Saturday, 9 friends help to strip a Ruby and Pearl Cabriolet, 4 1/2 hours later both are ready to be welded up and prepared for painting. Many hands make light work, thanks guys!

Prior to strip down it looked like this..



Then the Glasgow Mafia arrived...

Looks great fun

Ruairidh,
There's always one awkward screw isn't there (the patent plate)
Cheers,
Dave.

Location: Sheffield

You are The Master Detective Dave, well spotted!

The welding is going to take another couple of hours

Location: Watford - ish

Stripping is the easy bit, bet it takes longer to put it back together, several years in many cases.
Vince leek

Location: MOONRAKER COUNTRY

Now there is a challenge Vince! Watch this space...

Peering hard at the paint layers, was it originally an all black car?

Location: Near Bicester

No Ivor ,but it was Blue when I bought it in 1968.Bill Sheehan and I put it back on the road in less than a week I seem to recall,back in 1977, from much the same condition as shown in Saturdays photos.It's being so cheerful as keeps you going Vince.

Come to think of it there's a photo on this Forum last Nov2nd.of it in all it's former glory,taken in the Lakes in 1968/9?

Location: Frampton Cotterell

Last time I saw the car Andy Sherlock was driving it and had gaffer taped every single part that squeaked or rattled including every one of the instrument glasses!!

Location: The 3D shed,Tewkesbury

Ahhhh, Gaffer Tape, you've got to love it!

Ivor,

photo of the car in 1968...

Ah, that's brilliant Ruairidh and Ian...1968, I was still driving my first seven then...a 1936 Ruby in Lotus colours, green body with yellow wheels and had the same colour scheme on my Super Sportsman, insured with Clover Leaf insurance (as it was a special) for £28 a year...aah, takes yer back doesn't it!

Location: Near Bicester

Progress to date.

Taken up to Goodwell body shop last Friday, work started on Sunday

Stripping back to see the extent of damage (looks to have been quite a bit of welding done in 1977/78 when last worked on by Peter Blackburn)...








Jig to stop the body flexing too much...




New metal going in...

Hi Ruairidh, Rapid progress indeed! In the early eighties John Fitch & I put my '36 tourer together (mostly John) in 6 weeks from a pile of bits. Some said it was a shame we hadn't taken 7!! Good luck. Steve

More work, less body!

Excellent, there's some serious fabrication going on there...it should last another 70 odd years when it's finished.

I hope you've got plenty of gas and wire!

Location: Near Bicester

Behold the rot that is the driver's side!

New driver's side floorpan and sill...

It's mid-boggling to any Antipodean that so much rust can occur in your climes. As Ian said, after Pete Blackburn restored & painted the cabby, we put it back together in a hurry and I'd venture to say that if that had been done in most parts of Australia, the car would still be in good condition. I for one appreciate what pain and expense you UK people go through to maintain your family pet. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Mount Eliza, Melbourne, Australia

It's had a hard life Bill, many, many miles under it's belt. Using it all year in Scotland has meant that it's been exposed to a lot of salt in the winter which I suspect is the main cause of the problem.

Have you a photo of the inside of that caravan? It looks too short to sleep in. David

Location: Lewisham

David,

I have but they are not suitable for a public forum such as this!!

I am near enough 6' 4" and I have slept in it many times along with my wife (who is much smaller) and more recently our daughter (smaller still) on a small (could it be anything else!) shelf.

I will try and find some photos for you.

OMG What's stopping the jack from coming through the roof? Surely will be lovely when she is finished. Could be finished just in tome for another special event. And I thought mine needed some tidying.
Pears forever!!

Not tablet time already nurse

Bart,

I've always been able to make people who are unhappy about the condition of their car feel so much better, I'm glad that you have also been able benefit! Another happy customer...

By the way Bart, a "pendant of pears" now there's a thought!

More work done, new seat base (beefed up for my hu-jarse!!), wheel arch and the new door with reconditioned door hinges (by Willie McKenzie)...

Obviously it's now Special's class or" Do not judge".

Always been in a "special" class of my own Steve, you, of all people, should know that!

Bought the Haynes upholstery book you suggested, very useful, cheers!

XX! S

Repair to top of door (see before and after photos), to door catch/buffer and battery box...

Picture 3

ITS YOU...

WHEN DID YOU REMOVE UR BEARD?

Location: Sun Hill

I too would like to know more about the caravan. Have you managed any of the big hills of Scotland? How is the towbar fitted? Is the caravan independantly braked? Any interior pics would be interesting if you have the time - you do seem to be rather busy at present!!

Location: cheshire

We have toured most of Britain with it, it's been round Buxton (V. Steep) and over many of the passes in Scotland.

I will look out info and pictures and post under a seperate heading at some point when I have a moment.

Work since last posting has been:

1. Cleaning up and feed upholstery.

Half clean!






2. Repairing dent in Cowl (made by hitting a Pheasant in Glen Isla about 12 years ago).








3. Making up new wood sections from ash to replace rotten frame around rear of car.

Old sections -





Ash plank!!



New bits!!

The bodywork is getting there...





My new stainless steel running boards just in view...





About as draftproof as they get...

This is a great thread and Andrew certainly knows how bend a piece of metal!

The upholstery is in surprisingly good condition for a cabby, whereas the Ruby saloons in my experience tend to dry and crack, the Pearls seem to rot and yours looks very sound.

Please keep the thread updated Ruairidh, it's great to see the car taking shape.

Location: Near Bicester

The man is a genius with metal!

I was shown your "bucks" last week when up with him, very impressive!

Ruairidh,

It is quite amazing - but you realise it will now weigh twice as much after replacing all the rusty air.

Tony.

Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Ivor / Ruairidh,

Thanks to you both for your kind words.
The cabby is just about finished, just a few bits to do on the passanges side and then finish off the rear lower panel which needs replacing.

Just wait till you see the next project, a new body for a 1924 chummy.... watch this space (I've already made the floor for it).
Just have to get the hang of posting pictures up which baffles me, it's much easyer to fix a cabby....

Andrew

Location: Nr the Angus Glens, Scotland

Going well Ruairidh. As an interesting aside, I have always used ash for reframing but have always found it destroys sharp tools and burns out power tools. I read somewhere recently that Austin used beech as well. Does anyone know about this?

Cooking on gas now...

Ummmmmm, nope, you've lost me there Stuart....

R, have sent pm so as not to bore everyone else! Regards, Stuart

Location: queensland

Stuart,I for one would like to know More of the theory.Don`t keep it a secret from those of us that are not enlightened
Cheers Ian.

Location: Worksop Notts

Ruairidh,
For someone who likes to strip in front of friends,you are being rather bashful.

Come on,show us you caravan.

Location: Frampton Cotterell

Ian (B), It seems to me the Pearl has the potential to become a battery when, in due course, its dissimilar metals are doused in a weak salt solution. It was the combination of stainless and mild steel in electrical contact after all R's hard work that troubled me.
To avoid long expositions, especially as I have only a little knowledge, may I refer you to the book "Rust and Rot" by A T Diamant. Out of print I think but cheaply available, see Amazon, Abe books etc. Strongly recommended to anyone who proposes to drive their car in the wet.

Regards, Stuart

Sorry, Ian, Author is R M E Diamant. Have been reading A T Birmingham's Riley book and brain got scrambled!
Regards, Stuart

Stuart,will the same happen to my alloy bodied special.I have used steel and brass fixings extensivley during the build.I have heard tales of rotting landy bodies,or is this something entirely different.

Location: Worksop Notts