Hartge H27 resto

[bss325i]

I didnt know that..... but I do have a rear strut brace that looks identical to the one pictured above. It has no markings but was removed from an S50 converted E30 that Griffin did, I'm thinking it might be a Hartge one

A Griffin built S50 E30?!

Tell me more!

[tomson]

I didnt know that..... but I do have a rear strut brace that looks identical to the one pictured above. It has no markings but was removed from an S50 converted E30 that Griffin did, I'm thinking it might be a Hartge one

A Griffin built S50 E30?!

Tell me more!

It's the 3litre S50'd 2 door in Calypso Red (IIRC) I've seen it at Gaydon before. The guy who paid Griffin to convert his car lives in Bristol and I relieved him of his remaining E30 morsels after he sold the car a while back

[tomson]

I think it had some 17" Hartge splitties last time I saw it actually ? ?

[bss325i]

I didnt know that..... but I do have a rear strut brace that looks identical to the one pictured above. It has no markings but was removed from an S50 converted E30 that Griffin did, I'm thinking it might be a Hartge one

A Griffin built S50 E30?!

Tell me more!

It's the 3litre S50'd 2 door in Calypso Red (IIRC) I've seen it at Gaydon before. The guy who paid Griffin to convert his car lives in Bristol and I relieved him of his remaining E30 morsels after he sold the car a while back

I know the car you're talking about. I didn't realise it was built b Griffin. I have the totalbmw mag that was featured in, might have another read.

[Kedge]

Just to help and give you proof, here is the Hartge Brochure with the rear strut brace you have.

Looks the same as a rear strut brace i have, just thought it was a cheap after market jobbie. Surely the Hartge item will have some markings on it?

[Scott72]

I have this rear bar mounted to my H23 and can't find any Hartge markings. Is kinda odd.

[tomson]

The front Hartge ones have no markings either, just a stick on badge...

[e30topless]

I have this rear bar mounted to my H23 and can't find any Hartge markings. Is kinda odd.

they don't have any markings at all,

is this any closer to tarmac yet ?

[Simon]

is this any closer to tarmac yet ?

About 100 yards!

[e30topless]

pm sent Simon.

[Finto_316]

coming along nicely simon

[H35-24]

I'll give you some places to look for rust: You probably know typical facelift rust problem around the rear towing hook, then there's behind ALL wheels, sealer might look nice, but there can be trouble underneath. And then there's is the sunroof problem. As you probably guessed by now I've been in your position.

Now I didn't remove the carpet until after metalwork and paint. It all looks great under it, I was changing cable harnesses, I found that were they all meet in the footwell of the passengerside and go up into the IP basically were the cables come out of the slot in the inside sill and bend 90 deg they cross a big bead of sealer on the sill. I had spotted some rust there, thought it was surface rust. But it was much worse. Inside the sill the drainpipe from the sunroof comes down and lets the water out into the sill right there, so here the inside sill was rusted through inside out. This applies both sides, basically look at the inside sill under the speakers and remember to lift the wireharnesses up and look under them too. If that big sealerbead looks at all loose, bumpy or has cracks there is potiential trouble.

I have learned 3 things from my restauration work (it's my first project):

1. Don't remove the doors by unscrewing the 4 nuts that hold the hinges onto the door, that will be a pain to get right, I'm almost there after several months now, still have to do some fine tuning on the driversside, my car being a 4 door. I even managed to snap one of the studs in the passenger door, so had to drill a hole in the remains and make thread in it so a M5 bolt could be used. Instead part the hinge by removing the 1 bolt that holds it together, it so easy, but Haynes says remove the 4 nuts, idiots! I'm going to throw my Haynes manual in the fire soon, it's worthless when you have some knowledge of how a E30 are to fix.

2. Find a seriously skilled and trustworthy bodyshop to do the bodywork, if you can't do it yourself.

3. ALLWAYS remove the carpet when doing a resto project. There can be nasty things under there, and changing wireharnesses with the carpet in is a nightmare.

[Simon13]

or always inspect the bodywork EVERYWHERE before you start a resto. No point throwing money mint mechanics if the body is f8cked.

[Kedge]

Any progress on this Simon?

[Simon]

Nope, though I came very close to losing the engine and shell though

It was stored at my place of work which went into administration just over a year ago. Was very lucky to get an opportunity to get back in before the administrators got there to remove what I needed.

It's safe back with me now parked in my garage, things are looking up at the moment so with a bit of luck can start making some progress.

I have managed to find an original boot badge after spotting a nice E36 328i Sport with it fitted for sale on Pistonheads, big thanks to the owner for agreeing to remove it and sell it to me

[Kedge]

That's a scare you could've done without, can't you reclaim something though if it belongs to you and bailifs take it to cover someone elses debt?

[Simon]

Probably could, but it would have been a hassle I could have done without, and I doubt very much they would have taken them, probably just scrapped them, it's just a load of old scrap to them...

Just glad it didn't get that far, and I was able to get everything I needed out of there! Only thing I didn't manage to get was the front legs which isn't a problem anyway, I'd already removed the struts and springs!

[Simon]

I have driven it, only for a short distance as it hasn't been taxed and tested for about 2 years!

Nearly 17 years now...

[steve_k]

thread revival? would love to see any updates on this.

[flybynite]

Nearly 17 years now...

Don't worry mine was last taxed and tested in '97 24 years and counting...............

[Simon]

Glad I'm not the only one

[steve_k]

Nearly 17 years now...

Don't worry mine was last taxed and tested in '97 24 years and counting...............

makes the 8yr's mine's been off the road look laughable.

[martauto]

Nearly 17 years now...

Don't worry mine was last taxed and tested in '97 24 years and counting...............

makes the 8yr's mine's been off the road look laughable.

I`m embarrassed at only eight months

Mart.

[Simon]

A quick update after reading through the entire thread.
Ive not mentioned how the ECU has griffin motorsport stickers on it.
After again chatting to Kevin Bird we do think this car was built by griffin.
A house move recently means the car and all the bits are still in storage, no garage at my current place, but planning permission has been passed for a build.