mk2 mike Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 The 'semi' Barry boys thread have me an idea for another similar thread. How about a thread for modifications you did to your car 'back in the day' that seem ridiculous now? I can remember converting my mk1 escort windows to electric by buying a pair of plastic boxes (about the size of a housebrick) that contained a motor. You had to remove your winder handles and screw this box to the door panel over the spline. When wired up you just pressed a button on the box and hey presto, fully functioning electric windows that made such a racket you couldn't hear the radio. On top of that when you closed the door the box would smash your kneecap leaving just a bruised and bloody stump I also drove around with two 15" house speakers in the boot (still in boxes so big I couldn't get anything else in there) connected to my alpine pull out stereo. Oh yeah, I was that cool! So what other 'mods' did people do, and look back on now in embarrassment? 1
DT36 Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 I fitted an XR3 courtesy light and digital clock to my first MK2. I thought I was the kiddy when I showed my mates. 1
SmokeEm Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 I managed to wire up 2 Gelard sound spectrum analysers' in unison in my 105e so I had over 100 dancing LED's hanging from my dash using meccano 2
mk2 mike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Posted February 9, 2015 I managed to wire up 2 Gelard sound spectrum analysers' in unison in my 105e so I had over 100 dancing LED's hanging from my dash using meccano Mood lighting for the ladies eh Dave?
mk2 mike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Posted February 9, 2015 Just remembered another, not a ford but my mate had a mini. On the (sunny) morning of the London to Brighton mini run we cut the roof off with an angle grinder. We thought we were the star attraction in our 'cabriolet' as we wobbled and flopped down the A23 thank god we didn't crash!
Admin Vista Posted February 9, 2015 Admin Report Posted February 9, 2015 I fitted a CCI walnut dash overlay and electric window kit to a 2.8i Special I had in the early 90's. But to honest, the electric window kit blended in very well with all the motors and gubbins hidden behind the door panel and the walnut dash trim I really liked. In fact I'd probably do the same to the car today if I bought it now. I have some pics at home somewhere, I'll dig them out. 2
classicwhitey Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 got that same walnut dash in mine. set with the white dials it gives the interior a nice lift
oxb1l Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 Someone has fitted a sticky on wood finish to my mk3 golf daily goes well with the hearing aid Beige upholstery
dalmarshall Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 Not necessarily a mod but my first car (RED mk2 escort 4 door) got keyed down the side pretty deep, so I repaired it myself....filled it, sanded it lovely, primered it...looking good.......then sprayed it ORANGE.....doh!!!! It's not easy being colour blind. I was also given a pair of fishnet headrests and was planning to 'poke' them into the top of the low back standard seats............didn't go through with that one though! 1
mk2 mike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Posted February 9, 2015 White dials! There's another thing I did to a mk2. Eventually went yellow and discoloured. Yuk.
SmokeEm Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 Just remembered another, not a ford but my mate had a mini. On the (sunny) morning of the London to Brighton mini run we cut the roof off with an angle grinder. We thought we were the star attraction in our 'cabriolet' as we wobbled and flopped down the A23 thank god we didn't crash! Hold that thought until tomorrow... I can top that 1
NudgerSS Posted February 10, 2015 Report Posted February 10, 2015 I got the white tyre pen out on my MG Metro so everyone knew I had Good Year Grand Prix S on all round 2
grantandlianne Posted February 10, 2015 Report Posted February 10, 2015 ohhhh too many gems including interior bulbs dipped into red spray paint for the red glow look xr3i front seats in a mk 1 fiesta with the rear squabs covered in the same material and the baggy bits self tapered to the base lol peco big bore 2 exhausts on a 1.1 renault 5 vinyl sticker "twin headlamp conversion" home made blue peter stylee "i get goose bumpz when the bass pumps" and turbosystems graphics 1
SmokeEm Posted February 10, 2015 Report Posted February 10, 2015 Just remembered another, not a ford but my mate had a mini. On the (sunny) morning of the London to Brighton mini run we cut the roof off with an angle grinder. We thought we were the star attraction in our 'cabriolet' as we wobbled and flopped down the A23 thank god we didn't crash! Right, similar story but a tad longer and more embarrassing... Many moons ago, one fine sunny day myself and my friends decided that a trip down to Southsea beach would be a whole lot more fun if we chopped the roof off of our shared Matt Black Four Door Allegro. Out came the grinder and off it came along with a healthy wedge of metal from the A pillar allowing us to bend the windscreen back to give it more rake. Four of us piled in General Lee style and off we went. Great mirth was enjoyed on the hour long journey to the coast. This was all rather short lived however as when we finally cruised into a parking bay by the sea front, simultaneously we all opened our doors to get out. At that point there was much creaking and the car damn near snapped in half! The rest of the day was spent asking every motorist nearby if we could borrow their bottle or scissor jacks to straighten it up enough to be able to close the doors to get us home Needless to say, we scrapped it on the Monday 5
Admin Vista Posted February 10, 2015 Admin Report Posted February 10, 2015 Capri in question, I really loved this car, bought in about 1993 with around 30k on the clock and used it as a daily for nearly 4 years. you can see the covers over the winder handle positions, the switches for them were on the underside of the dash to the left of the steering wheel. The door cars had already been butchered for those kenwood speakers before I bought it. its MOT ran out in August 2013, the tax (or maybe SORN) in October 2014. Hope it's still around. 1
The Transplanter Posted February 10, 2015 Report Posted February 10, 2015 ha, i did the xr3 clock mod as well in one of my mk2's One of my worse decisions was probably cutting the roof in this MK2 (parked next to my brothers nearly new 1983 UR) 1
Admin Vista Posted February 10, 2015 Admin Report Posted February 10, 2015 ha, i did the xr3 clock mod as well in one of my mk2's One of my worse decisions was probably cutting the roof in this MK2 (parked next to my brothers nearly new 1983 UR) Ashamed to admit that did that (pop up microwave door) to a mk1 Astra 1.6SR I owned in 1988. God knows how they ever caught on but everyone was fitting them back then.
Snapper Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 MK1 Cortina 2 door which I bought from Romford version of a Barry Boy, fibreglass arches on the outside of the panels roughly gladden on. Remote gear shift wrapped in a towl. I added twin whip aerials, a boot rack bolted to the boot with spare held on by a chain and 2 stop lights with STOP embossed in the red glass either side of the boot rack. Had welded rim 51/2" rims with 185 70 13 & BF Goodrich tyres Oh the shame, the shame 1
puddy Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Unfortunately all of my motors have been slammed or original since I was a nipper , so I cannot add to this thread ,lol . puddy
PeteRS8084 Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Remote gear shift in my mk2 cortina....also wrapped in a towel, or tea towel..........shameful too! Plus many other customising disasters that I am to red faced to admit! Still I was happy with them and that's what's important. Pete
The Transplanter Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Just remembered another, not a ford but my mate had a mini. On the (sunny) morning of the London to Brighton mini run we cut the roof off with an angle grinder. We thought we were the star attraction in our 'cabriolet' as we wobbled and flopped down the A23 thank god we didn't crash! I had a similar experience on the Brighton run, but I was in my mates old Rover P5B Coupe in bright red, we thought we looked the dogs, but in truth it was as rotten as a pear and the rear doors were held shut with bungee cords as the catches had rotted off
The Transplanter Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Ashamed to admit that did that (pop up microwave door) to a mk1 Astra 1.6SR I owned in 1988. God knows how they ever caught on but everyone was fitting them back then. because the cars we drove were worth peanuts back then
Admin Vista Posted February 11, 2015 Admin Report Posted February 11, 2015 because the cars we drove were worth peanuts back then That Astra cost me £2400 and I only took home about £300 or £400 per month. It felt pretty expensive then and was only about 4 1/2 yrs old.
DT36 Posted February 12, 2015 Report Posted February 12, 2015 Sold a nice MK1 Astra GTE to a mate of mine when I was posted in Bulford. Used some of the money to buy the second RS2000 I owned. Anyway, the lad was griefing me on our breaks saying I'd sold this nice Astra to buy an old Ford Escort. I told him the RS (running 45s) would spank his Astra and to put 50 quid on it. Don't know if any of you know the Range road between Bulford and Tidworth, but that evening we gave our money to a 3rd person to hold while we did the deed. I collected my 50 quid winnings at the end, after totally thrashing the RS by hitting the redline through all gears. However, it then cost me about another 150 on top the following week, as I rumbled my big ends in the process and the car started knocking its socks off that week. 2
The Transplanter Posted February 12, 2015 Report Posted February 12, 2015 That Astra cost me £2400 and I only took home about £300 or £400 per month. It felt pretty expensive then and was only about 4 1/2 yrs old. I bought a "B" plate SR around 1990 just to sell on (was a P/X where I worked), the rear arches were on there way then and the seat subframe needed welding! Still I got a profit out of it 1
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now