The track day GSi - going back to black!!

[carlton_mad]

my be able to get a s/h quarter for you dont know how good it is but its straight!!

[Street Sleeper]

quote : One way or another, this car will survive!!  The rest of the body is totally rot free, i'm fucked if i'm going to give up on it now!!

Good for you bud, sorry to see what happenend after all the work you've put in. Hope all goes well!

[8valver]

Im sorry to see that, and unlucky for first time out, but as said it looks repairable so you might as well, it is after all a track (and now drift) slag so you arent going to need it mint as such.

Having said that it looks to be going well and sounding awesome!

[Scatmancraig]

Haven't done much with the car lately, apart from bodge a replacement light unit on and remount the bumper so its on the proper mounts (or what's left of them!!).



More detailed damage photo's......









The list of jobs that need doing (apart from the damage) is getting bigger.  Exhaust manifold gasket is blowing (common 12v problem), the windscreen is cracked and the radiator is leaking!  None of which i can really be arsed to do!!

Think i may have to get another cheap GSi.  Would like a 24v auto, as i had one before & loved it!  Plus they tend to be a little cheaper than the manual ones!!  Need something with a half decent body, not too fussed about the engine cos i can always drop the 12v lump out of this car into it if i get desperate!!  It'll have to wait a while though, i'm potless at the moment!  Got too many other things to worry about, the car will have to wait!!

The only good thing is that the Carlton lives out of the way in a container, so it's safe and dry!!  I share a container at the moment, but will get one to myself soon.  Then i'll have room (just) to store 2 cars and my spares!!

[flash911]

OUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scatmancraig]

OUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Indeed!!  But at least it drives!!  & it still goes as well as ever, i've just got other things that need to be sorted before i can concentrate on cars again!!  I have to move again in a couple of weeks, too many bills to pay too!!  I'll get there eventually!!

[Pedro]

Have to say that I wouldn't like to replace the quarter panel, as you know, I'll tackle most things like that, but with a bent floor and split seams, it does look very nasty to me.
Perhaps it'll need pulling on a jig to get the floor right, but then a new floor might be aswell if you're gonna fit a new quarter.

[U.D. - Omega DTM Rep]

Perhaps it'll need pulling on a jig to get the floor right, but then a new floor might be aswell if you're gonna fit a new quarter.

I really don't want to be the negative one here but unfortunately the Carlton near side rear quarter panel has be NLS from Vauxhall for quite some time now. I found this out the hard way a couple of years ago when I let Malcolm use my brand new spare one to repair his Lotus Carlton after his encounter with a barrier at the Nürburgring.

[Murph]

As said Sean - we have a good one on a spares car.

Granted its hardly ideal and a pig to do but if Craig wants to give it a go.....

[Scatmancraig]

As said Sean - we have a good one on a spares car.

Granted its hardly ideal and a pig to do but if Craig wants to give it a go.....

Maybe one day!!

My main annoyance with all of this was that it was a solid rot-free shell to start with.  I would have scrapped it by now if it had been one with loads of welding already done or needing doing!! 

Like i've said before, it's safe & tucked away for now.  I still should be at Billing with it, probably in the ABS field as normal.  So anyone who wants a closer look.....!!!

[Scatmancraig]

Well a few weeks have passed & there's nothing to report on the car.  It's still hagning in there determined to survive!

I decided not to go to Billing this year, and i'm regretting that odd decision already!!  I was out in the Carlton this weekend though, went to see an old school friend who lives near Louth in Lincolnshire.  Decided to try and get there as fast as possible and enjoy the drive a bit more, from Dudley to Manby is 136.6 miles and i managed an average of 65mph!!  I was quite impressed with this, the old girl still has it!!

Took a few photo's while i was there, there's appears to be a rather aptly named village just up the road from my mate, see if you can spot what i mean.....

Never a truer word was spoken!!!

Some ugly person trying to pose....


There's quite a lot of quiet back roads near my mate, so i took the opportunity to give the diff a good test as the LSD has been a bit hit or miss recently.  I think this proves that it still locks up both wheels nicely....

There's a video of this being done but i'm not so sure that the abuse of a Carlton would be appropriate on here!! 

So the MOT expiry date is looming, and i'm still wondering what to do with the car.  Have offered it for sale as it is without any takers, i haven't the time to break it myself so it remains intact for the time being!!