Newbie with GTA story....

Firstly I'd like to say hi to all on this forum, my first post here so please be gentle...!

My GTA story starts in '94 while looking for a Sierra Cossy, my travels took me to many garages including Aiden Piers in Manchester who happened to have a red GTA Turbo on the forecourt. Lets just say that a test drive had me hooked and I then realised that a Cossy would always be a Sierra at the end of the day (although I still love em!). I owned the GTA until '01 when unfortunately we had to part ways as more practical wheels where required (I actually did a px deal on a Volvo ) However, I always promised myself that one day I'd have another...

So ffwd ten years and while browsing eBay for GTA's (as you do) there is a red turbo, but not just any, it's my old car!! Another story here, but what's important is that I've somehow managed to buy it back. The car is a project for sure after being off the road for 3 years and stored pretty much outside, and I'm probably a bit mad taking it on, bit I don't care! The restoration will be a join effort with 'Dad' as I have made him hand over his garage for the good cause, mine is full of Cobra replica! I hired a car transporter for the day, collected the car from Surrey and delivered it to my parents house on the Wirral (I live near Wrexham). A long day but worth it and had some time on Sunday afternoon to make up a first to do list. This list I'm sure will become long, but for now stands at something like - both front headlamp glasses, both rear light clusters, carpet, headlining, brakes binding, rear glass gas struts, wheels, tyres, paint....

The car has a black roof (I am told for sure this was from new after speaking to original owner many years ago) and the full leather interior including console, dash and funny little 'pocket'. The engine is dirty, but starts ok and a clean of the sensor connectors has eliminated the dash ECU fault lamp. No smoke, knocks or leaks. I will post more info as I get going and look forward to no doubt meeting a few of you sometime. For now, here is how it looked at collection -

[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/gtav6turbo/

Cheers,

Andy.

21 views and no comments. No wonder so many GTAs are being scrapped with that kind of motivation.

Well done and here's to another of these fantastic cars being great again.

It sounds like a not too difficult restoration - here's hoping so.

All the best!!

[BIG_MVS]

Welome Back to the fold

I think you have met the Alpeen Grand master Turbodog (aka Andrew Jones) in your previous ownership I'm sure he will be back in touch soon.

Most of us are here to help and hopefully steer you back on the road. Anything you need just ask.

As for the lack of comment to views ratio I tend to agree with the Beaver aka "Monsieur Michelle Brewer". Come on everyone lets get more on board and involved again!

Just checked my membership to the forum and it's 7 years I feel an itch coming on....

Like one of these itches Mr MVS?



Welcome to the forum. I'm just down the road in Chester so would be nice to see another GTA on local roads.

Welome Back to the fold

I think you have met the Alpeen Grand master Turbodog (aka Andrew Jones) in your previous ownership I'm sure he will be back in touch soon.

Most of us are here to help and hopefully steer you back on the road. Anything you need just ask.

As for the lack of comment to views ratio I tend to agree with the Beaver aka "Monsieur Michelle Brewer". Come on everyone lets get more on board and involved again!

Just checked my membership to the forum and it's 7 years I feel an itch coming on....

21 views and no comments. No wonder so many GTAs are being scrapped with that kind of motivation.

Well done and here's to another of these fantastic cars being great again.

It sounds like a not too difficult restoration - here's hoping so.

All the best!!

More bloody registering...... cant cope, but it looks like a very good car.

Many thanks for reply's. I remember Andrew Jones in Colwyn Bay with a blue turbo, also a yellow turbo on Chester (Saughall), red atmo in Wrexham, another atmo in Heswall. I guess many of these have moved on now?

I will miss this years North Wales tour but hope to make anything similar next year with some luck (and hard work!)

Andy.

Funny how we all like the same cars. I have a Marcos in the collection but not one of the later monsters - mine is an earlier wooden chassis ones.

[BIG_MVS]

Yes I would love a late 1990's Mantis



It's a bit of a dream at the moment though as I am still unsure if firstly a) I would fit in it? b) There are none or very few for sale ever, and c) I can't afford one

d) they look bloody awful ...

[BIG_MVS]

d) they look bloody awful ...

Beauty in in the eye etc etc. I agree they are a bit of a marmite car.

Anyway Mr Beaver, what else is in the collection? Pics please?

And Mr Cooper have you got any pics of your Cobra?

Yes I would love a late 1990's Mantis



It's a bit of a dream at the moment though as I am still unsure if firstly a) I would fit in it? b) There are none or very few for sale ever, and c) I can't afford one

It might be a photo-genic trick, but I'm not so taken with the interior colour

Welcome back to the fold, and I hope you get your car up and running soon so that you can come to one of the meets. We have all moved on, my blue car now lives in portsmouth, the two yellow cars from Chester (yes, he had two! An Atmo and a Turbo) now live in Australia, the red Wrexham car was stolen and written off, and the red one from the Wirral now lives in yorkshire.

Here are two pics of your car that I took when we had a meeting near Oulton park.

d) they look bloody awful ...

Beauty in in the eye etc etc. I agree they are a bit of a marmite car.

Anyway Mr Beaver, what else is in the collection? Pics please?

And Mr Cooper have you got any pics of your Cobra?

I'm on my hols right now so no access to piccies but right now I have

Alpine Renault A610
Triumph GT6
Triumph TR6
Marcos GT (wooden chassis so a real one, not a copy)
BMW Z4M Coupe (with cup holders)
Daihatsu Copen

I'm looking for a Volvo 1800S, Bond Equipe, Rochdale Olympic, Matra Bagheera, Bitter Coupe, Ginetta G21, Ginetta G33 and a garage big enough to put that lot in.

I would like a S1 E-type coupe but they are not a good buy right now.

lots of plastic

Andrew - you have made my day! Old pictures from the Oulton Park meet wasn't this at the top of Kelsall hill?

Anyhow, some more pics on Flickr, I still can't suss how you guys place pictures inside the post?

[url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/gtav6turbo/

I did see a blue GTA in Rhos-on-Sea last year and assumed it was Mr Jones?

Andy.