Hi from Tasmania, Australia
Posted: July 29th, 2017, 11:16 pm
Hello all,
I'm Steve and my first car (back in '74) was a second-hand LT '72 flat light TA22. Here, the ST and GT were special orders, or private imports.
It was painted Scandanavian Sky and had a full Ivory colour vinyl roof. I was a little
by this later as it seems the Scanda colour was only available for the North American market. It my research time since, I have never seen another one this colour advertised here, or any colour with a vinyl roof.
I had a nostalgia moment a couple of years back and decided to start looking for a TA22 to buy. It didn't take long to realise that pre '73 models, now, are not in abundance here, and any 1st generation ones not always in the best of condition!
It took about 6 months before I found a '73 that wasn't in too bad a state but did need fabrication work in some of the usual spots (rear arches, lower sill panels and the rear corner of the drivers side roof). It had, had, some obvious knocks in its time that weren't repaired well (left hand front guard and drivers door). That was how it looked at the time anyway. Once the shell was blasted, more problems came to light, but I guess I am not alone in that experience. A previous owner had replaced the 2T with a 2T-G and I considered that a plus. The overall mechanical state of the car was quite good, it started and was driveable. The twin Solex carbs were rebuilt due to perished internals, and it needed new tie rods and bushings all round.
Long story short with the body work is that the guy who did the repairs did not do a great job. Even though he was recommended to me, the (expensive) lesson learned is that don't give a modern day panel shop your car for restoration work. If you can't fabricate your own pieces, find someone that has the trade and skill to do it properly.
The car is now having a ''real'' fabricator redo the poorly done work and completing the areas that the previous guy missed all together.
It is likely to be another 4 or so months before it comes home and then I will be putting it all back together. It will be painted in Scanda Sky, but no vinyl roof. I have a set of used flat lights that I bought over a year ago, and 5 steel GT rims, with dress rings, from Japan.
The only modifications I'm planning are a slight lowering of the ride height, and adding the GT centre console (purchased from forum member in Canada). Once finished I will keep it for a few years and enjoy it while I can still change gears manually.
The best to those reading the post.
31 July - added photos after the first round of body work and the engine re-installed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... ateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... ateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... otostream/
Steve
I'm Steve and my first car (back in '74) was a second-hand LT '72 flat light TA22. Here, the ST and GT were special orders, or private imports.
It was painted Scandanavian Sky and had a full Ivory colour vinyl roof. I was a little
by this later as it seems the Scanda colour was only available for the North American market. It my research time since, I have never seen another one this colour advertised here, or any colour with a vinyl roof. I had a nostalgia moment a couple of years back and decided to start looking for a TA22 to buy. It didn't take long to realise that pre '73 models, now, are not in abundance here, and any 1st generation ones not always in the best of condition!
It took about 6 months before I found a '73 that wasn't in too bad a state but did need fabrication work in some of the usual spots (rear arches, lower sill panels and the rear corner of the drivers side roof). It had, had, some obvious knocks in its time that weren't repaired well (left hand front guard and drivers door). That was how it looked at the time anyway. Once the shell was blasted, more problems came to light, but I guess I am not alone in that experience. A previous owner had replaced the 2T with a 2T-G and I considered that a plus. The overall mechanical state of the car was quite good, it started and was driveable. The twin Solex carbs were rebuilt due to perished internals, and it needed new tie rods and bushings all round.
Long story short with the body work is that the guy who did the repairs did not do a great job. Even though he was recommended to me, the (expensive) lesson learned is that don't give a modern day panel shop your car for restoration work. If you can't fabricate your own pieces, find someone that has the trade and skill to do it properly.
The car is now having a ''real'' fabricator redo the poorly done work and completing the areas that the previous guy missed all together.
It is likely to be another 4 or so months before it comes home and then I will be putting it all back together. It will be painted in Scanda Sky, but no vinyl roof. I have a set of used flat lights that I bought over a year ago, and 5 steel GT rims, with dress rings, from Japan.
The only modifications I'm planning are a slight lowering of the ride height, and adding the GT centre console (purchased from forum member in Canada). Once finished I will keep it for a few years and enjoy it while I can still change gears manually.
The best to those reading the post.
31 July - added photos after the first round of body work and the engine re-installed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... ateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... ateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157384634 ... otostream/
Steve
