The car is a C code auto and generally speaking it is in very good, original condition and shouldn't actually take too much to get it ready for the pits. The floors are really good with only one smallish rusty section under the passenger front seat which should be a relatively easy patch. I say relatively easy because if you remember back to my floors... well, need I say more?!?
The exhaust should be replaced but could possibly get away with just the rear pipe after the muffler (note single exhaust).
The battery tray is probably cactus but that is to be expected and hopefully the cancer is not too bad on the inner fender panel.
Kim told me that the engine has about 18k on it since he had a new long block installed way back in the USA.
The paint work is not good but I think is pretty superficial. It was originally a D code colour (my favourite colour - Acapulco Blue) but was given a respray at some time in a blue / silvery sort of colour. In many places it appears to have just worn away with a reasonable looking original Acapulco Blue showing through underneath so I would be tempted to go hard at it with some heavy duty cutting compound and see what coud be done before going for a more complete re-spray back to original colour. The roof of course needs to be done properly to stop that from deteriorating in our harsh Aussie sun.
The interior is in pretty good condition with only the smallest tear in the head liner. The carpet is clean with no wear so was likely replaced not long before Kim bought it. All of the trim panels are clean and intact. The dash pad needs to be replaced with it being about the only piece showing its age. The rear seat is near perfect however the front seats are both split but Kim has new seat covers and padding so they can be recovered. The door trims are perhaps a 50 50 but could be saved I think.
All windows go up down okay and are intact but the rear quarter windows could probably do with a lube to free them up a little more. Not bad but could be better. I guess all the seals (doors / windows) could be replaced as they are typically dry and a little cracked in places.
Nearly all of the panel gaps are even and nicely spaced.
Kim has a lot of spares that he bough and shipped back with the car including 3 additional sets of original hub caps (both red and blue deluxe centres)
I took a few photos to document it for him and also so that I can look at pricing up the "must have" work to be done so that he can get it on the road and enjoy it...
Right rear trunk drop off
Right rear torque box, rear floor quarter
Rust hole - right hand side under front passenger seat
Right hand front torque box / front frame rail extension, front floor quarter
Inside right hand fender looking rear
Inside right hand fender looking forward. Note battery tray reinforcement plate
Next few images speak for themselves
Just in front of the right hand rear wheel
Right hand quarter panel bondo cracked
Rear valance, bumper, tail light panel all in good condition. Minor ding on left hand side of trunk lid visible
Right hand trunk drop off in good condition
The roof has some typical surface rust however over the years has been treated with some rust inhibitor fortunately. It is quite rough to the touch however some good surface prep should take care of it prior to a good coat of paint.
Underside of hood in good condition with no dings or rust evident
Now here's a typical candidate for repair - the battery tray. Hopefully it won't have extended too much into the inner fender panel
Left hand side of firewall from engine bay
Looking down the right hand shock tower wrap. Pretty good here with little to now flexing evident
Same same down the left side shock tower wrap. Both front and rear on both sides still sitting reasonably snug
Left hand side of the firewall from the engine bay. The firewall overall looks pretty solid although some of the grommets are missing
Like the right hand side the next few pics need no introduction
Smallish blister forming in front of the left hand rear wheel
Left hand trunk drop off - once again good solid and dry condition
Looking rearwards at the left hand trunk drop off
Looking rearward of the rear floor quarter section
Left hand front frame rail extension and underside of driver's seat floor
Left hand front torque box
Small blister on lower front of driver's door
Left hand outer rocker looking forward - clean and solid
Right hand outer rocker looking forward - again, clean and solid
Left hand rear corner of trunk lid
Inside trunk looking down the left hand trunk drop off - verifies the good condition from the inside
Inside trunk looking down the righ hand trunk drop off - verifies the good condition from the inside
The transition panel is in excellent condition with no rust. Fuel tank looks great from the outside (top and bottom)
Both left and right trunk floor panels, inner and outer wheel wells all look in really great rust free condition
Looking up at the driver side lower cowl panel vent. All surface rust but solid condition.
Looking up through the heater box vent door on the passenger side into the lower cowl panel vent. From what I could see on the outside it also looks pretty good. Did a water test down into the vents of the upper cowl panel with no obvious leakage so that's a really good sign although I think at one point my mate may have directed the water straight over to the dam and I copped a face full
Next 3 shots are just moving across looking up at the centre sections of the lower cowl panel
The rear deck panel looking across left to right is in perfect condition with the paint looking as new along with a couple of pioneer speakers.
So overall, this car is in pretty good condition and hopefully I can help him get it going so he can start to enjoy it again instead of looking at it every day sitting in his backyard under a tarp...
