My car will finally be back on the road soon after a bit of a hiatus, so i thought i might put up some pics of the car as it has evolved to where it is now.
Vehicle specs are:
HSV VL Calais SV88
Build #72 of 150
Carby 304
3speed Trimatic
First off here are some pics from when i first got it. Circa March 2002.
The car was in reasonable condition when i got it.
Importantly it was mostly original and had good kilometres on it.
First thing i did was tidy the car up a bit. Lost the stickers off the back, replaced the original red pin striping, and a few other bits and pieces.
Also as a stroke of luck, a mate spotted 'SV 88' plates for sale in the local trading paper, and i snapped them up at bargain pricing.
Over the next year or so the car stayed pretty much as is.
Just continued to refine things/tidy it up etc.
Just lots of little things that i won't bother mentioning.
Pics show the progression.>>>
List of Misc stuff done to this point:
• Twin piston brake upgarde
• New overflow bottle
• Strut brace
• Outer lip of rims polished
• Gas struts for bonnet
• New headunit and speakers
• New powersteering rack
• Brock manifold
• 650 DP Holley
• New Alarm etc
• Welded drivers door lock due to scum
OK so now it starts to get interesting.
Beginnning of last year some ****er named 'Sayed' bumped into the back of her (whilst i was sitting in it!) not bad damage but enough of a piss off.
So after getting messed around by him and his insurance company i did a bit of a deal with the panel beaters that i was getting the car fixed at to do a bit extra just to tidy her up some more and also fix a bit of cancer around the rear screen.
So i said i would strip it and put it back together.
^^^^ Bunky!!! ^^^^
At this time i also tracked down a whole new rear end (lights and garnishes)and new SV88 badging.
After getting messed around by the panel beater for a few weeks, i got the car back and proceeded to put it back together.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Edit - that second post you hadn't put up yet Good work dude, take your time and it'll be well worth the effort
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Once back together i wasn't real happy with the work, colour was average, and didn't have enough pearl in it. So i took it back and they painted it again!! Luckily for me though they painted pretty much the whole car minus the roof the second time round.
Was much happier with the results this time round.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Next thing on the agenda was to get the car going a bit better.
She sat around for a little while whilst i had minimal money as a student and then whilst i got messed around by the insurance and panel beaters she probably wasn't very happy.
Anyway, took her to my mechanics for a diagnosis on a mystery issue and next thing we knew she looked like this >>>
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Whilst the motor is out i thought i better tidy up the engine bay.
What a mess!!
So apart she came again!!
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
