The Car SOS team contend with the full Monty in the latest episode, as a Renault Alpine GTA is plagued with engine, rust, paint and electrical issues
‘There is something of a myth about fibreglass-bodied cars being easy restorations. The reality is that any car compromised by age and lack of use is likely to be suffering from the same degree of problems no matter what its construction.
‘This was the case with the Renault Alpine GTA that owner David had bought in good faith with the intention of taking on some lengthy tours through France with his wife. Unfortunately it became clear on its maiden voyage that the car wasn’t quite ready to undertake such journeys.
‘Electrical faults hampered the car, including non-operational drop windows, turning the car into an oven, this being exacerbated by overheating problems. A snapped throttle cable resulted in the car being recovered from the roadside back to David’s home and although he replaced it, the car’s mounting number of faults led to it being taken off the road for further repairs. Unfortunately David’s health has taken a turn for the worse, meaning that he was unable to continue working on the car and so it was laid up, destined to not turn a wheel for several years.
‘The car’s inactivity had taken its toll and so what should have been a straightforward recommission once again became a full strip and re-build. The engine was on the verge of major failure and required much machine work and many new components to get it back to operational status.
‘Investigating the car’s steel under-frame revealed rust in some rather inaccessible areas. The lower parts of both side B-posts had succumbed to serious corrosion, made more serious by the fact that these were the locations for seatbelt mountings, which had become almost detached.
‘A deteriorating wiring loom had left many of the switches and their associated components partially or wholly inoperative, too, but the biggest problem was yet to hit the Car SOS team, as we’d soon find out.
