There is a big empty spot in my garage. I am unsure as to decide what car should take it.
#1. The 2000 Mk1 overdrive.
I bought this car in 1999 and used it for four years as the daily car. Installed a LPG system, installed hardened valve seats in the cylinder head. Then I found out it was rusting quite badly, especially at the rear wheel arches where chunks of filler were falling out. So much for the “rust free” before it was sprayed as told by the PO. It hurted because the car was in quite good nick at the time and I had paid a fair amount of money for it. As rear wheel arches or rear wings were almost impossible to find, the car was parked at the other end of the shed waiting for better times.
Week needed: both rear wheel arches inside and out. Probably edges of the boot floor, maybe more. Mechanically should be OKish, bearing in mind the engine has not been running for 15 years. So brakes / clutch hydraulics will need to be checked / overhauled. Oh and I need two good driveshafts for it. The PO had Datsun driveshafts on it which I used later on my 2500 Mk2 (which has been sold years ago).
Paint is still pretty reasonable (apart from the rear wings), chrome okay.
Plan would be to get the rust sorted and mechanically good condition.
#2. The Stag 4 speed.
I bought this one unseen on Ebay USA four years ago, just a few pics of the car in a garage buried under empty boxes, loose seats etc. I emailed the seller and got honest descriptions of the car. I am sure the bad pictures put most people off, I won the auction for an absolute minimum of money. Just before the auction the seller had sold the Edelbrock carb he had used on the car, the two Strombergs are there but in parts. There is a tiny bit of rust here and there, nothing major. There is some transport damage though, I bought a new front valance (which was rotten at the bottom, the worst panel on the car) and bottom front wing corners which need to be welded in. It has new brakes all round, a new radiator and the wheels had been reconditioned with new tyres. Softtop was missing but I found one, hardtop is rust free but in another colour. Seats are quite bad, needs foams and the vinyl has rips. I bought a black interior cheap which has better seats but am not sure yet if I should install that. Also got other parts for it (windscreen chrome, grille badge).
According to the PO the engine was running good a few years ago but that is a gamble of course. It does not seem to need much work mechanically but there is more work to the interior (all apart) and dashboard. And should I try to fit the saloon J-type OD I have somewhere?
Has had a respray 25 years ago, is flat and tired, chrome would be okay for a drivers car.
Plan would be to get it up and running, then decide what to do regarding paint.
#3. The GT6+ 4 speed.
Same as the Stag, bought unseen in the USA three years ago very cheap. This car needs the most work. Floors are gone, but there are new floors with the car. One sill has been renewed, the other is new but needs welding in. The LH rear wing has a dent, needs repair or replacing. No or little rust anywhere else. Unsure about it mechanically, it is all there. Interior is in boxes, but the seats are free of rips but will need new foams. Would it be a better choice to put the OD in this car?
Plan to get it up and running, it will need paint and new door and screen rubbers all round .
I have never completely restored a car from the ground up. My TR4 (owned for 24 years) has had a respray but has not been taken apart. I am not a big fan of totally restored cars, they look good but I always see faults. Unrestored cars have faults too, often much more but there it is more acceptable (to me).
So, a total restoration will be out. The GT6 needs most but even that will not be
Would love to get the Stag running and see if I like it enough to keep it. Same for the GT6.
So, what car to take?