I've received some video footage of my car! Well, parts of it. Below is footage of some components that are yet to be mounted. The first video contains parts and the second contains the upholstered interior, ready to go.
From ugly duckling to swan
Here's the car with its preschool friends fellow Fićas in the painting bay, who are ready to be...well, painted.
Note the new floorpans!
Note the new floorpans!
All is fall...er...being welded into place
The Fića is finally starting to look like a car. Almost. The sills, floorpans, and fenders have been welded into place, and the rustproofing and bodywork are done. Here are some pics:
Next up is the primer phase, before which the body must be smoothed out.
Next up is the primer phase, before which the body must be smoothed out.
Restoration Update
Some more photos have arrived! The new floorpans and side sills have been mounted, and the rust repair work on the rear left fender has been finished. The pics speak for themselves (come to think of it, so do the headings)...click on any one to enlarge it.
New floorpan mounted:
Rustproofing done:
New floorpan mounted:
Mounting the new sill:
Fender work done:
New sill mounted:
Progress!
After much research, buying parts, and consulting the knowledgeable, the arranged (but temporary) marriage between my Fića and a shop was concreted nary a week after its purchase. I will be supplying the parts and the shop will use them and restore the car from the ground up.
They have since stripped it to the metal, sandblasted it, mended the bodywork, installed some parts I've bought, prepped the seats for upholstering, and all the shiny bits have been re-chromed.
I must now arrange a viewing and coordinate with the restorer so he can get the new color just right. In the meantime, here are some pictures he's sent me (click on any image to enlarge it).
Seat prep (before/after):
Engine compartment:
Front end (dismantled/with new front clip and fender):
Left inside front fender restoration (before/during/after):
Left rear fender rust removal (start/during/after):
Old floorpan and sill removal (before/after):
They have since stripped it to the metal, sandblasted it, mended the bodywork, installed some parts I've bought, prepped the seats for upholstering, and all the shiny bits have been re-chromed.
I must now arrange a viewing and coordinate with the restorer so he can get the new color just right. In the meantime, here are some pictures he's sent me (click on any image to enlarge it).
Seat prep (before/after):
Engine compartment:
Front end (dismantled/with new front clip and fender):
Left inside front fender restoration (before/during/after):
Left rear fender rust removal (start/during/after):
Old floorpan and sill removal (before/after):
The Flight of the Fića
Several weeks ago, I was looking through classifieds in Serbia to see what was up for sale. There was the usual batch of customized ones, and others in relatively bad shape, neither of which is my cup of tea. Not to mention such examples might be a bit problematic...
Then I found two which I liked: an older model and this one. Before I knew it, the older one was already sold, only days after the ad was posted. I then knew I needed to act fast (and quite creatively, considering I was half a world away from the car), especially at its low asking price.
Meanwhile, my grandma was preparing the wanted ad she offered to post on the following Monday. I gave her a call and told her about the car I found. She promised to give the owner a call in the next couple of days, in case there are any offers that turn up from our wanted ad first. I then explained the situation and its urgency, noting how good examples tend to disappear before they are posted for sale.
Then she told me she'd get back to me in half an hour.
Then I found two which I liked: an older model and this one. Before I knew it, the older one was already sold, only days after the ad was posted. I then knew I needed to act fast (and quite creatively, considering I was half a world away from the car), especially at its low asking price.
Meanwhile, my grandma was preparing the wanted ad she offered to post on the following Monday. I gave her a call and told her about the car I found. She promised to give the owner a call in the next couple of days, in case there are any offers that turn up from our wanted ad first. I then explained the situation and its urgency, noting how good examples tend to disappear before they are posted for sale.
Then she told me she'd get back to me in half an hour.
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