I've had this for a couple of months now but I didn't like to say anything for a number of reasons, one of them being that I start things and never finish them, and then sell them on, or that the public view of what I like doing to old cars, ie fucking them right up, gets folk moaning at me. However, this is done now, and I thought I might tell you about it.

So, a couple of months ago, some of you may remember Willami had a bit of a prang in his Ami6 and it was written off. I contacted Will with the offer of some Ami parts and one thing lead to another as they do, and I ended up having a little adventure...

I got in me van...



...left it at work and hopped on me bike...



..rode it to the station and left it there...



...waited for a train to Crawley...



...where I met Will, who'd driven up from Brizzle to buy a Volvo. I drove Will to the car dealer, he bought his Volvo and I bought the bent Ami. Nothing like doing a car deal with bloke you've never met in a station car park. Here's what greeted me when I got off the train...







So, after handing over more cash than you really should for a written off car, Will and I were both very happy and I set off home...





On closer inspection the car wasn't too bad. the front panel, wing and bonnet were all bent, the indicator smashed and the chassis bracket thing that the front panel and bumper mount on was also bent beyond salvage. The rear wing looked pretty untidy and it generally needed a bit of love.




















So I drove home and explained what I'd just bought to the missus.




I've spent a few evenings and lunch hours tarting it up a bit.








I thought I'd be able to rescue the front panel.



Some mastic fiend had a ball gluing this patch onto the A pillar...



I hammered the shit out of the front panel trying to get it right...







Then I welded it back together. I wasn't very good at panelbeating.



So I made a dashboard instead.



I spent a fair while tarting the rear wing up, and spraying it.



So, with my piss poor panelwork, a solution was required. I found it when Charlotte Rich stacked her Ami6 on the opposite side to mine. I waxoyled her car in exchange for the paint and sundries and her old front panel. Bonus!




Her registration number says MUF. Hur hur hur.







I don't have the patience for spray painting. All my newspaper masking blew away so I painted most of the underbonnet area too. I'm awesome, me.



If you've read this far, you deserve a prize:



I loves naked birds, me.

I started putting it back together again with the paintwork done.







I tried using the old front wing, but it didn't fit properly and was a bit shit.



Fitting a spare wing I had meant dealing with the lashed up A pillar...







...It looks a mess but under the primer and sealer it's a fairly tidy job.



I painted the door and new front wing...



So this side is mostly the same shade of gris.



I got a bloody great curtain down this bit. I'd love to be good at spray painting, but I don't have the time to learn really.



I solved the damaged bumper problem by making some 1/4 bumpers, and mounting the plate on the front panel. This meant hacking up the rear bumper that I'd planned to do away with, but I kinda regret that now. I'm sure I can make something out of it that'll look good though.



Tonight, I finished reassembling it, touched up the bonnet, and now all that remains is to give the whole thing a good G3 and polish, and get using it.







Before:



After:



Still left to do, well I need to find time to get some euros in the post to Tom Duckpower who's got the last couple of bits I need for it, and it needs the new paintwork cutting back and a good polish. The interior needs the floor mat refitting and the rear bumper needs some creativity. It runs like a sack of shit so a service wouldn't hurt it before it's pressed into daily use.

I had planned on lowering it 8" this weekend, and my boss and I have been making some 5.5x14" wheels for it, but I'm really tempted to leave it like this and just use and abuse it. There's also the nagging thought in my mind that it might be worth selling on to fund my AX that's been neglected recently, and maybe buying one of the many A-series variants that I've yet to own.

It's looking great, thoroughly enjoyed reading about it. Love the front bumper too.

Nice work! what category write off was it? how do you deal with the dvla is this case?

Who cares .Russ,thats a lovley car.Keep it as it is,just paint the wheels,and use it

Lookin good Russ. This the whip for the French National then?

Can't see the pictures (work computer) but it was an entertaining read. If you need bumpers, I've still got the spare ones you gave me with the Ricard Ami. If they're any good to you, PM me your address and I'll stick them in the post.

Bloody brilliant !

Cat C. The dvla are meant to withold issuing a new v5 until it's had a vic check, that costs £40 ish and is just a basic ID check.



Thanks, and yes it is.

Top work there fella. Makes me want to stop being lazy and get into the garage and finish something!

same here - but id need to actually START something