Henley Blue GTi journey

[111SLi]

Picked this up after I had spent quite a while looking at it on Autotrader and really wanting it, going to view it sealed it for me...

The Autotrader photos did it no justice.
[sorry for Iphone photos!]

As I picked it up.


Got it back faultlessly. Forgot how smooth a standard Metro is. Turned 53k miles on the way home.


Interior like new with original Rover mats


Needs a new Henley Blue boot lid if anyone sees one, I can transfer the spoiler and badges.




With Liam's GTa after washing it, came up nicely.


Having it's first MOT in 3 years and after standing for 2. It PASSED!


This GTi will be lightly restored including new arches and a driver's door as someone atempted to break into it at somepoint busting the lock and damaging the door, however, overall it will be staying standard and I intend to keep for a long time.


It seems to be a very interesting car, being a genuine Metro GTi carrying Henley Blue, which is unusual, as I have never seen another one... I have the original finance invoice for £9500, but no mention of any special paint jobs, but I do not have the bill of sale. Then again there is a special order MG Metro Turbo out there which after it's current owner researched was a case of someone walking into a dealer and asking for a Turbo in Henley Blue, so whether this GTi is a special order I guess so, any information would be gratefully received.

[111SLi]

Went up to the garage where Liam did his wheel bearing and whilst there got a few close up photos of this GTi with my nice camera instead of crappy iphone.

Pretty mint interior.



The lock damage.



The all important VIN. 6th character of VIN dnotes GTi. JPD is Henley blue.


Rest of car.





Arches aren't that bad.

[111SLi]

First few purchases for the GTi are to keep it secure and safe for when eventually it does get to see the road again.

AK Motorsport NEW genuine GTi lockset.



Got this from my local Halfords reduced section, actually came to FIVE POUNDS when the girl scanned it. I know it's not the best but will make a noise if anyone tries anything- in which time I would have arrived to kill them.

[111SLi]

Some updates on this.

The GTa 16v that we are breaking for parts donated it's fuel tank to help out it's older GTi brother, as it seems when filled to the very top it had a leak, which wasn't visible on MOT as it had just under 1/4 of fuel in it.


(We did wedge some old wheels under it so that it couldn't fall- safety first!)

On removal of the tank from the half striped GTa, I wire brushed it and gave it a coat of Hammerite on the surface rust areas, funnily enough Hammerite smooth blue is similar to Henley.


Got the Cambelt and water pump replaced by Sean and Daz [thanks Lads] as there was no record of it being done at all though it seemed that when we removed the old parts that it was a replacement water pump at least; here are the new ones in place.


The boot was damaged with paint peel and bare metal getting surface rust on it, so I am trying to find a good local bodyshop that can do a good job on it, but for now we rubbed down the rust and gave it some blue Hammerite, bit of a bodge but nicer to look at than rust, for now.


Also, swapped all the locks over. The ignition barrel is a nob! :S I used Martin's idea of hacksawing a 5mm ish grove in the bolts and then using a screwdriver piece in a ratchet. New locks are nice and smooth and not jammed/ busted like the old ones.

Passenger door old lock out


Old ignition barrel off, had to be worth a photo after that grief!


Driver's door film totally original and had to be cut.


The drivers lock surround has been a a little flattened for now and a new lock in. I used Ku-rust on the bare metal then applied some blue Hammerite as it's barely visible when the lock is in place, so the blue Hammerite with a slight shade difference is of no matter. In Course may look for new door in this colour.


Just realised it has central locking too!

Should be fitted an alarm to it soon before it goes on the road for the Summer.

[111SLi]

Just a little update.

Up at the garage the other day I fitted some half leather Lightening GTi SE seats to my R100 and after that I did a few niggly jobs on the GTi.



Took the drivers' head lamp from the GTa 16v for the GTi as the reflective inside had deteriorated. Also swapped the wiper spindles over as the GTi ones were a little rusty looking. Little things.

Also, got this nice key ring for my new keys off ebay.


That's it. More to come.

[111SLi]

So the blue GTi, is back on the roads as of 1st April 2013.

2nd April, the weather was amazing, so with me and gf off headed South- Brighton.











Car drove faultlessly! So pleased with it, great on petrol too. Pretty nippy for the 1400 SPi too.

This beauty was parked on Madeira Drive and owned by some old man feeding pigeons like the woman from Home Alone. Was restored in 2011.





Car has been cleaned by the local hand car wash and came up nice, yet to even polish it! Should come up amazing. Really happy with this car.

[111SLi]

Just a little cosmetic update. The driver's side bonnet vent,had been stone chipped and it seemed to have spread quite an area, showing black plastic again, so for ease of rubbing the whole thing down smooth, I got hold of this NOS primered vent on eBay for £3. Part no. JAD 10020 LML


and here mid way through spraying which is where we are now. I sourced the paint from a local car shop that the guy mixed up for me, he has always been good in the past with colour matching and this one looks good too.

[111SLi]

A colleague from work with a pretty mint RX-8 came round to show me his detailing products as I'm starting to get into detailing. Cleaned up my car and it really brought up the paintwork!
Wheels first with 'Wolfs Brake duster';




My esteemed colleagues, Adam the train driver and Charlie just watching...


looking shiney;


Going for a drink after;


His immaculate RX-8;






Attempt at something artistic;


Bluewater;







Been taking the usual sunny day photos, hit 55k (middle aged?) and also did an oil change.

[111SLi]

Showed the car at the Bromley Pageant of Motoring with Gshaw/ Gerrard and his R100. I prepared some info sheets about the GTi as a model, my particular car and Project Pride to try and sway some 'shopping trolley' opinions. :p

Few pics. Hanging from my mirror is a original dealer 'Welcome to your new Rover' and PDI checklist. Must be a rare item these days.



and just a photo of my GTi and Dad's MG together on the drive.

[111SLi]

Starting the proper restoration work on this car now, with the rear wheel arches being replaced. Sean aka R100_VVC is a very good welder and has completed the driver's side only atm (due to my own time constrains). This has been welded and primered/ protected very well and is booked for painting at a bodyshop next week.

Here are photos of the arch being cut out and welded and the semi finished product.