After 25 years I finally have a GTA...

Hello all,

After a long time lurking and even longer of wanting a GTA a took the plunge and bought a non runner and probably over paid, for a silver GTA on ebay.

I am not sure what prompted the rash purchase, having wanted one for sooo long, just having a first child and feeling old, or just selling my Z4 for the previous reason. Any way I bought unseen a very badly described GTA, in fact I would say the telephone conversation was most misleading.

After a conversation with Lee I thought it was worth the risk for the price I paid but it did turn out worse than anticipated and much worse than described (Lee please add comments but try to not be too harsh).

Rust in usual places after standing for about 9 years but Lee has worked magic already and got her going, which has swayed me to hang onto her and get her restored. Having finally got a GTA I may as well get it done and done properly it will be.

I was hoping to get her running and use over the summer and then some sort of restoration in the winter but the condition has changed that, it needs a lot, but i think in 10 or 20 years they will look at cars like this one and never dream of breaking them I also think with Alpine coming back that there will be more interest in the back catalogue. So now is the time.

My pride and feelings are a little to hurt on getting one unseen that needs so much work, took the chance but hey ho. The intention is to get her solid, very solid and everything under the skin done and done right. It does need a spray but I am not too worried about that at this point.

So I should be posting more soon, Lee will do his usual file which I will ask him to post when we are close to having her on the road.....so much money on a type of car I have not even driven yet! If anyone is around West Yorkshire and wants to take me for a spin......

I am on the look out for parts.....as everyone is......I want the interior absolutely spot on including leather if possible and the usual Renault trim is falling apart so need that and a nice gear level to start!

Please say hello.....I am finally a proper member but I just wish I could drive her.

Rob

[BIG_MVS]

Welcome to the Club Rob.

Your in good hands with Lee, he will work his magic to get it back on the road for you.

The GTA is a very underrated car and get one singing and dancing and you will be smiling all the time whilst behind the wheel

They do look good in Silver I like them a lot, was it the one that ended last week Birmingham way? I was slightly concerned (and don't take this the wrong way if you did buy it) that it had a flat bonnet and not the bulged one. Also it had a very late nosecone (with the Alpine badge sunk into it rather than a Renault diamond) which would suggest it's had a nudge on the front in the past. To be honest most have done though so if it's been repaired well you should be OK.

What got you into the GTA then? Were you into Renaults in the past?

Not sure who in the club has a running GTA in West Yorks? Andy001 (get to know him if you want paint in the future ) has a couple but they are off the road.

Good luck with the restore and look forward to seeing you at some northern events in the future.

It is solid in all the right places apart from drivers door bottom .Sills/outriggers are OK and so ids the front crossmember .Most of the rot is confined to the running gear and bottom of turrets .Arch pockets in fine fettle .
It had a few electrical gremlins when it arrived ..Cobra immobiliser will be going in the bin ,tdc dodgy ,fuel pump shagged and ECU not playing nice ...but a few hours/swapped out bits and a robbed ECU later

clickpic innit

[stephendell]

Definately look good in silver!

Welcome to the club

Thanks MVS, my family always had Renaults including a 15 and a Fuego so the GTA seemed the way to go. I once read an article on the A310 which got me really going though.

Having lurked for years I took the plunge and I will see where it gets me.

I have not owned may since, prefer Audi etc but the eighties Renaults I love. I am having a punt on. 19 16v on eBay now.

Thats how it starts Rob you are very welcome.

AT LAST...AN ALPINE BUDDY JUST DOWN THE ROAD
so where abouts in west yorks are you. don't worry about any paint, body problems.



all painters hate silver but they do look good when they'er done.
is it the red phase1 19 16v you are interested in, this is really wierd, i have one as well in sport blue and another that i am breaking.

welcome to the country's crazziest car club.

welcome to the country's crazziest car club.

Nonsense. You need only look at them to see they're as sane as I am.



Seriously Rob, welcome to the club. The trick with GTAs is perseverance, you'll find some of us have had them for far longer than they care to remember and some of us (el Presidente from Del Monte) will always say yes to one. He's not alone and those people end up with enough of a collection to virtually breed them.

You will love it even more when you finally get to drive her.
They say anticipation of owning something you really want is greater than owning it. I'd beg to differ. Taking the GTA out on a sunny day and enjoying the drive, road holding and the fact that you are in something which is becoming rarer by the year is worth a great deal.
Enjoy when you get to that point

Lee - I have a nearly new fuel pump in my garage

Swap it for a resolution to my misfire?

Thats if I don't sort the misfire myself (time is the problem)

I am in Leeds just off the M62, wow that does look painted in silver. I may have to get mine done now!

anywhere near carcraft, thats another story im half way through a porsche 944 respray, you'll have to come over and have a chat some time.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=41 ... hp=ids.srf

Lee - I have a nearly new fuel pump in my garage

Swap it for a resolution to my misfire?

Thats if I don't sort the misfire myself (time is the problem)

yeh go on then

Just pull the inj plugs in turn and see if you can spot the pot first

[phildini]

Hi Rob and welcome to The Plastic Fantastic Club, my current GTA was off the road for 10 years, I have finally resolved all the electrical issues and trying to drive it as much as possible. It's getting better and better every time I drive it. GTA's are simple (unlike an A610) and great fun to drive. I also agree with you, with all this talk about Alpine calling it a come back,they are due to go up in value!! Hence what prompt me to buy one.

I am also breaking a GTA so if you need anything let me know, Interior gone though

Lee - I have a nearly new fuel pump in my garage

Swap it for a resolution to my misfire?

Thats if I don't sort the misfire myself (time is the problem)

yeh go on then

Just pull the inj plugs in turn and see if you can spot the pot first

I will try and identofy the pot tomorrow, work is a bit hectic at the moment, so I havent got much free time