My coop, Nancy, has been in a bit of a sorry state ever since I bought her. Mechanically, she is a super low mileage car but her exterior appearance didn't quite match up to what was underneath her dress! For ages - Mr L and I have been meaning to get some bits on her painted (she was suffering from the dreaded speed pink syndrome!)and to get some new wheels (she's had a mixture of 16v wheels and 20vt wheels on since we couldn't afford a whole new set of tyres!!) but there's never been any pennies in the kitty (story of our lives!!). Last month we said 'sod it' and decided to get her sorted.

At first we intended just to buy some skirts to cover one of Nancy's creased sills and have them painted - then slowly, it started to take a life of it's own and turned into a massive project!!!

She started off like this

Stone chipped bonnet

Severe lacquer peel on headlights

You can see that she needed quite a bit of tlc. Then Mr L decided that he didn't like the standard bumper - cue a couple of hours spent on autods website and we finally decided on this cada bumper

Cue several hours of Mr L huffing and puffing trying to get it to fit!!! We bought some le skirts and some new headlights (cheers JohnnyBravoTurbo) and in she went to paint.

Well, she went in with the intention of just having the bonnet, skirts and new bumper painted but needless to say after talking to our painter she came out after having a full respray!!! She turned into this
nice new bumper
It's red again!!

All that was left was to get some wheels - pretty easy you may think?? Computer says NO!! We absolutely agonised over what to get (you may have read some of my agony in the styling section). After rejecting many many wheels (including the luuurvely Porsche wheels which were only rejected because buying them would mean paying the same amout as we paid for the whole car!!) we settled on these 18" Toora T250's

I wasn't keen on them until I saw them on the car

I think they look ok
not bad
so close to being completed

She is now very nearly completed - just a new grill to replace the nasty plastic one and she'll be

Am so happy that she finally looks like the car she is underneath!!

What a super job you've done. You should be really pleased. Well done

VERY nice.

Im jealous.

What on earth is going on with your tax disc?!?

What?

I think he`s confused because it`s up by the rear-view mirror .

Baz

Stunning

similer

Ben

thats where mine lives

Well done,

it looks very good indeedy. who painted it and what was the cost .....ish please?

Looks . Well done

Nice one Jaip - an old mate with a body shop did it for me at mates rates. All in full respray and fitting of the bumper and skirts was just over £1500. If you want the guys name/number PM me - don't expect to get it anywhere near as cheap as what we paid though - the guy's got bills to pay!! He is however, a fantastic painter.

Frickin gorgeous Ben - I wasn't 100% on the cada bumper before we put it on but must admit looks pretty damn

stunning, its given me new hope as i have often wandered were next to go with my car. it looks like new mate. you should be well pleased
I to wasn't sure about the bumper. but with your car, it looks great. I know what will be my next buy.
The only thing i worry about is if its money wasted, i know the 16vt's arnt worth much money, and i know if i chuck full respray kind of money at it, im never going to see that back

I've no intention of selling the 16vt so thats alright!
IMO the 16vt are only cheap at the mo because the market is flooded with a load of really cr@p ones. In the future our car's will be the more rare model.


Oh and Mr L wants me to say that they are the better car . . .

Looks lovely Mrs_LickyL, very nice job and the wheel and front bumper really set it off.

Well worth the money and effort, car.

Thanks very muchly CC

looks
beens doing a full mechanical rebuild for the last 6 months and spent a fortune but after all the hard work and money spent will have to get mine painted

looking lovely!!

Hats off to you for taking on the challenge and getting her looking as you like.

Also, you have done well to pick up a sound car for what sounds like silly money.
You're right, 16VTs are now stupidly cheap.

I could have spent £2400 on that yellow 16vt you're right - but I would still have wanted to change the wheels (16v wheels are the ugliest wheels ever put on a car imho!) put skirts on (I hate those black sills) and changed the bumper because thats just my personal taste Instead - I picked up my 16VT for half the cost of that yellow one with considerably less miles on the clock which had been meticulously cared for by only 2 previous owners.

I do agree that the standard cars will hold their value better than the modded ones which is why I have a completely standard 20VT with absolute mint bodywork which I (and by that I mean Mr L!) intend to make concours when the money allows. The 16VT is done purely for our enjoyment. She won't be sold (watch this space!!!!)

I edited my original post as I thought I was getting on my high horse (again!!). Least said, soonest mended as my old ma used to say.

Looks very nice

nice one!

Looks lush... just needs to be lowered now

That looks lovely, not a fan of aftermarket items but the car does certainly look very good!

I would spring £15 for some new number plates though, that would complete it IMO

Very well done!

That is just the result I want! lovely looking coupe!

Funny you should say that Nellybear - I have actually bought the springs (they haven't come as I ordered them from we-take-your-money-even-though-we-don't-have-the-item in-stock-and-then-we-tell-you-they-will-come-in-2-weeks even-though-6-weeks-later-you-are-still-waiting-for-them bay!!) but am really undecided as to whether to put them on. I panic about going over speed bumps and parking next to high kerbs with the skirts/bumper as they are!! So still debating that!

Yes - the car def needs new plates and I was supposed to go get some on the day I picked her up but was just too excited!

Ooops - just realised I was logged on as Mr L . . .

haha

hhmm try someone like this http://www.no1showplates.co.uk/

They are not technically legal but means you can order online easily and not have to go out with documents etc and they also look better without the manufacturer details etc on the bottom of the plate.

I have ordered from the company above before and they were rather good.