Further to my last post my Davrian was delivered to me last weekend so please see below some photos of it as received:
Rear of Dav.JPG (42.45 KiB) Viewed 6382 times
front of dav.JPG (46.63 KiB) Viewed 6382 times
It's a Mk4 with a Mk5 front (I was told), it does run and has a standard sport engine with strombergs, the gearbox is ok as is the clutch, as you can see it's rather tatty and to be honest in need of a rebuild, however if it's viable I think I may get it MOT'd and use it this summer before I go for a winter strip and rebuild.
I'm not sure quite how I want it to look when finished, one thing that is top of my list will be to remove the horrible glass sunroof and perhaps go for a bubble roof.
I remember putting the car up for sale at the Imp National in 2007!
I can confirm that it is a Mk5, but with a Mk6 front end.
I can also confirm that it looks far better in the photos than it does in the flesh and Nugget's appraisal of the condition is spot on.
Whilst I no longer had the time to do the car justice, I know it has gone to a new home where it will get the attention it needs.
Nice to see another one resurface, they are all hidden away somewhere!.
Having owned 6 Davrians and still have 3 my advice is don't take it all to pieces!!, they take years to finish!. My Mk4 is very scruffy but i so enjoy driving it about i'm pleased i kept it all together. Get her up and running first then you can improve the car while whizzing about in it, they are very addictive!.
Hey up chaps, just a quick update on the Davrian, having kind of taken the advice of Dave and wanting to get on and drive it the front end is now complete, everything wire wheeled within an inch of it's life and smoothrited, front wishbones back on and polybushed, AVO coil overs courtesy of Tim D fitted and Fiat Cinq rad fitted and plumbed, I've also tidied up the wiring,
Also all the crap vinyl interior has been removed and I have made a new basic dash and console panel and got all the gauges working and the engine running.
Work for this week is to overhaul both rear wishbones (already removed) and drop the engine so that I can clean up the engine subframe and rear cross member. I have already sorted the oil cooler brackets and pipes and header tank, so it's just a case of welding up unused holes, wire wheel and rust kill and paint then reassemble with polybushes and new coilovers.
After that blank off sunroof aperture refit engine, check lights, bleed brakes (I have decided to go drums with comp linings for now) then MOT.
Back on the road with a ratty interior and exterior but sorted suspension and running gear
So glad to see this car still in one piece and in the UK. My father restored it in the early 90's and used it daily until mileage dictated the need for something more practical in early 98. I was gutted when it was sold, I'm also sure it is responsible for my current car passion. Apart from longleat in 2000 I think I have not seen any evidence of it since. Looking a bit sorry for itself now, but no doubt it will be restored to its former glory.
Bloomin hell, fancy the son of a previous owner responding to this.
For info the car remained with Bruce (the guy who bought it off of your Dad) until I bought it, Bruce (a buddy of mine) eventually sold to me, the car had been laid up for a few years under cover and was on the cusp of needing a rebuild.
Now with me I am taking a different approach to this car compared to previous restorations as I think it is possible with a Davrian, so I am/have fully rebuilt the suspension and brakes, the cooling system and any metal items on the car with the intention of getting it back on the road, once it's on the road I intend to develop it a bit as required to be possibly a daily driver (I have a short 9 mile commute), but to also use it for the occasional track day (my first one is at Castle Combe on 09 Oct - this is my target date to get it on the road), fully poly bushed suspension and AVO coilovers supplied by Tim Duffee should take care of the handling, I may go disc brakes later when I have the time, but talking to some Imp specialists I remain to be convinced that this is necessary with modern anti fade linings being so good on the heavier Imp, the Imp engine (in some form) will be retained as it's such a lovely old motor full of character and I want to retain the "feel" of the original design.
Once I'm happy that it's a "sorted car" mechanically I'll tackle the bodywork which to be honest compared to my G15 isn't too bad, however I am still yet to decide how I want it to look and what colour, I'm hoping to get some inspiration when I start to drive it, this is another reason for leaving the body till later.
