You can leave your hat on ...

So it's 34 degrees Celcius on a beautiful Saturday in Cape Town and instead of heading to the beach, I decide to put some work in on Cass.

I been procrastinating on starting any substantial work because I've had no idea where to start! Thankfully an episode of American Restoration on DSTV has given me some direction i.e. start stripping baby!

Armed with a couple of spanners and a few screwdrivers I set to work ...

First thing was to remove all the chrome fittings - I've got to get a quote on rechroming everything so that was a good place to start. Need to get a budget sorted so I know what I'm in for.

Everything comes off surprisingly easy - with the help of some Q20 and elbow grease of course!

Getting the chrome tail light trims was a real pain in the backside.  Murphy's law - the last screw is right at the apex of the fin. Needed a torch for the job and lord knows how any one with larger hands than mine would get the job done.

I've made sure to put each fitting and it's screws, nuts and bolts in a labelled sandwich bag to save some tears later - seen too many people take things apart and not been able to figure out which screw goes where later on. Frustrating and far too time consuming.  I've also sealed each bag with a bit of cellotape in case they fall at some stage.  Don't want everything tumbling out and getting mixed up.

Next thing was tackling the expired rubber seals around the windows and doors.  What a mission!  The dumbasses who had resprayed Cass the last time had sprayed the rubber too!  Not smart guys - even a chick knows that.  The rubber was literally rock hard in some places and I had to remove the back windows to get the worst of it out.

Only thing to do was get a screwdriver and dig it out piece by piece.  Some of the rubber had somehow melted onto the metal and then hardened - couldn't get it all off and might have to take some paint stripper or a grinder to it later. 

Glad I left the interior for the hottest part of the day!

Managed to get those disgusting front seats out.  What an insult to such a beautiful car.  Seriously - grim Opel Kadett seats.  What were they thinking!?!

Couldn't get the top half of the backseat out - someone had ... you guessed it ... spray painted over the screw when they did the boot and it wouldn't budge.  Will have to leave that for another day. 

Quite an exciting moment pulling up the glued on plastic matting to find Cass's ORIGINAL colour - a light-ish blue.  At least I think so.  I've got to get hold of Ford SA sometime this week and see if they're able to tell me what the OB colour code represents.  Can't find it under the standard Anglia colour and trim codes listed in the UK.  I can only assume that Ford SA had their own set of colour codes.

Also got rid of the cheap radio and funny set of dials that had been mounted under the dash.  I've left most of the dash fittings and trims for another day - I want to label the wiring before I remove everything.





Not a bad days work methinks!  I need to start getting some quotes in ASAP so I can plan what to spend money on first.  The tyres are seriously NOT looking good so I know that's going to be a big chunk of cash already.

Thankfully the neighbourhood amateur (and not-so-amateur) mechanics are as excited as I am about getting Cass looking gorgeous again, so the advice and offers of help are pouring in. Now I just need the Lotto and I'd be sorted!