[QUOTE]My names Rikki, I'm 28 and currently doing a VRQ in Automotive Paint and Body Repair at college.

My first car was a white 2.5V6 Ford Probe, my second car was a black one. I've had plenty motors since I passed my test and I've been looking for a new project for a while.

Just picked up this rather rough looking RS Turbo replica XR3i.

(The pictures make it look a lot better than it is!)



The shell has only done 55,000 with every MOT and a damn clean interior to prove it. The engine is a smokey, noisy, rattly EFI Turbo unit which I was going to rebuild but I'm going Zetec Turbo now I think. Someone has painted all the ancillaries with what looks like poster paint and the drivers side has seen better days.



Basically someone has taken what was essentially a very solid 3i and stuck loads of crap bits on it an attempt to recreate the automotive equivalent of the bits that are left in the bottom of the box when you finish a Big Mac.

I've taken it upon myself to bring this car back from the brink and although I've been driving it around daily for the past few weeks it has now done what it should have done a long time ago and retired from active service!

Think it's just a starter issue but I'm not taking any chances and she's going to be living in my lock-up for the next few months whilst I strip, clean, paint and rebuild as much of it as I can before sticking the Zetec in and putting it back on the road.

Wish me luck!! Oh and if anyone near to Perth, Scotland has experience of building Zetec Turbos and likes beer I would be more than happy to strike a deal!