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Author Topic: My C5 Restoration project  (Read 4842 times)

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Offline MikeDX

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My C5 Restoration project
« on: 12, May, 2010 - 21:41:30 »
It all started one Saturday morning! An early morning drive to Derby to pick up my bargain basement Sinclair C5!





My first thoughts were "What a mess!". It was filthy, stained, scratched, had some kind of "gum" all over the seat, deep scratches across the body, black stains, but I finally had a C5 and that was the most important bit!

I was lucky enough to get a phone call from Chas, who lives nearby and he invited me up to his house to give me the quick start guide on c5 ownership, and was made incredibly welcome by him and his wife. He has a fantastic collection, showed me how to strip down my C5 for cleaning, and sold me some spare parts! I am incredibly grateful to Chas for his time and generosity, so hopefully if he comes to the MK run, I can at least buy him some lunch! :)

So, got home and set about the cleaning..
















This pic almost shows the level of filth on the c5 tub, its horrible. It's actually so horrible that I have not even sat in the C5 at all, just dragged it around!



More dirt...



This pic is proof that nearly all C5's photograph well, even those covered in crud!


So, me and my son luke set about giving it a good old scrub




and scrubbed..

and scrubbed some more..

and Luke scrubbed some more!


The front of the C5 is quite badly scratched..



but it started to clean up


You can see the right hand side of the C5 horribly scratched (this is after a VERY hard scrub!)


And the left hand side, stained and scratched :(


Inside, horrible. dirty mess


After a while..


The rear wheel arch is looking very nice!




The seat almost looks like I would want to sit in it!


The nose came up quite well, but still needs a lot of TLC




Right hand rear wheel arch beginning to look like new!


Inside the boot was filthy.

The frame, after a quick brush down:





So, now we are getting somewhere.

New tyres, brake cables and wheel cover inserts are on their way to me, and tomorrow evening should see another round of cleaning.

Stay tuned...










« Last Edit: 12, May, 2010 - 22:53:35 by MikeDX »

Karl

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #1 on: 12, May, 2010 - 21:52:54 »
You've done yourself proud there mate , covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time  8)

It is starting to look a lot better, and more importantly you've saved another c5 from the scrapper - which is always a good thing  :)

Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #2 on: 12, May, 2010 - 21:59:29 »
Cheers Karl!

I'm fighting against the clock here to make the MK Run!.. Might have to return to the hardware store tomorrow and get some more bits.

I think I may have lost one of the rear light screw clips too :( It's in one of the early pics, and then I noticed later it had fallen off somewhere in the grass.

Offline Retro Andy

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #3 on: 12, May, 2010 - 22:44:22 »
Its coming up a treat, it will soon be up and running again, keep the pictures of progress coming  :)

Retro Andy.

Offline radiomarty

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #4 on: 13, May, 2010 - 05:53:05 »
Wow your doing a great job - keep up the good work - the way your going i'm sure we will see you and MK !!!

Offline C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #5 on: 13, May, 2010 - 07:20:39 »
Hi there Mike well done it's looking a lot better the first time I saw it .Not be long now before you are in it and riding about ...Great job keep it up ..Bye Chas  ;D

Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #6 on: 13, May, 2010 - 15:06:59 »
Been back to the hardware store today to get a few more bits ready for tonight.  With some help from Chas, and maybe some luck thrown in, I might be ready for the 23rd!

Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #7 on: 22, May, 2010 - 16:17:44 »
Just took the basket case out on its maiden voyage (without motor). All worked a treat! new brake cables, new tyres. All looking great.

Next step - get that motor and pod back on!

Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #8 on: 22, May, 2010 - 22:18:21 »
Some pics of todays events - wiring it all up!






All looking a lot healthier now!


Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #9 on: 17, July, 2010 - 21:03:09 »
Spent today putting some finishing touches ready for the M&M revisited run tomorrow:













OK, it's not perfect, but if you consider where it started, It's not bad!


chrisbaildon

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #10 on: 17, July, 2010 - 21:18:34 »
Looks great, hope it all goes great tomorrow

Offline plumber

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #11 on: 17, July, 2010 - 21:58:18 »
hi there mikedx...i see your boot lock is missing......there are other locks that fitt m8......if you need one....send me an email...they are a 10.00...

the plumber ;D

Offline MikeDX

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #12 on: 17, July, 2010 - 22:33:56 »
Thanks Chris! It's been a long time coming!

Plumber, yeah I'd like a lock please :)

Karl

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #13 on: 18, July, 2010 - 09:34:30 »
hi there mikedx...i see your boot lock is missing......there are other locks that fitt m8......if you need one....send me an email...they are a 10.00...

the plumber ;D

plumber, don't be shy - put them up on the tried and tested section  ;D

Mike - a good job there mate, all the more so when you consider it's your very first attempt  8)


Offline Retro Andy

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Re: My C5 Restoration project
« Reply #14 on: 18, July, 2010 - 10:01:41 »
Looks like it all turn out well Mike, hope you all have a great day today, sorry I can't make this one, but look forward to the pictures later.

Retro Andy