1.4 Petrol Restoration

wilco184

Member of the year 2015
Hi,

The TDI is treating me well, and I must say that I'm very happy having made the switch from petrol to diesel.

None the less, I've recently purchased a 2000 1.4 petrol A2 SE in Cobalt blue, as a sort of 'restoration project', and will be getting the car back to a good condition, such that it can then be sold on to a new owner with a new MOT; hopefully for them to enjoy for many more miles.

I bought the car very cheap, due to the issues it has with it (more on this later), the fact that it has relatively high miles for a petrol and because it has been off the road for some time. I won't say how much I paid, but it was a worthwhile purchase.

As we know, the A2OC loves to see some pictures, so here is the car exactly as I picked it up.

















Plans for this won't be massive; I'm simply trying to save this little A2 and get it back to full health. I will use a few parts for my own car (hard touch etc), but the rest will stay as standard. The pictures actually make the car look much better inside than it is; the car is very dirty inside, badly water stained and has quite a smell to it, although nothing that can't be fixed. Mechanically, the car is close to perfect. The engine and gearbox seem fine, apart from a throttle body issue. I haven't had a good look underneath yet, but from a quick look and observation, the following will need doing for an MOT pass:

- Windscreen cracked
- Rear brake cylinder leaking fluid hence 3 warning lights
- Handbrake cable snapped
- Front spring broken
- At least 2 tyres badly split on sidewalls
- Throttle body seems to be malfunctioning

Other, work may include:

- Full service
- Cambelt (maybe)
- Both front door check straps need repairing
- Front bumper and inner wings need securing (no under tray)
- Radio swap, price dependant

I'll try and keep this updated with pictures and so on, but I hope this is of interest and hopefully this will be another A2 saved from breakers!

Seems like a good project! :)

Regards,

Matt.
 
Nice one Matt, well done. I think it will make a nice little car for someone. I think those rear seats are quite possibly the dirtiest i've seen, hard to believe someone was driving it in that condition.
 
Nice one Matt, well done. I think it will make a nice little car for someone. I think those rear seats are quite possibly the dirtiest i've seen, hard to believe someone was driving it in that condition.

I'd echo that Steve, man they're filthy!
Looks like the previous owner had been transporting engines in the back, definitely a seats out and jet wash job lol,
Good luck Matt and a good find! There are plenty of people that would've resigned this little car to the breakers for profit!!
Cheers Jeff
 
Is 123k "relatively high mileage for a petrol"? Mine has 120k on it but was hoping for a long happy future together. Should I be worried?
 
If maintained well I have seen petrols hit 200k so no need to worry.

Matt I have a fully funtional throttle body here if you need one.
 
Is 123k "relatively high mileage for a petrol"? Mine has 120k on it but was hoping for a long happy future together. Should I be worried?

Not at all. I've no doubt that the petrol cars will do the higher mileages. All I meant was that I tend to see more diesel cars for sale with higher mileages. We have an '81 1.3 petrol Fiesta on 207k, and it's without fault.

Matt.
 
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If maintained well I have seen petrols hit 200k so no need to worry.

Matt I have a fully funtional throttle body here if you need one.

Many thanks, Steve.

I'll let you know if I need the part, if mine can't be repaired.

Matt.
 
Nice one Matt, well done. I think it will make a nice little car for someone. I think those rear seats are quite possibly the dirtiest i've seen, hard to believe someone was driving it in that condition.

Hi Matt,
I know someone who has a set of cream seats going reasonably cheap, slightly grubby but would clean up easy! Bear it in mind if yours don't clean up, they are an exact match! P.m me if interested and I'll give you his number as he's not a member on here!
Cheers Jeff
 
Not at all. I've no doubt that the petrol cars will do the higher mileages. All I meant was that I tend to see more diesel cars for sale with higher mileages. We have an '81 1.3 petrol Fiesta on 207k, and it's without fault.

Matt.

Phew! That's a relief. Car is currently in the ramps at A2 Cars and it's looking like mine has become a 'project' too!!!!
 
Phew! That's a relief. Car is currently in the ramps at A2 Cars and it's looking like mine has become a 'project' too!!!!

Don't lose sight of the fact it's an old car. No matter how much you love it. Prioritise the jobs on a sliding scale of risk critical first ( if there is any such issues with your car) to the 'nice to have but not urgent at the lower end of the scale.

Some parts of my suspension have been pretty goosed either cosmetically or practically for the last 5 years but the car has always passed the MOT and I've now decided to replace it on cosmetic grounds as the pesky beastie keeps passing the test.

I'm sure someone of Tonys impeccable credentials will advise you properly as to what's needed or nice to have.

Good luck with the project! !
 
Don't lose sight of the fact it's an old car. No matter how much you love it. Prioritise the jobs on a sliding scale of risk critical first ( if there is any such issues with your car) to the 'nice to have but not urgent at the lower end of the scale.

Some parts of my suspension have been pretty goosed either cosmetically or practically for the last 5 years but the car has always passed the MOT and I've now decided to replace it on cosmetic grounds as the pesky beastie keeps passing the test.

I'm sure someone of Tonys impeccable credentials will advise you properly as to what's needed or nice to have.
J
Good luck with the project! !

That all depends on how you view the car. Our A2 is with us for life so its age doesn't factor in to how it will be maintained. I'd be far more inclined to spend money on our A2 than the newer A4 we have just bought. I view the A4 as a consumable, the A2 is something different all together.

Sorry for the thread hijack Matt.
 
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That all depends on how you view the car. Our A2 is with us for life so its age doesn't factor in to how it will be maintained. I'd be far more inclined to spend money on our A2 than the newer A4 we have just bought. I view the A4 as a consumable, the A2 is something different all together.
Sorry for the thread hijack Matt.

Totally agree and it's a relevant point in a restoration thread. I'm simply trying to dumb the blow of a potentially long 'to do' list. Our car is a keeper too. I've never had a car this old and just about to turn 100k. They're resilient wee beasties so a restoration project can be managed over a timescale to suit your needs wants and pocket provided the car is safe and roadworthy (if it's in use)
 
It's difficult not to want to do the sexy stuff first rather than a missing heat shield!!!! Sorry to hijack the thread Matt!:rolleyes:
 
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