That's why I never really liked the whole 2CV kit car concept. Breaking a 4-seater, practical, enjoyable car with great looks & characteristics to create something rather impractical.

That's one hell of a generalisation! What exactly do you mean by "better" and "refurb"?

If you're basing "better" solely on cash outlay, then you're probably right. Otherwise, I guess what we mean by "refurb". If a 'box is stripped and inspected by an experienced and skilled engineer, who then rebuilds it replacing all worn parts and making all the necessary adjustments, I would think it would provide at least, if not longer, the same lifespan, at least, if not better, the same reliability, at least, if not better piece of mind, and at least, if not better, the same value-for-money.

Admittedly, some things just don't seem to be quite the same after "refurbishment". Motorcycle magnetos spring to mind: the modern materials/techniques often used just don't seem to be up to the job, and burying a 50+ year old condensor, NOS or not, deep in the armature windings seems to be asking for trouble to me. I'm not aware of any similar weaknesses in a well-built 2CV gearbox though. Are you?

I fix these cars for a living and the many gear boxes I have on the floor none of them can just stick in the car and drive off. Even so called low mileage not used for years, have rust problems inside. Yes rust despite the oil inside but the top shaft is hanging in the air and dry out. It is bad practise as some find out the hard way, just replacing gear boxes without a minimum of repairs. Agree that a repaired box for around 300 euros will keep the car on the road for a very long time. Anything else is silly unless one enjoy swapping boxes constantly

I agree - but how many of those £445 refurbs consist of jet washing the gearbox, opening it to see if it will go for the 12 month warranty period, maybe peening it and then closing it up using some freshly zinc plated bolts?

Do it yourself, using parts you've bought yourself and then you know it's right.

Bad news then - I'm going to break this new barn find as I only want the body. I've got another 57 Pontiac engine like the one in my Model T (below), 10 metres of 2 x 4 tubing, a grinder and a hot metal pump.....

I also don't have a great deal of time for people that seem to get some kick out of antagonising people for the sheer hell of it.

However, it's your car and you're free to do with it as you wish, it has nothing to do with me whatsoever and, for what it's worth, I look forwards to seeing that progress.

Although, I think it's a little daft to almost brag about that sort of thing on a forum like this, there will be folk who will want to tear you a new arsehole for it!

I agree that there are scrap cars out there and, gawd knows, I've broken enough of them in my time but, it's got to a point now where they're too bloody expensive (and, let's be honest, there aren't so many around these days-I refrained from calling them rare) to tear up for a gearbox etc........ I should probably stop now before I start to sound like a total hypochrite?!

There will always be people "outraged" at cars being modified. But strangely they're nowhere to be found when you want to sell something as a restoration project.

I had a 1955 Ford 100e with 2 litre Capri running gear done in a street sleeper style and turned up to a classic car show with it. Someone asked me what was it before you ruined it... I told him it was scrap because no restorer would touch it.

They are usually the same people who want to buy the left-over bits cheap and then want to know if I would help them out by welding on their cars or do bits of machining for them.

Sorry but I've watched Rick rebuild gearboxes and he clearly doesn't just wash it and flog it for £445.

As I'm bored of this I'm locking it now.