Early HPE restoration

[peteracs]

Hi All

As the Spider is almost finished except for a few 'shakedown' issues I was aiming to start work on the engine rebuild I started a thread on a while ago, but....

I was talking with Tony at the recent Betameeta and it transpired the early HPE which I knew his boss, Rob, had bought some time ago was going to be up for sale as they were selling off their restoration projects. This was a car which had been highlighted on here many years ago, originally owned by Mark M. See the following for details of it first being offered here.

http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2386.0

Given I have always fancied getting an early car similar to the one I had in 1980 for a time, a deal was done and it arrived last night.

So the engine will have to take a back seat for now as I need to crack one with getting this ready for the bodywork to be done. My plan is to run the Spider for the next year or so whilst getting the HPE on the road, then most likely sell the Spider and separately sell the Saab once I have no more need of it and just leave me with the HPE which will be a far more practical car for my wife to go in as she uses a wheelchair which is not that practical in the Spider......

I do expect plenty of bumps along the road as the body will be hiding some horrors as well as the ones I can already see. So far found one mouse nest under the back seats...

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
Doesn't it sit so perfectly in your garage with the Spider.

I hope it's still in as good, at least in appearance, as when those photos were
taken some 8 years ago. Those rear seat bolsters, so good, they're still there I hope.

I saw that thread when first published, and had I be living where I do now, I'd have
bought it! Having said that, I'm glad you've got it as you'll no doubt give it everything
it deserves.

Best wishes,
Nigel

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

The picture truly flatters it. In reality a full restore is required, plenty of filler in places. There will be a debate if a full body strip will be the best way to go. The good news is that it is pretty complete just in need of a lot of love and money spending on it…..

Peter

[Neil-yaj396]

Nice colour and love the flat bonnet. It's in the right place now to get all the attention it needs.

[smithymc]

Looks very much at home.

Mark

[peteracs]

Nice colour and love the flat bonnet. It's in the right place now to get all the attention it needs.

Hi Neil

The eventual colour is currently a hot debate topic. Personally I like some form of blue, but the question then is what colour interior to go with the brown dash etc?

This will go on for some time before a decision is made.

All tucked up for the next few weeks as off the France. Getting to feel a bit like normal, hopefully this will carry on.

Peter

[Sandro]

Hi Peter,
Doesn't it sit so perfectly in your garage with the Spider.

I hope it's still in as good, at least in appearance, as when those photos were
taken some 8 years ago. Those rear seat bolsters, so good, they're still there I hope.

I saw that thread when first published, and had I be living where I do now, I'd have
bought it! Having said that, I'm glad you've got it as you'll no doubt give it everything
it deserves.

Best wishes,
Nigel

couldnt agree more, they look great together!

I like the blue too btw 

Best Andrew

[peteracs]

Hi

Whilst away in France all we can do is debate colours, which is going to take a long time I think to come to a conclusion.

The complication is the brown interior and the suitably toning seats etc. I always liked the mustard colour seats, but they will probably have something similarly bright, but will be leather trimmed, the Spider seats were a good result.

The outside, my starter for 10 is some sort of burnt orange, I am determined it is not going to be a black/white/grey. I quite like this BMW colour, not sure about modern metallic on older cars however. Comments welcome………

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
My first Beta, a Coupe, had the same interior as yours. I still love the mustard
seat upholstery, and would, if ever it happens redo in a yellow leather.
This old 76 Coupe was in Lancia Blu, which complimented the interior quite well.
I painted a yellow pin-stripe along the swage line as an additional nod.

A sign spotted in a hardware store in Jhb [ c.1983] :
"Husbands choosing paint colours must bring note from wife" 

Enjoy the holiday,
Nigel

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

The seat colours will be an interesting choice. The colour above is via the wife, and final sign off will be via her as I am spending OUR money on this……

Peter

[lanciamad]

Hi

Whilst away in France all we can do is debate colours, which is going to take a long time I think to come to a conclusion.

The complication is the brown interior and the suitably toning seats etc. I always liked the mustard colour seats, but they will probably have something similarly bright, but will be leather trimmed, the Spider seats were a good result.

The outside, my starter for 10 is some sort of burnt orange, I am determined it is not going to be a black/white/grey. I quite like this BMW colour, not sure about modern metallic on older cars however. Comments welcome………

Peter

I remember seeing a spyder in a similar colour, although not original I think it suits it well 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/albums/72157594162784979

[peteracs]

Hi Marcus

Thanks, this one posted by Stuart in another thread is a little darker and is looking to be a front runner for now at least.

Colour is Rosso Brighton apparently.

Peter

[frankxhv773t]

You needn't be too far from original with a metallic brown as this picture from my stash shows. It even has the mustard interior, though I think a warmer shade of metallic brown, as illustrated on the Spider, is more pleasing to the eye.

[frankxhv773t]

On lanciamad's link I think the intrgrale wheels really suit the metalic brown better than original Beta ones. Picture credit to Tony Harrison.

[peteracs]

Hi Frank

Thanks, the last one is a bit too orange and brown is not in the running. I hope to get an actual sample of the Rosso Brighton as the colour on screen can be quite misleading.

Peter

[WestonE]

That last one is Mark Milne's car and it looks fantastic in the real world.

Eric

[Clifford]

Indeed it does Eric. I remember telling him if he ever wanted to sell then let me know. 😊
That's my car next to it I think and seem to remember it was Autoitalia at Stanford Hall, quite a few years ago now.

[peteracs]

Had a productive afternoon stripping out the rear of the HPE (photo to follow!). Thankfully most things came out without too much persuasion. The one surprise was the rear side windows which hinge at the front. Both are completely rotten on the lower edge, however the main body next to them is pretty well untouched which is a relief.

So anyone have any HPE rear side windows available? The glass and trim on mine are good, just need some decent frames.

So far, albeit not got that far, the bodywork appears not too bad in the main cabin. The front inner wings are shot, but that is to be expected. The rear turret on one side has obviously had work previously and appears solid. All in all quite encouraged.

I have also started buying some parts which will probably not be used for some significant time, but you can never be sure if you will find them again or have to pay silly money in the future. So far have bought new discs, engine mounts and some trim parts.

Peter

[frankxhv773t]

I had a similar experience with rear side windows on a coupe. I found that the ones which rotted had a stainless steel outer cover over a mild steel frame, hence the rot, but the ones from my spares car had completely stainless steel frames. I wonder if the same might be true for HPEs.

[peteracs]

Hi Frank

Interesting, I will see what offers I get and if any are stainless.

Peter