A 1981 Classic?

[Rich Hanlon]

Regarding the DVLA, if you've still got any of the old paperwork for the car, it'll be able to keep the same reg, no nasty Q plates. You also won't fall foul of any SORN legislation if the car was taken off road before SORN came in - which on the case of 1991, was well before. SORN didn't come in until Jan '98, so if the car was last taxed before that date you don't have to do anyhting until you tax it again. After that you'll get the SORN/ Tax reminder every year as per normal.

Engine - do the oil change FIRST, you don't want to pump the old crap round. Sort out the fuel system - the old stuff will have turned to jelly in the carb, tank and fuel line. Ditto swap the coolant and check that the water pump hasn't turned to a but red rusty blob and spins freely.

Then, REMOVE the king lead and spark plugs before you first try to start it - (and put the gears in NEUTRAL as the clutch may have seized.) The last thing you want to do is for it to fire up straight away. That'd mean running in the dry before the oil has had the chance to get pumped round. Probably do more damage in the first 20 seconds than sitting since 1991! Spin the engine on the starter motor - with the plugs out, it'll go at a fair whack. That'll build up some oil pressure and wet things nicely. Then and only then, stick the plugs and leads back in, grit your teeth, shut your eyes and turn the key. Obviously open all garage doors and windows before this point!!!

You might find that the clutch has seized on. If it has, there are a number of methods of releasing it without having to dismantle - so fear not. The least brutal of these is as follows. When you've got the motor running, run it for about an hour or so until it gets fully properkly hot all the way through to the gearbox. Then, switch off, jam the clutch pedal down with a chock of wood against the underside of the wheel, and go to the pub. Following morning all will be free and you'll be able to dricve it to the car wash.

Or at least into the drive to fix the brakes properly...

Rich (with a little help from Practical Classics), just resurrected a funky 1981 Allegro! Not seen another on the road for about a year!

[mikesumner]

Thanks Rich and Clare for your in-depth and very useful advice.

I knew when I decided to attempt this that it would end up being more complicated than I expected, but I still think it's worth it given that te machanicals of the car are quite simple and the car itself is very rare.

I'll try and remember to take some pictures of it in situ and post them for you all to see soon.

I'm hoping to make a start on at leats looking at the Solara more closely in the next couple of weeks, and then when I've seen under the bonnet and everywhere else I'll start thinking about getting parts for it and making a start.

I agree with Clare that the rubber parts of the car (such as bushes etc) will need replacing but my theory is that if I can get it running under its own steam I can drive it to a garage that's mile from us to get the car checked over in more detail.

For the time being I'll just be pleased if I can have it running, but I'm a little bit concerned about what crap there must be lanquishing in the bottom of the fuel tank.

[Guinney1971]

Add a few fuel filters to the shopping list too :wink:

The important thing to know Mike, is has the car been started at all since
being laid up?

Not sure how easy it would be to drop the tank out of the car, but if you
can, give a good swill out with some clean petrol (expensive I know)
several times to clear as much crap out as possible. You'll probably get
through several fuel filters and have to clean the carb a few times (but
carbs are nice and simple), but you'll get there in the end.

Whilst I know a Solara has little 'value' (like my 1989 Cavalier), my Cavalier,
as I'm sure the Solara to you, has more 'sentimental value' then monetary
worth, so take your time, do your dad proud, and get that ole Talbot back
on the road

[TheOriginalMrP]

Thought this might interest you mike.......
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DeLorean-Talbot-S ... dZViewItem

[mikesumner]

TheOriginalMrP Wrote:Thought this might interest you mike.......
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DeLorean-Talbot-S ... dZViewItem

Oooh,

I might bid on that.

It's enough for it to cover the Solara but to have something in it about the DeLorean as well is a bonus.

[mikesumner]

Claire Usher Wrote:Add a few fuel filters to the shopping list too :wink:

The important thing to know Mike, is has the car been started at all since
being laid up?

Not sure how easy it would be to drop the tank out of the car, but if you
can, give a good swill out with some clean petrol (expensive I know)
several times to clear as much crap out as possible. You'll probably get
through several fuel filters and have to clean the carb a few times (but
carbs are nice and simple), but you'll get there in the end.

Whilst I know a Solara has little 'value' (like my 1989 Cavalier), my Cavalier,
as I'm sure the Solara to you, has more 'sentimental value' then monetary
worth, so take your time, do your dad proud, and get that ole Talbot back
on the road

Hi Clare,

From what I can remember the last time the car was started was quite a few years ago, so I don't think the petrol that is in the tank was in the same state back then as it is undoubtedly now.

Even so, the thing started on the first turn of the key after having the battery put on charge for a bit, and since it's not been out of the garage since I'm hoping that when what you've mentioned ha sbeen done and the routine perishable parts have been replaced it'll do the same thing again.

I agree with you about it being worth more in sentimental value. I can still remember by Dad reversing it out of the driver back in the late 80s (when I was about 3 or 4) and going off to work in it, so it would be so special to me to be able to drive it myself as with it being sat in there for the past 17 years I've never had that chance.

Plus the fact it's only had one owner from new makes it too much of a rare thing these days to ignore trying to get it back to full health.

I would be lying if I said the imminent screening of "Ashes To Ashes" didn't kick-start me thinking about the fact it's from the same year as the show is set, and then thinking about getting it going again.

I've bene in touch with someone from the Talbot/Simca club as well so hopefully between this forum and this other chap I'll be able to sort it out over a few months.

[mikesumner]

Right, here we are guys and gals.

As promised I have attached some links to photos that I took of the Solara when I went in the garage to have a close look at it yesterday.

Overall, I was impressed with the condition it's in because the only rust that it seems to have on it are minor and do not appear to go all the way through, and there's no rusting to the chassic that I can see.

Obviously, I had a sit in it and the brake pedal is as solid as hell, but the clutch moves freely (this might be down to the fact the car wasn't left in gear all those years), so that's one less thing to worry about sorting out in due course.

Also, it's only done 66,000 miles, which I know to be genuine because obviously my Dad bought the thing brand new in '81 so that's something I suppose.

Anyhoo, please have a look and I await your collective feedback:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... 1witho.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion012.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion013.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion009.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion020.jpg

[Chris Hawes]

It would have been a great 'parked car' for Ashes to Ashes. It really has lasted well being out of the light. The blue paint looks fade free. One picture is clear enough to show the 1992 tax disc. Good luck with getting it running...

[mikesumner]

Chris Hawes Wrote:It would have been a great 'parked car' for Ashes to Ashes. It really has lasted well being out of the light. The blue paint looks fade free. One picture is clear enough to show the 1992 tax disc. Good luck with getting it running...

You're absolutely right about the paintwork. I had a close look at it and I've compared it to a photo I have of it when it was brand new (before it even had the registration plates on) and the blue paint looks exactly the same in terms of the even spread of the colour, so it doesn't appear to have faded in any areas.

Obviously it takes quite a bit of imagination to see it shining again when it's sat there beneath such a thick layer of crap, but I haven't discovered anything disastrous yet so it still looks as though it should be possible to have it running again.

Also, I'm sure "Ashes To Ashes" will be doing more than just the one series, so maybe if I get it all sorted out promptly enough it could be in the background as you suggested.

It certainly isn't a car that's easy to get hold of anymore and definitely not in that sort of condition.

I'll have to ask Mike Bosworth for his contact!

[steve.s]

Hi
chances are the reg is still with the car.

unless dvla decided it did not exist and reissued the plate.

unlikely i would have thought as they would have tried to contact last known on the documents, and if it was not declared scrapped or exported.

[Guinney1971]

looks good Mike - and ok, there's a bit of tin worm, but it doesnt look too
major, and a skilled bodyshop (get some recommendations from people)
should be able to sort it and do a good colour match quite reasonably.

A suggestion too, would be once you've got all the bodywork done, treat it
with something like Autoglym Life Shine or Supaguard, as that will protect
the paintwork (and interior) and keep it looking nice for years to come.

I can sort you out with a Autoglym Lifeshine if need be - I'll just need to
butter up the rep to get a good price on a kit

[mikesumner]

Claire Usher Wrote:looks good Mike - and ok, there's a bit of tin worm, but it doesnt look too
major, and a skilled bodyshop (get some recommendations from people)
should be able to sort it and do a good colour match quite reasonably.

A suggestion too, would be once you've got all the bodywork done, treat it
with something like Autoglym Life Shine or Supaguard, as that will protect
the paintwork (and interior) and keep it looking nice for years to come.

I can sort you out with a Autoglym Lifeshine if need be - I'll just need to
butter up the rep to get a good price on a kit

You are too kind Claire!

I'm sure I'll need some of that stuff eventually, but for the time being I'm going to focus on firstly getting the engine running after all this time, and then getting the thing moving under its own steam again.

I thought I'd best leave the bodywork until last as it'd be a shame to work on that and then discover something majorly wrong with the mechanicals.

I should be able to tell more when I push the thing out of the garage and let it see daylight for the first time in nearly two decades, but so far it looks better than I expected it to (especially the interior).

I'm sure I'll have updates as and when, and if anyone feels like sharing some Solara-related knowledge then feel free.

Thanks so far.

[mikesumner]

Evening all,

For those of you that read and commented on my previous post regarding the 1981 Talbot Solara that I have in the garage (and hasn't moved since 1991), I bring big news.

Basically, after freeing off both rear wheels (which were seized up solid and required much "persuasion" with a mallet), the car was pushed out into the daylight for the first time in nearly two decades.

My Dad gave it a good clean to remove all the crap and dust, and the following photos are of how it looked afterwards.

Your comments, as always, are welcome:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion026.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion023.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion022.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion038.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion040.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion036.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88 ... ion029.jpg

[Guinney1971]

looks alright tbh Mike - and a fairly easy resto as it looks mostly cosmetic
repairs that are needed

It looks in better nick then the 1993 Cavalier Diplomat we've just bought
for spares - only 88,500 miles, but much more rot then your Talbot - in
fact the Dippy has got more rust then the Cav TDS with double the mileage
that we've just resurrected

Regards,

[Phil Peters]

I like the fact that it's got a bonnet badge - a DeLorean styling link