1978/79 GTS

[GTSPhil]

Thanks Tim

Progress is there, but due to my shop's commitments time is a very limiting factor. Finished just now, to carry on with a customer's timing chain situation etc.

Hopefully in the next week or two the body should be done or very nearly done.

[GTSPhil]

The bootlid was next in line for some TLC


   


   


Now onto the RED nose.


   


RH SIDE

   

[GTSPhil]

After a whole lot of wire wheel time and effort, back on the car ready to be welded back.


   


Otherside    


   


Some primer later


   


The bootlid again.


   

[Vinay-RS]

That's seriously impressive. This is going to be one stunning mini once it gets a top coat of paint.

[minitim]

Hi Philip. How's work progressing a year later on the GTS? You keeping me in suspense.

[GTSPhil]

Hi Tim

Needless to say due to 3 other projects of my own and two serious resto mods and a full on restoration on a 997 Cooper on client cars, the GTS has been on the back burner. The pics above is still how the car is standing since December last year. Mostly due to the welding that is still outstanding and the nose not being re-connected to the car I have been very lazy to move the car. I have however been a busy boy in terms of sourcing new parts for the engine and body. I also bought a brand new set of GTS correct arches from Kollie for this car.

Quite frankly I thought my new colour choice would be unique, but in the last few months almost 5 cars with the same colour has come out of the woodwork. Further on this point almost weekly now a GTS is up for sale, again if whether these are genuine or replica cars is yet to be discovered. It seems like now is the time to get this beauty done as prices seems to soaring, (car that sold 3 weeks ago for reported R280 000) case and point.

I have been in two minds about selling the car to some international collectors once it is done, clearly all back to original not in it's current state of tune however. I have since last year Sept helped two collectors to source and verify genuine GTSs outside our borders. However since I am against letting our good cars (the few that is left in this country in any way) go, I might consider keeping it after all the endless hours upon hours upon hours of work that has been done to this point. Bottom line is body wise the car is just as good if not better than in late seventies when it left the factory.

But I however am after another more sought after Mini, so time will tell what transpires. Last point is I want to make my current collection of 6 almost running usable cars down to half of that with some serious collectable cars in the collection and not the current everyday items I have.

[minitim]

Thanks for the update Philip. The problem always comes in that we tend to get attached to the cars, and then it is very difficult to let them go should the right offer come along. This is especially true for unique models, which one will not be able to pick up quickly again.

[GTSPhil]

So Okay

This happened not too long ago.....


   



That is the RH fender being welded to the rest of the RH side of the body.


For the other side.....


   


Fitting the AUS arches for a test.....

   



A closer look from the top.


   

[GTSPhil]

Now onto just how bad the RH of the car was rusted further.


The Bottom RH corner of the wheel well needed some surgery.

   


The door switch area 


   


The air vent area, thus this concludes that all three areas joining together here was affected due to the weather rubber not fitted on the door check strap.



   

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After strengthening the RH bottom corner up again and putting some extra strong plating in just for good measure the poor RH floor pan was tacked in finally.

   

The Wheel arch area got some of the same treatment.



   


Then it was onto the outside edges of the fenders that needed some attention.


   

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The maestro worked his magic and we cut the fender loose from the slam panel below the indicator hole and then the metal shaped very well as the previous owner just did not have a clue how to repair this area very well.  Here the slam panel support for the bonnet latch and the front mount radiator cutout repair was already done.


   


a Nice almost correct angle of the area.


   


The ACID drenched excuse for a rusted battery box.


   


The plasma cutter came out to play.


   


Finally less rust on the car still to have to deal with.


   

[minitim]

Thanks Philip. Some of that rust looks like it was a UK car!
Glad you are moving along and being methodical in getting things done properly