This was up for grabs a few months ago after I received a tip off via the owners club. I was told that the car had been standing in a garage for 23 years but was reportedly in good condition. I went to see the car, expecting a heap and something that would best used as a spares car. I was somewhat surprised to see that it had no structural rust at all. The wheel arches are perfect, with a few scabs on a door, grotty paint on the wings and rust around the windscreen. The gentleman who owned had bought it off his brother in 1980 and took off the road in 1990, for no particular reason. I made a promise that I would get it back on the road! Should be at a few shows this summer.
There was a fuel blockage, the tyres were in a bad state, clutch and brake master cylinders where shot, brakes seized and the electrics were a bit strange (a result of some minor electrical add ons). The engine fired up when fuel was poured into the carb, so the fuel tank was removed and cleaned out. The brakes and clutch issues were sorted out and I grabbed the wheels and battery out my 510 to get it through an MOT. The body is in remarkable condition, with 45K on the clock, it has few scabs here and there and the bumpers need re-chroming but for a 38 year old car that's pretty good going. A respray and general refurbishment would make this one of the best 610 estates in the county - a testament to it apparently never been driven in the rain! I've been using it to test its reliability (and attracting a lot of attention!) and so far so good, the engine cooling is perfect, the engine idles beautifully when warmed up and everything seems tight. Thanks to Alramone, Reece and datman for their help to get this back on the road.
There was a fuel blockage, the tyres were in a bad state, clutch and brake master cylinders where shot, brakes seized and the electrics were a bit strange (a result of some minor electrical add ons). The engine fired up when fuel was poured into the carb, so the fuel tank was removed and cleaned out. The brakes and clutch issues were sorted out and I grabbed the wheels and battery out my 510 to get it through an MOT. The body is in remarkable condition, with 45K on the clock, it has few scabs here and there and the bumpers need re-chroming but for a 38 year old car that's pretty good going. A respray and general refurbishment would make this one of the best 610 estates in the county - a testament to it apparently never been driven in the rain! I've been using it to test its reliability (and attracting a lot of attention!) and so far so good, the engine cooling is perfect, the engine idles beautifully when warmed up and everything seems tight. Thanks to Alramone, Reece and datman for their help to get this back on the road.
