Here’s the start of my Series One Restoration. It had been on my mind for a while as to whether to bother to strip it and sell the bits on E bay and call it quits as it’s not exactly cheap when you restore a car

After some hard saving over the past 6 months and with going away with work to Central America till next January I thought I’d bite the bullet as there’s hardly any S1’s left after reading the post on the RS Owners Club website

Over the past few months I have been searching and bidding on E Bay and searching for all new genuine panels and parts. I now have the following parts in my possession or on their way to me.

Front panel
Rear panel with black rubber gromits
Front x member
Headlights
Front indicators
Front and rear bumpers
Bonnet
2 x Doors
2 x Sills
2 x Rear chassis rails
2 x Floor pans
Front wings
Petrol tank


Before I start the pictures I would like to say a massive thanks to Gary Chamberlain aka Gadget for all the work in putting the car together of which he has had a hand in virtually everything that has been done to the car, from the brakes to the engine, gearbox, cossie management and all the other little things


I asked Gary to come round and help me strip the car ( tell a lie , he knows what I am like mechanically and feared for my life so said he’d do it with me as his Bitch )

Making a start




With all the sensors etc disconnected it was time to put the crane on so we could take the bottom pulley off.





Everything disconnected and the gearbox and engine mounts undone it was time for the moment of truth.





It came out with no trouble at all


A nice oil leak judging by the amount of crap around the gearbox and clutch area. Could be the very reason my clutch was slipping like a bitch after the Beds Track Day


Engine to it’s final resting place for quite some time or should I say when I can afford to put the steel rods and forged pistons in it.



Gearbox out


Looks a bit bare



Rear end stripped down


Seats ,harnesses and door bars out


Time for the cage out. This was a fookin tight fit!






Dash out and time to crack on with the wiring loom.






Very bare now, thoughts of whether I had done the right thing now by taking it apart and by the look on my face Gary said.


Didin’t realise how much crap there was behind the dash!




I have to say I am quite happy with the condition of the bodywork considering it’s 20 years old. However the kit hasn’t come off yet.

.

Once again a massive thanks to Gadget for the work as it was a very organised and swift strip down. Spadge would have been proud of us.

However I am concerned about Gary’s mental stability after having a Sunday lunch with my parents and the amount of food that was passed his way.

Need to get hold of a trailer and something to tow it with to the bodyshop in Essex if anyone knows anyone with one

Will update when it goes to the bodyshop