Engine does look to modern to me. They did hook up the original heating operating rods to the gearbox....
AK350 usually has longer rear schock absorbers.

According to the engine plate, it's a 70's engine. The 4th digit (which isn't visible in the photo) will tell you which year.


It's attached to the starter motor lever instead of a cable.

You are right it's a bit decieving on the photo.

Personally I'd leave it alone and find something unmolested. Gary dicks is FOREVER bringing AKs into the country, unmolested, virgin ones.

My preference would always be something a bit wonky, but unrestored and have the money in the bank to do what needs doing to my own specification. More time consuming, but less opportunity for pain.

Is there any provenance to the work that's been done?

Case in point?
All of the dampers appear to have been mounted with their shrouds towards the suspension arms, despite the fact that some makes have to be mounted the other way round to work as intended?
'Absolute beginners' springs to mind, especially with those binding front brakes...

Which doesn't bode well.

Thanks for all of the excellent advice, much appreciated !

Clearly the car has a few issues and has had a few modifications, I'm guessing thats going to be the case for anything thats 50 + yrs old, and, even buying a freshly found motor thats not been fiddled with in recent years is no guarentee of correctness. Indeed, when I look on leboncoin I see a lot of shiny cars with floors that look unlike anything that came from the factory !

As for the provenance or the work done.....there is paperwork with the car, lots of receipts for replacement parts and photos of the work in progess.

I don't mind some fettling but I really don't want another project......Lack of time and space mean I'm idally looking for something close to being road legal.

Brakes can be fixed and the shocks can be replaced.......

Your comments have certainly given me a lot to think about, but I've not given up on this one just yet !

It's not so much correctness or originality - I'm no rivet counter

But there are ways of doing things properly, like fitting an M28 in an early car - its very common. The fact they've bodged it worries me. The fact the brakes weren't working worries me, it's not hard to get them working properly.

I also find shiny paint really off putting - I'd rather see rusty metal, than shiny paint concealing filler and poor workmanship. I'm not saying that's the case, but if there's no provenance for the work, it's something to be aware of - take a magnet with you!

Good luck with it, but don't be bitten.

There was a chap on here some years ago who turned down the opportunity to buy what is now my van (at £1500) in deference to a 'restored' one at £5000. He thought mine needed too much work and went for the shiny.

I had mine on the road in a couple of months. Last we heard the other van was still in pieces, the paint concealed a world of pain and issues and turned into a money pit.

Be careful old bean.