Project #2...Nissan Figaro

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

So I got the front in the air....noting to report...all looks OK. I've contacted my guy to do the pulling but he's getting married and will be away for a couple of weeks. I did my best to talk him out of it!! Will be at least a couple of weeks until I can start the welding and fixing....it's sooooo tempting to just have a little play with the grinder but I need to resist. Perhaps I just need to find something else to keep me occupied!

 

[rtbcomp]

There's a Figgy for sale near me if you fancy a trip to Sheffield.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I've contacted my guy to do the pulling but he's getting married.......

That's probably end end of his 'pulling' then...... , the new SWMBO will put a stop to that particular 'extra-curriculum' activity. But...fftopic:

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Yea I left myself wide open on that one...should have said jig work really!

Spent the day putting up a new work area and cleaning the garage...not sure how I'm going to hold off cutting holes in the Figaro for a few weeks!!!.....I'm already bored!. Garage is looking nice and tidy thought .

rtbcomp....not a bad idea....if I buy another green one I can just post some final pics and pretend I forgot to take pictures as I went along but finished the fig in record time!!

Sheffield...yea a long way back to my home land...I grew up in that neck of the woods!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Spent the day putting up a new work area and cleaning the garage...not sure how I'm going to hold off cutting holes in the Figaro for a few weeks!!!.....I'm already bored!. Garage is looking nice and tidy thought

That kind of work time is never wasted. Fear not, it won't be long until it defies you and returns to its 'natural' state.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Well it feels like I've been cleaning for a week (elapsed time 2 days!!). Garage is looking alot better but it won't last I agree....built myself a couple of work stations too. I just got fedup of filling my main bench with rubbish.

Also treated myself to a shrinker and stretcher setup...it's hard to reproduce what these can do by hand I think and I always wanted a set. Bought on the bay of fleas....turned up and it was actually from frost but cheaper than their own web site I think (very odd).

The one on the left is going to be for small bandsaw stuff while the one on the right will be for grinding (hence the blue metal surround). The reason it all looks a bit rustic was that it was built from all the scrap wood which I had saved in my rafters. I think it turned out OK actually...well it was free so can't complain!

 

[mylesdw]

Free is one of my favourite building materials.

 

[marlinspike]

I bought a set of Chinese made hammers and dollies at a car boot years ago. Paid about £7; 3 hammers, 3 dollies I think. Maybe not the best quality but they have been fine and we have used them extensively in our car resto.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Couldn't agree more....In all the excitement I almost forgot....my hammer and dolly set arrived today. Not bad for £6.11!! I checked the current price....it's now £25 so reckon I might have gotten lucky!

Sure they aren't perfect...they need a little work however i don't think I could make the dollies myself for less.

Yea...free is always better plus it takes me a few iterations to get things setup right with work areas so no point throwing a big stack of cash at the first attempt.

I was lucky....had a bit of kitchen top left over from building my main bench...the top was also a freebie from my builder

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

So while I was waiting for the jig guy I decided to hunt down a few Figaro parts. Well I don't quite know what happened or how it happened but somehow I now have a second Figaro project!! Don't ask me for a plan please...this was totally off script...I'm trying to get my head around it. It'll be a different project for another day....but it will allow me to cut some templates up to check figaro1 properly. If u guys want more pics let me know!! This one is called Chung Lee...it's been owned for 12 years by a really lovely lady...going to be a present for the missus who fell in love with the first figgy when I brought it home!

I really hope I haven't caught a bout of "figgy fever"

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I really hope I haven't caught a bout of "figgy fever"

Not to worry, they can give you tablets for that now. At least you already have the touch-up pen.... And more pics of Fig 2 when it gets light, please

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Anyone placing bets on how much filler?

To the nearest cwt?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I'm hoping this one is a lot more original than the first "restored to a high standard" one....well I live in hope. On the plus side the owner drove it 80 miles to deliver it to me so I'm thinking it can't all be bad! The car came with receipts an inch thick and has only had the one UK owner too.

So "hopefully" not a huge amount of filler....will take more pics in the morning for you guys. Rear arches have been repaired on this one too but it looks like an OK job....no bubbles that I can see....yet!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Many years ago I had the opportunity to wander around the premises of one of the early importers of cars from Japan. The company started off with used motorbikes (which it still is one of the biggest importers) and then saw a market for cars. The cars, every one without exception, was accident damaged. In the back of the car was the parts to repair - doors, bumpers, lights, wings etc all that was needed !
I know now there are far more scrupulous importers who only source the best from Japan but it still makes me wonder how many of the early imports of these type of write offs that got repaired with filler etc and got sold to people as immaculate ultra low mileage examples

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Many years ago I had the opportunity to wander around the premises of one of the early importers of cars from Japan. The company started off with used motorbikes (which it still is one of the biggest importers) and then saw a market for cars. The cars, every one without exception, was accident damaged. In the back of the car was the parts to repair - doors, bumpers, lights, wings etc all that was needed !
I know now there are far more scrupulous importers who only source the best from Japan but it still makes me wonder how many of the early imports of these type of write offs that got repaired with filler etc and got sold to people as immaculate ultra low mileage examples

I've seen somewhere on the interweb [might even have been on the Bay of Everything] where you can buy half cars [fronts or rears, literally been cut across the middle] palleted and ready to uplift. Everything from Ferraris to much more mundane models.

Every one sold can't be destined for conversion into a desk or garden ornament........

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Definitely used to happen with the MR2...the Turbo model was only sold in japan so people used to import the rear clip from the doors backwards just to get the turbo engine and the limited slip differential. I'd never usually touch an import with a barge pole but the Figaro was only ever sold in Japan so with these cars if you want one it has to be an import. Then your next choice is spending 6k+ on a "restored" car that looks nice and shiny on the outside or buy a car that needs work.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Here are a few more pics...Chung Lee was the cheapest Figaro in the UK with an MOT. Granted the MOT runs out in a few days! The reason she was so cheap was that I promised the owner I would restore the car...the "other guy" wanted to part it out....personally I think it's far too good for that + a promise is a promise in my book (yes I know it isn't legally binding or anything but I'm a believer in keeping my word!). Here are some more pics...the car was £1,000 which in Figaro world is as cheap as it gets for a running car with an MOT!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Definitely evidence of some "MOT standard" patching but I don't mind that. Part of the reason for it being so cheap was the interior is well used....speaking to the owner this car was enjoyed and visited many festivals around the UK...kind of a nice history!! Love the tacked on patch on the rear boot lip...

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Previous owner did all she could to look after the car...there are receipts for the last 12 years here plus pretty much every MOT. In the end the body issues became too expensive to resolve. In many ways I think this is a great candidate for a full restoration.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Enough playing with the new toy....back to work!! Been working on getting the filler off the door....tried a few tools but favourite so far is a wall paper scraper which is sharpened and a small hammer. Works very well....I could take a flap disc to it but that would make a mess of my garage so prefer this approach.