The resurrection of KSF404T - 1978 Sprint

[Howard81]

It's time for my new project thread

I need to start with a bit of background... Almost exactly 1 year ago I bought a rather neglected but excellent Sprint and after a few months of teething problems finally had it in tip-top shape.



The car them became my daily driver around London and regular trips to visit family in Poole (120 miles each way), which it did without fail! Then, in in early October 2008, as I was stationary in traffic on the M4, I was rear ended by a Golf driver who forgot to stop... Luckily I had my foot and hand brakes on so wasn't pushed into the car infront The driver was young, very apologetic and admitted responsibility on the spot.



A couple of weeks later, KSF was attacked again, this time by a German rental van driver who decided to U-turn into me! Probably confused by the different direction of traffic flowing - an easy mistake, but annoying for me! Again, he was very apologetic and admitted fault on the spot. Luckily, the only injury was a bruise on my arm that bore the exact same profile as the wooden door capping...



To cut a 3-month-long story short, both insurance companies initially wanted to write the car off, but after nearly a million letters and phone calls have now agreed to repair. The side damage is being paid for by the insurance company, the rear damage I have received a 'cash in lieu' settlement.

So, my plans for the car now? It's being sent to a classic car restorer to have a total rebuild! The accident damage will be repaired, and the whole car repainted in Pageant Blue. I'm going to do most of the strip down and reassembly of the 'cosmetic' parts myself. I also plan to get the wheels refurbished and fitted with new tyres. As I've been unable to source a decent tan interior I'm going to fit a black one (much more practical as I use the car a lot). Apart from that it's staying pretty much as-is

It's booked in to the body shop in a couple of weeks... watch this space!

[Oli_88]

Really pleased to hear/read that Howard. She's one of my favourite cars here.
Glad you got some money out of the companies and stood your ground, a lesser being would have buckled.

Look forward to seeing the results.

[1300dolly]

well done for sticking with it and giving the insurance co's a peice of mind, if only everyone had the balls to say no. (our premiums would be higher but hey ho its all for a good cause!)

glad it will be sorted, another dolly saved.

[straylight]

she looks a sweet car Howard and your persistence and commitment to repairing her are praiseworthy.

Good onya'

stu

[VYO 372M]

Well done Howard, glad this saga is finally sorted out in your favour. Look forward to seeing the finished car, I'm sure it will all be worth the wait.

Steve

[Howard81]

Thanks guys All I can say is that KSF is probably one of the luckiest Sprints around

So far, I've been collecting parts for the repairs. I bought a genuine original old stock sill from MikeyB along with an inner reinforcement panel. I'm not sure if the reinforcement panel will be required, but I've got it if it does.



Two used N/S doors from Tinweevil. From a 1976 car (judging by the glass that was in them) I've now stripped them down to the bare shells. Drivers door has a rusty door skin, passenger door as rusted on the bottom.



I also took advantage of the Rimmer Bros December sale! At this point I didn't know if the car was going to be written-off or not, but I took a chance and ordered the parts anyway

1x NOS N/S/F door skin (dated November 1986)
2x NOS N/S door handles in Leyland boxes
1x NOS N/S quarterlight - mine is falling apart (dated 1981 - I'll swap the glass for the original)
1x O/S black wing mirror
2x NOS lower suspension arms in Austin-Rover boxes
1x NOS late Sprint Badge (priorities, eh? )
1x Sprint engine bay sticker set
2x Airbox pipes - I still need the radiator bracket for these if anyone has one?





I just love all these Leyland and Austin Rover boxes!!! After years of buying crappy repro parts for Volkswagens that don't fit, it's pure heaven

Edit: one thing I have just noticed... KSF404T was first registered on 19/01/1979. Guess the date it's booked in to the body shop? 19/01/2009 - exactly 30 years apart!!!

[Howard81]

KSF is booked into the bodyshop for tomorrow, so I've been busy with the spanners today

I removed all of the chrome trims along the sides, the whole rear seat assembly, all four inner door panels, rear bumper, front bumper, grills, headlight surrounds, rear chrome trims and badges. When the previous owner restored the car in the mid 1990s, he greased all the threads so everything came apart perfectly!

I then took a long, hard look at the vinyl covers on the C-pillars. I'd been chatting with Ken (purplebargeken) earlier in the week when I picked up some trims, who mentioned he could feel rust under the vinyl. So they came off! Very brittle, but came off easily. There was a bit of surface rust on the top of one of them, but nothing bad. I then removed the chrome trim around the rear window, which revealed a couple of flakey rust spots on the edge of the roof. I carefully lifted up the edge of the vinyl to check underneath, and luckily it's not advanced - just the edges of the flanges where the water has trapped under the chrome/vinyl in a couple of places. I'll talk to the restorer about this tomorrow and see what he suggests about the rust. I have to say when the rest of the car is completed, a new vinyl roof would finish it off a treat...

I also took it for a spin around the block - my goodness it's fast without all that extra weight! Slightly deafening though

Detailed pictures to come later, but for now I'll post a quick one of my living room... which I'm in the process of tidying up

[newguy]

Good to see mate

[miniman]

Detailed pictures to come later, but for now I'll post a quick one of my living room... which I'm in the process of tidying up

Is it safe to assume that you're single?!

[newguy]

Nah hes got a dyson

[DavePoth]

Nah hes got a dyson

[DoloWIGHTY]

Did you do the Airfix kits when you were a lad Howard?

Good luck fella!

[Howard81]

Is it safe to assume that you're single?!

If I wasn't already, I sure would be after that

Nah hes got a dyson

Did you do the Airfix kits when you were a lad Howard?

Good luck fella!

Yes - and I even made one of a Blue 1850 when I was 15 or so!

Hi Howard

Looks familiar
Have you noticed that there are two "nearside arch" repair panels running on ebay at the moment?
Don't know if you found one or not?

I've got my eye on those, although the restorer reckons the Toledo panel is no problem to modify if it comes to that

[Howard81]

No trims or bumpers!









Under the C-pillar vinyl:





Rear of the roof was slightly rusty on the edge:





Partially stripped-out interior:







Rear damage:

[Howard81]

Panels all loaded inside, ready to go to the bodyshop: