My first project - '88 1.8 Auto Clipper Cabriolet

Posted in the Newbie section yesterday and just want to let you know about my first project.

1988 Clipper Cab. Auto. 1.8. 96,000 miles. Steal at £320
Body is pretty solid, with only a few spots of rust and a couple of dents.
Will need stripped down and sprayed all over.
Desperately in need of a new hood.
Drivers side door won't open.
Whoever had it before stuck seats from a Corrado in. Will definitely need to change them.
New mirrors are needed.
Boot catch sticks open.
New windscreen
Battery is flat as a pancake so I've not heard her started, but for £320, I won't complain if it needs a bit of fixing. Guy who owned it before me drove it into his garage about a year ago and has left it there since. Hasn't been started in about 8 months but he assures me it is running.
So those are just the things I know about that will need sorted. I pick her up tonight, so I'll be able to start fiddling and finding out what else needs doing and I'll be posting more photos too.
Really can't wait to get started. Not only is it my first project but it is my first car of my own. I'm learning to drive in my mums Mark IV. So that gives me a good while to get this baby fixed up before I pass my test.

nice looking project bud, enjoy the build

chris

So just a quick update on Project Isobel ('88 Cab, black, auto).

Got her home and after a charge of the battery she started first time. Took her out for a quick spin and she is running almost perfectly. Little tune of the engine needed, definitely some new shocks. Mechanically she is fine, will not need much work hopefully. Going to run it through the MOT next week, get a good idea of what will need doing.

As for the body, well it will definitely need stripped down, a few bits filled, a few small dents pushed out as best as I can and a good respray. But very little rust at all, which is always good. Outer trim wise, will need new wing mirrors, new rear badges.

The outer vinyl of the roof has a few tears and and shrunken to the point that the rear window is held in pretty much by hopes and dreams alone. I'm hoping that is all that will need done to it. The inner lining is in good, if a little dirty, condition. And the mechanism seems fine.

Now comes the interior, which is where a lot of bits and pieces will need a going over. Someone has stuck in Corrado seats, and while they will do for now, ideally I would like the proper ones. Also, they haven't done a very good job of the rear bench. They also have painted the tops of the doors grey to match the seats. The drivers side door now opens and closes, but some of the trim on it is a little loose. Both sun visors are missing. The dash has also been taken out at one point and not put back in particularly well. The dials at the bottom have also been removed and replaced by an immobiliser which, while handy, doesn't look great and hasn't been particularly well secured.

So all in all she's in pretty good shape with mostly little niggly things needing fixed. The roof and the respray are the two things that are gonna be the most costly and the hardest. I'm certainly not expecting this to be an overnight job, but I hope that by the time I pass my test and the weather is starting to get better again next spring it will be ready to go.

So any advice from you guys on where the best place to start is and the best places to start acquiring the various parts I need will be greatly appreciated. This seems like a great forum so I'll be coming back every so often to keep you guys updated.

Thanks for reading and finally here are a few photos now that Isobel is home.