer, ready for the journey back to Southampton.
Arrived safely back home. The first thing we tried to do is free the engine, so we removed the plugs and sprayed WD40 down the bores, and with a little coaxing we finally got it turning. It seems to want to fire but I think the fuel is duff. Big spark available, though. The clutch isn't working as the pedal just goes straight to the floor; looks like the slave cylinder is shot.
Anyway, I managed to give it a quick wash and pump the suspension up.
But, underneath it's rotten as a pear, this sill is rotten all the way along and the front wing needs replacing. I haven't been able to look at the otherside as yet.
Oh, and I got it for £120 in the end.
Got the car running, and not bad at all...
I managed to free the clutch off today, so now it will move under its own power. Seems to be okay. Took some pictures of the nearside as well, and that rear arch is very frilly. Luckily, I have a repair panel for this side!
Took some pictures of the interior today after giving it a good clean.
Did a bit more today after the rain. Ground off the rusty front wing ready for the new one.
Here are some pics of the wheel arches, or what's left of them...
Offside rear which was obviously hit at some point.
Nearside rear, which has rotted all the way around. Enough to keep the welder busy!
Right, all the welding is done. Not pretty, but a whole lot better!
I sprayed a load of primer on the panels to protect them for a while. Next job is to pressure wash the inner arches and slap some paint in there.
15th July 2010,
Drove it to the MoT station today; it's first journey under its own power for 16 years!
She failed on rear brakes and exhaust bracket! Not bad at all, but there's still a lot of work to do.
But it does drive really well, though the front nearside driveshaft is in need of replacement.
22nd July 2010,
Took it back for the MoT today and it passed!!! In the meantime here's a few pics of the rat-look Wedge!
1st September 2010,
Well work has continued on the car, it's just a matter of the arduous task of rubbing it down and getting it ready for the respray on September 27th. I still need a rear door, so if anyone has one...
I replaced the driveshaft and all is well now, a nice smooth drive.
I won the exhaust system on ebay a couple of years ago... For £10! Genuine Unipart as well.
19th September 2010,
Thanks to the donor Wedge I acquired I was able to fit some good rear doors, which has boosted my enthusiasm no end, and not too soon as it will be going for the respray next Monday. Here's how it looks now..
1st October 2010,
It's blue!!
Spent a few hours doing a few jobs, but rain stopped work.
October 17th 2010,
Starting to look like a proper Wedge again...
Not too much to do now, just needs an aerial, wheel arch liners refitting and a few other minor bits. Can you beleive that it's 12 months to the day today that I picked this Wedge up!!
Other bits...
October 2009.
October 2010.
Kev.
propper recks to riches storry mate good work looks smart 
