CX Prestige (Series 1 1985) Restoration

jwalshe · Unread post by **jwalshe** » 03 Oct 2011, 21:49

Hello all!

I've done something potentially disasterous but... a life without risk isn't much of a life I suppose! And at the very least, I'm now a CX owner - something I've wanted to be my whole life.

I've bought a 1985 Series 1 Prestige, in not such a good shape. But... all the essentials appear to be there. Friend of mine is going to be fixing her up mechanically, so she's ready for the road. Interior looks perfect, which is a huge relief...!

But I have two initial questions, regarding bodywork:

1) I need a rear passenger window. Are they hard to find/shared with the Safari?

2) Whopping great big dent in the bootlid - doesn't look repairable. Are they also particularly hard to find/shared with Series 2 CX?

Thanks in advance!

James

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 03 Oct 2011, 22:02

Excellent news James.

Rear door glass is fun. There is someone on e-bay selling some. I'm not sure on estate rear door compatibility, someone will be able to advise.

Tailgates are the same fit for series 2. You'd need one with locating tabs for the extra chrome. But hardly essential.

jwalshe · Unread post by **jwalshe** » 03 Oct 2011, 22:24

Wonderful - thanks very much! Can't wait to turn up in it at the rally next year. Oddly enough, I was looking for a 22 TRS or GTi Auto but there you go!

Feels good to be a CX owner, even if I've not driven it yet!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 04 Oct 2011, 06:48

Excellent news James

So what is the future for the Activa?

We need to see some pictures of this CX, I'm sure you've already been at it with a camera....

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 04 Oct 2011, 08:02

You will feel even better once you have driven it!
Make sure you rust protect it real good!

jwalshe · Unread post by **jwalshe** » 04 Oct 2011, 08:43

Well, Jim... the future for the Activa began at the weekend. I sold it to a guy in Brighton who had been seeking one for a while. He wanted one with the leather, which is why he wanted mine. Offered me £900 for it - money which goes straight into the CX fund! I paid £175 and spent a few hundred on fixing some of the problems so I did okay.

I do feel very sad, as I absolutely LOVED the Activa and will miss it. I was so impressed with it - breathtaking handling and a very well engineered, smooth and solid car. However.... a CX was always the goal so I realised I had to be harsh and sell it to raise some much needed cash.

Plus: the guy who has bought it is thrilled. He'll look after it, which makes me feel a lot better.

As for this Prestige.... it's a wreck and the road ahead is long - but I'm determined to bring it back to life. And yes, there will be photographs. An unimaginable number of photographs. So many, you'll be begging me to stop sending them to you!!!!

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Oct 2011, 17:48

Good to hear about the CX, no messing about there, straight to the top of the range I see

Do look forward to reading your blog

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 04 Oct 2011, 19:06

Congratulations James - I take it that it was this one?

That ride in dad's Prestige converted you to a Prestige man then?!!

A known car to us in fact as dad has previously owned it a good couple of years back. He bought it, did some work to it, and APU Roger sold it on for dad. Went to a chap in Oxford. Shame to see it hasn't held up well in terms of condition but it wasn't particularly the best of Prestiges at the time.

What makes it a rare car though, is that it has the 2500 engine as opposed to the more common 2400 found in most Series 1 Prestiges. There's not many Series 1 2.5 Prestiges left...

Good luck with getting it all back onto the road and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Just to add to Robert's bit about the bootlid, in that the Series 1 does not have a moulding at the bottom, whereas the Series 2 cars do.

jwalshe · Unread post by **jwalshe** » 04 Oct 2011, 19:13

Thanks for your kind wishes - I really can't tell you how stupidly excited I am about it!And thanks for the bootlid tip, Franklin. F orgot about that. I remember that plastic strip on my GTi Turbo - the perfect way to trap moisture and cause untold rust worries

Good to know a little history of the car too. Really hoping I can get it back to being a perfect car again - it certainly seems like it's the basis of something good. Never expected to be in a Prestige - as mentioned I was ideally after something more basic and in more complete condition - but the paycheck just won't allow it currently.

Feels good to be saving yet another CX from being broken up, too!

James

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 04 Oct 2011, 19:19

Ohhh aye - a great way to cover the rust!

It'll be a satisfying project for you James - there's lots of CX knowledge on here too so any problems I'm sure someone will know a solution.

I look forward to seeing it at the CX Rally next year.

jwalshe · Unread post by **jwalshe** » 09 Oct 2011, 17:49

So.... gave it the first proper inspection this weekend and it seems with some restoration work, it's a fine car! Once all the major work is done (welding respray and some engine/gearbox repairs), it'll need a proper valet as the car has been stood for five years.

I reckon it was loved once (it's a 3 owner car) - it had been given fairly expensive tyres and evidently having been restored at some point in its life, one of the previous owners had clearly looked after it. Just such a shame the previous owner neglected it so badly and dumped it in a place so open to the elements. Shame on him/her!!!

Photographs can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwalshe/se ... 729280595/

Body: Mostly sound. Welding to the sills and outer rear wing required. Rusty bonnet. Vinyl roof was done so badly (had water underneath!) so has been stripped off. Complete respray will follow. I have all the body trim/badges etc in the boot, fortunately!

Engine/gearbox: Starts and runs smoothly with no nasty noises. Will need exhaust manifold sorting as it blows. After standing for so long, we suspect the gearbox will be in need of oil change, filter and gasket.

Suspension/steering/brakes: All perfect - a nice surprise!

Interior: Almost perfect. Needs a new ignition lock and once found will refit trim and digital clock. Rear seat in need of a little stitching in one place and the rest of the leather needs cleaning and treating but headlining is A1 and everything works fine inc windows and all instruments.

Bits needed. Anyone out there able to help?:

1) Where can I get an exhaust manifold gasket (it's a 2.5)?

2) We need a gearbox filter and gasket. Are these easy to come by?

3) Door clips - the interior trim is a bit loose on some of the doors. Where do I get the appropriate clips from?

4) Anyone selling a bootlid?

And I think that's it for the moment... Can't proceed until I've paid for the welding. It's going to be an expensive month!!!! Not exactly rich so the whole project is going to take some time as I believe in doing things properly!

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far - ace bunch of people!

James

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 10 Oct 2011, 17:38

jwalshe wrote:I reckon it was loved once (it's a 3 owner car) - it had been given fairly expensive tyres and evidently having been restored at some point in its life, one of the previous owners had clearly looked after it.

...that was probably when dad gave it a light restoration before. Shame people don't look after them afterwards though, using them in all weather's come rain or shine and leaving them outside in the winter.

jwalshe wrote:3) Door clips - the interior trim is a bit loose on some of the doors. Where do I get the appropriate clips from?

...they all do that, sir!

As well as the doorcards bending and warping with age, when people remove the doorcards they don't do it 'properly' and ruin the clips. The trick to get them out without them breaking is to carefully prise them out with a screwdriver, putting pressure on the clips themselves so they 'pop' out, as opposed to the clip remaining in the door and the broken other half in the doorcard...

One trick for if the doorcard is loose at the bottom is to put a discreet screw under the storage "flap"...

Rob Draper did some repairs to his though and posted his results up on the CCC Forum. Pictures slideshow here.