'62 Ragtop History
This is a 1962 deluxe export model with golde 'ragtop' sunroof. It was found at the back of a garden under a carport a couple of
streets away from me in Sheffield. I'd first seen it three years ago when I moved
into a nearby house, but apparently it's been stood there for at least ten years. I kept saying to my friends that one day I'd get it, and three years later I have!
It was registered on 9/4/62 and is (was) painted in Anthracite Silver/grey - it's
now a bit of a primer-silvery-grey with brown round the edges mix.
There's 92k on the clock which is genuine, a service history up to 1975 (with all the original documents) and the
old lady I got it off had bought it from the original owner.
The engine doesn't appear to be the original, being an 'F' series 1300, but I'm not
complaining.
These pictures are as it was found, click one to enlarge.
Body
The car needs a lot (!) of work. Rust wise it needs both heater channels (somebody has riveted on some real dodgy covers over the present ones), front and rear valances, front and rear bumper mountings, spare wheel well, front and rear d/s inner rear wing,
floors, probably rear quarters, inner and outer bottom on both doors, or good 2H ones.
It also needs 4 wings. Sunroof has a tiny rip but works fine though and would appear to be water-tight which is good.
Basically, bottom 6 inches plus back and front but nothing I wasn't expecting
Interior
Interior is remarkably good I think. The carpet is dead, but the rubber matting is good. The seats have a few splits in them at the seams which should make repair easier, and only have two small tears - one on the back of the drivers and one on the rear. The headlining is very
dirty and is made up of 3 different materials. Replacement of this will be one
of the expensive parts of the resto
Mechanicals
Bit of an unknown quantity at the moment. The brakes will need a complete new
system. I will be converting it to the later dual circuit system which is much
safer. There doesn't seem to be much play on the
steering and the front beam is solid. Engine will turn over with a spanner on the bottom pulley and is full of oil. It'll need a new manifold (s/p) as one of the pre-heater tubes has gone and the exhaust has rotted itself into non-existence (a new one came with it).
Plans
The eventual result will be completely stock, bar 12v electrics and dual circuit
brakes in the original
grey with lighter grey sides.
Similar to this made on bugselecta:
If you want to see how work's going, click the resto link below.
