Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Fuck yes!

This fantastic. Proper job or Roadkill style?

This happens in our 2001 renault megane. Though in that it has absolutely nothing to do with any form of acceleration what so ever. Nor does it put a smile on my face.

straighten the chassis

This might be a bit of a naive question, but isn't a straight chassis the main thing you need from a project car? or is correcting it an easy thing to do (and what's the method)?

I reckon it will be pretty rad when done. Liking this style:

This might be a bit of a naive question, but isn't a straight chassis the main thing you need from a project car? or is correcting it an easy thing to do (and what's the method)?

Not necessarily. A chassis can be the most important bit, or it can be pretty easy to replace. Depends on the vehicle. In this case I'm assuming the chassis is pretty agricultural, so fixing it should be fairly easy.

If it's a monocoque then straightening the chassis will usually involve tying bits of it down to a very heavy thing and then using hydraulic rams to move the bits which aren't where they should be into the correct place.

It's not terribly out of square. You can see in the photos that it's had a head-on collision with a tree, and the front is slightly bent-in. This bent the front cross member, and essentially made the front of the car slightly narrower. All I'm going to do is cut this out, and weld in a new, straight bit of box, the right length, making sure the wings line up with the rest of the body. The rest of the chassis is straight and solid. Only found one little hole, which will be easy to overplate. The sills are all good. The only serious rust is in the wheel arches, but all easy enough to get to and repair.

@NurseHolliday 'proper job', I suppose. Going to remove the rubbing strips and bumpers, straighten out the creased bonnet (if I can't find a straight replacement), and fabricate a valance panel with an integrated grille, to replace the front bumper and existing valance panel, which is pretty mangled. Going to fair this into the wings, to give a seamless look. Obviously a full respray too.Using this mk1 brat as my inspiration (I know it's never going to be this pretty, but it's just an example of the style/ technique).

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Sounds like a wicked project.

@danstuff that makes sense. There was a YouTube project on an e30 where the guy was removing a dodgy M3 kit and it was fascinating how the body strength all comes together from the various parts.

So nice.

Who can read the name on this?

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Serafino Lanetta

Seafood Pancetta

Serafino Zanetta

Edit: This is the dude @Dammit

Seat tho Loretta

Stuffed ze engine

Cylinder Regretta

Whoa, keep us posted on progress please!

Sent to find 2 cornettos?

Yet another bit of speculation: a B5 Audi Avant 1.8t (132kw version) quattro. It's a 99 car, extremely rare manual and unmodified. Only catch is the owner has serviced himself for last 5 years... Might mean it's better though, just no receipts. And 229,000 kilometers. Looks to be in great condition. I always liked the B5, good wide and low stance. I'm guessing it'll be a case of timing belt may need doing and a bunch of suspension stuff, but then engines are meant to be rock solid and understressed in factory spec. Hmm...

Does he have any receipts and records of servicing while in his care? I’d leaf through those to make an accurate judgement on his wrenching skills.

Over 5l I think. later cars that have the fan nossles, that 5l can last 3 months (many miles)

Are you getting straightened or doing it yourself?

Here is an interesting website about volvos 7/9 series. Read up draw your own conclusions.

http://www.volvotips.com/index.php/940-960/volvo-940-960-buyers-guide/ 9 series was fitted with the modular engine.

But for the winner - https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/project-volvo-755-warning-idiot-made-11-month-buil/28019/page1/ have a read.

DIY, always.

No receipts doesn't bode well.

I'd look at the chap and the brand of tools he has and how he looks after the tools.

Also what works has been done, beyond oil fuel ,air and cabin filters. Look at the cabin filter, if it has one, to see what nick it is in and the make. Look at the oil, air and fuel filter brands to see if they are decent oe quality or some lower quality stuff.

Was anywork done that needed special tool to do. Did he buy the tool or is the tool available from an owners club. Lastly look at things that need to be removed to service the car such as undertrays or engine covers, are all the fitting there and undamaged.

That is the way I guage cars.

Plot thickens actually. Previous owner did all his own wrenching - was a mechanic apparently. Current owner has only had it six months but "now wants a van" hmm. A few red flags... but I do like it.

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Audi-A4-1999/SSE-AD-5326418/?Cr=0