General Jai is trying to lead me astray!

[Chas Uno]

Me and Jai just went to look at a mk1 turbo ('C' reg) down in west London. Realistically it was a bit of a shed, though the seller (a garage) was having a laugh by asking £750 for it! No tax, no MOT, crap respray (all over the glass and some plastic) and some rust (hole in the floor wasn't promising, nor were the crusty sills or boot floor.

They got the engine running, and it surprisingly sounded ok and ran not too badly! The suspension had been slammed and was rock hard (too much so), and the wheels were blingy looking things with 195 section tyres on them. Suspension felt 'crashy' on the short spin, though at least the brakes worked ok.

A few bits missing, and to be honest it would need a lot of work to bring it up to roadworthy condition. The 'Max Power' sticker on the rear screen wasn't promising, nor was the drainpipe exhaust, missing electric window winders (replaced with manual winders), missing switches, broken/ missing trim etc.

The original turbo interior was in quite good condition surprisingly, only a bit of wear on the drivers seat bolster apparent and some rather bad speakers fitted to the rear quarters.

But as a donor vehicle for a re-shell project, well, maybe, just maybe.

Jai has got me thinking this...

:tempt:

I'm supposed to be a good boy and starting Uni a week on Monday, getting the Punto 75SX on the road and being all sensible. But a Uno turbo... Hmmm... always wanted one of those...

ARGH!

 

[Biz]

Well, the conversion isnt hard

Do it

Tried insurance on one?

 

[Chas Uno]

Well, the conversion isnt hard

Do it

Tried insurance on one?

LOL! I KNEW the turbo boys would say that!

Nope, the conversion isn't too hard but it's still time consuming when done properly. Especially as A: I want to do a good job and will fix ANY problem I encounter rather than bodge it and B: I only have a driveway to work on, no garage or anything

Insurance wasn't too bad when I looked a few years ago, and I'm rather too close to 40 for comfort. That will probably work in my favour being an older git I doubt if I could get it down to £156 fully comp. like I get on my 45S, but when I tried a tub quote back in 2003 I was getting figures like £320 fully comp. Not sure if a re-shell would affect that price though.

Biggest dilema is that I'm about to start a 3 year intensive degree course at University that's going to take up most of my time, so I shouldn't really be messing around with rebuilding old cars. But I am so tempted, so damn tempted...

 

[beau]

id say yes, but only if you haggle them down! ones with mot and tax and better condition than that sounds seem to sell for a grand...

id either get them to mot it! or price will have to come down lol

 

[Chas Uno]

id say yes, but only if you haggle them down! ones with mot and tax and better condition than that sounds seem to sell for a grand...

id either get them to mot it! or price will have to come down lol

No way will they MOT it Beau, would cost too much and take too long. It's a p/ex and they want rid of it. It's only really worth it for spares/ re-shelling, and would never be that good unless a very large sum of money was thrown at it.

I have a tidy shell though... just perfect for a turbo conversion... but I shouldn't...

I think me and Jai will play a waiting game with the garage. An old Uno turbo (with no T&T) is worthless unless placed in the right market, so if they've still got it in a week then they will be desperate to get it off their forecourt.

I really am in two minds about this!

 

[beau]

well just remember i bought a punto gt in good running order, excellent interior, good exterior for £60 so £750 seems alot lol sure its rare, but it sounds crap lol

 

[Jai]

sure its rare, but it sounds crap lol

not at 4500 rpm it didn't.........

 

[Chas Uno]

well just remember i bought a punto gt in good running order, excellent interior, good exterior for £60 so £750 seems alot lol sure its rare, but it sounds crap lol

£60 was something of a bargain though, to say the least!

£750 was taking the pi55. However, for around £250 it could work out good as some parts could be sold on that would make some of that back. Not sure if the seller will go that low, but if we wait long enough...

 

[beau]

not at 4500 rpm it didn't.........

lol, i didnt mean the engine

 

[Chas Uno]

not at 4500 rpm it didn't.........

Nor at 7000rpm when the mechanic was revving the tits off it, making the skin on my face start to peel off as I was standing right behind it

 

[Jai]

btw have a look in auctions.......

 

[GhostWKD]

leave your details for him to give you a call then?

 

[Dunc Uno Turbo]

LOL! I KNEW the turbo boys would say that!

Nope, the conversion isn't too hard but it's still time consuming when done properly. Especially as A: I want to do a good job and will fix ANY problem I encounter rather than bodge it and B: I only have a driveway to work on, no garage or anything

:bang: dont see me moaning do ya lol wheres my garage? and i live on a very steep hill lol

Dunc

 

[Chas Uno]

:bang: dont see me moaning do ya lol wheres my garage? and i live on a very steep hill lol

Dunc

Yeah, but I'm a southern softie about to start a three year intensive degree course at university

Besides, where where all those pictures taken of you working on turbo parts and you were INSIDE somewhere Soooooo ghey!

I'm still considering this prospect though. Maybe Jai is secretly bargaining on my behalf :chin:

Edit: You're mad anyway Dunc, and we all know you eat rusty bolts for breakfast! Rebuilding a Uno turbo outside on a slope is childs play for you

 

[dave]

They got the engine running, and it surprisingly sounded ok

ah yeah the old fill with thick oil an a bit of saw dust trick, keeps the engine quiet untill its sold

 

[Chas Uno]

ah yeah the old fill with thick oil an a bit of saw dust trick, keeps the engine quiet untill its sold

It was very low on oil - we checked that. Wasn't much in it to silence it!

 

[thepottleflump]

At £750 no way, but you knew that, at £250 go for it. Uni courses mean 8 - 16 hour weeks from what I recall, or 2 hours a week if you're doing some sort of media arts courses.

Buy it you know it makes sense.

 

[dave]

It was very low on oil - we checked that. Wasn't much in it to silence it!

saw dust wipped it off the stick when you pulled it out

 

[alexGS]

Yeah, but I'm a southern softie about to start a three year intensive degree course at university

Not again
You seem to be a permanent student!

You're mad anyway Dunc, and we all know you eat rusty bolts for breakfast! Rebuilding a Uno turbo outside on a slope is childs play for you

Is that how he keeps slim, eating bolts (and rusty ones at that). I must try that myself

As for the car, sounds nice with the 'blingy' wheels but I think you are probably more after the complete, original Uno Turbo experience like mine. As you already have two cars, I'd say fix up the Punto and shift that before you buy into an Uno Turbo project. Also I've yet to meet a 'wealthy' returned-student, so you'll be wanting to keep your finances under control?

Cheers,
-Alex

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

Seriously Chas right, keep haggling him and if he says no, say it's you're loss and walk away, then come back again with the same price a week or so later, it isn't going to sell to just anyone is it. I'd do that, would love an UT and say it all the time.