Hey everyone, Here is my new toy - a genuine, untouched, unmodified Berlina Turbo. I managed to pick it up for a pretty decent price to begin with and as you can see from the photos its been sitting in a shed for a long time! Details: Feb 87 Berlina Turbo Auto Blue Trim Eucumbene Blue exterior From what I know, its been a country car all its life. Was taken off the road back in 2005 with a blown head gasket.. the owner then sold it to the guy I got it off with the intention of fixing it up.. but ended up sitting in the shed for 7 years collecting dust. My plan for this is keep it stock and a good representation of a genuine orginal car. Once I got her home it was time for a decent pressure wash and scrub in side and out. All in all, its a pretty solid car. No rust etc and nice and solid. The body does need a little love to bring it up to scratch, but thats easy! Engine bay came up ok.. but I want to pull the engine out to give it a freshen up with new gaskets, welsh plugs etc etc etc. While its out, ill paint the bay (no smoothing) and drop it back in. The trim was pretty filthy up close so I took the time and pulled it out (left the dash) I gave it a good scrub and wash down, its amazing what a bit of time can do. Im really happy with how it came up, hey its not brand new but its pretty close! And didnt cost me a cent Of course I cleaned all rubbers, dash parts etc. Also clean the door jams as well, Ill give them a cut a polish another time when I finish the body. The guy I got it off said the car wouldnt start... turns out the internal pump was rooted I happened to have a spare one, so we cleaned the tank.. fitted new pump, checked all the fluids and hoses.. chucked a battery on her and it started straight away. Ran pretty nice to be honest! Unfortunetly we found while it was in the air that it had a 2.5inch exhuast... not the Original, but hey.. it isnt that bad. Car is straight as under it. Also looks like the auto has had a rebuild in its life, and when we took it for a spin it shifted like a new one, cant complain! Ill be working on it slowly over the coming months. Next on the "to do list" is the engine, ill get that all nice and new and running 100%. As I said earlier it will need a paint job so after the engine bay and engine is sorted ill start the fun process of getting the old girl straight and flat and clean it up with some nice clear over base paint (original colour of course). Couple more pics of it clean: Sorry about the crap quality.. ill get some better ones next time. Thanks for reading.. I will post any updates when it happens. Heres the final pic... kicking back beside my calais wagon Cheers! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

thats clean as man!! plans for it now? just get it rego and daily it? or.....?

Thanks man. I just wanna clean the body up etc.. make it a nice daily. It still has all the aircon etc, so Ill just fix it all up and enjoy it. Doesnt need much for a roady, I could get away with not painting it and drive it by next week if I wanted!

you got it from NHill in SA i was amazed it took him 2 attempts to sell that on EBay yet it seemed like a good car and you've proved it is good buying there, looks like it's gone to a good home

well done matt, pin stripes and original badges and it'll be a tuff daily

great work dude came up neat, i also saw it on ebay, would love to know how much you got it for Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

around $3K from memory?

Thanks AUS880. I honestly didnt know it went on ebay twice, but I snapped her up pretty quick when I saw it. Its a really solid car.. its only downfall is the body just needs some attention (trolley dints etc). But some time and love and it will be an awesome car. Thanks for the comment! Deano - it cost me 3k as aus880 said. Hence why I jumped on it. Thanks Dave! Wanna paint it for me? lol. Spot on though, I want to hunt down all the stock badges.. found a guy who does the pin stripe, repaint the bars and leave it original. It had all the original build sheets under the carpet as well.. ones in mint condition! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

yeah but wont be for a few months. I have all the berlina boot badges in not bad nick for ya.

I think Ill have to paint it up with Normy.. might be a bit hard to bring it down.. but i will think about it, might not be a bad idea. If I do the body work how much to put the top coat on? Oh sweet.. how much would you like man? Thanks Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

just let us know when your out my way next and i'll give them to ya

Cool, thanks dave!

Don't hire Dave just yet as he's doing my car next week so see how he goes first lol!

love it richo looks schmick. makes me think twice about modding mine... i really need more vls ha

Hahaha Deano, youre a pisser! What car is he doing? Thanks Mitcham, stock VL's are getting hard to come by! Could be a good thing ---------- Post added 14-02-12 at 00:30 ---------- Update - So, I decided to give it a quick paint and fix up. I dont want to go too nuts coz its a daily, but just freshen it up Stripped her down: Knocked out dints etc and spot fixed everything that needed to be done, gave it all a sand: Then give her all a coat of high build primer Now when ive got a spare few days ill block it back with a speed file, getting it even straighter.. then a nice coat of paint. I need to prepare the cars etc as well. Anyone know what those aftermarket tail lights are like?? Mine arent in the best condition and id like to freshen all that up. Cheers for looking Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Ive got aftermarkets in mine (green vl) get a tube of winscreen sealer (not urathane its a flexible mastic sealer) and use it on the seal both to the light and body. Only complaint with mine is they leaked slightly, did that all solved. Good work matt, straight into it. if you need paint etc see my uncle, he'll still look after you even tho i don't work there anymore

Cool, that sounds ok! At least it will look all fresh etc. Ill make sure I do that - thanks Shes getting there slowly... just gotta find the time to work on it. And thanks about the paint! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

aftermarket taillights are ok. i restored a set of dirty old wreckers yard taillights with some elbow grease and plastic restorer and they came up great. just make sure your taillights don't show up that the garnish and bootmoulds are crappy. thats what lets them down the most

Yeah.. I thought that might be the case. Ill probably get the aftermarket lights and repaint the garnish and moulds to match.. I gotta paint the blacks around the windows again, so while ive got the gun out ill re do those little bits

Excellent thread and nice to see it go back to factory spec. Now it can partner the Wagon