Ranchero's Rollin' Resto.

[Ranchero]

Been meaning to do this for a while.

Just to set the scene, some photos of the car shortly before I received it.

Reminds me of some one eyed three legged cur that has been maltreated and gone a bit feral. It has been fairly good to me but I need to get the LPG system serviced as it can be temperamental.

Some rust issues, but hopefully not terminal , which I will attend to as I go along.

Enjoy.





















What was I thinking of? Let's just say I needed a car in short order and this one was available.
A year and a half later I still have it.

It had already been extensively de-winegummed by the time I bought it. Dumb badges and stickers removed and the bootlid replaced I think.
Since then most of the panels: wings, bonnet, sunroof, mirrors, front valance, bumper and the passenger door have been replaced.

The BBS have been swapped for italian MIM 1900's and the luggage shelf replaced with a redyed one, with shag blind.

The interior has also been replaced with a leather one. Not very good condition but it looks better than the manky sports that were there.

It's not like this is ever going to be a showcar.

I've got a crack free dash and a decent carpet waiting to be installed. Still needs a lot of work but it's slowly getting there.

I'll try to get up some pics of how it looks now, tomorrow.

[TPS]

I remember being 'Round Ant's with that, & getting a lift in it, quite a capable car.

[jas025]

Looks a little familiar.

Is that a 316? Do you know if it's had a plate change?

[Ranchero]

It's a 318is. Not had a plate change to my knowledge. It's possible you've seen me cruisin' round in it though as I live in Bromley. Very near to you.

It's fundamentally a sound little car considering it's done 350.000 miles and been abused by monkeys for some of its life.

[jas025]

Borrowed a 316 (in 2003/2004) for a daily commute to Brighton which had been converted to LPG a long time ago - very similar to this but with slightly different interior.

Thought it was that one - if it is then I can assure you I didn't put those badges on it!

Then again, someone said it was quite a capable car so it's unlikely to be the one I had! I used to put it back across to petrol when I needed to overtake something - there's not much go in a 316i running on LPG

[Ranchero]

I've got to say, it doesn't have much poke and doesn't like to rev over 3000. I'm hoping a service of the 10 year old LPG system will improve matters.

[Ranchero]

And how it looks now. Front end refresh.



The viper stripes came with the new bonnet. I'm undecided about whether to remove them or not.




That's it for now. The sills need repainting but that will probably wait till I've had the jacking points welded. It also needs a good T-cut, wax and polish.

Plans are to sort out the rust spots including one side of the scuttle and the N/S rear outer arch. Which isn't as bad as it looks, so that can wait.

I'll get the carpet out soon so I can see what else is lurking.

Plenty more to do.
Sometimes I wonder whether it's worth it or should I just run it into the ground.

[spook]

Wine gums and fag packets, looks like a scene from my touring.

Any Werthers tucked down the rear seat?

[Ranchero]

No! Just some coco-pops under the handbrake console, and a milky way magic star stuck to the parcel shelf.

[318isPMK]

get those stripes offof that car

[Ranchero]

Jealousy is a terrible emotion, it will cripple you up inside. Get yourself some white Gaffer tape and you too can be an indervijuwel, like me.

How do I get these things off without damaging the paintwork anyway? A hairdryer for starters I suppose.

[kolee]

Hair dryer first, then a small drop of petrol to get rid of residue.

[318isPMK]

lol