[autocrat]

Dear Karl, looking forward to hear from you about the Gazel...

[karlosdeville]

16th May 2016

Work proceeds slow but steady. Final tinwork finishing is now complete, the filler process has begun. The seat runners were remade/repaired as required.

[amitc7]

Wow, just the saw the thread today. You sir are a brave man. Wish you the best for the project, very happy to see a 70's icon being brought back to glory.

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

16th May 2016

Work proceeds slow but steady. Final tinwork finishing is now complete, the filler process has begun. The seat runners were remade/repaired as required.

Attachment 1508993

Good to see an update!
Body sure looks neat now! And that steering wheel looks strangely familiar though of course not original to the Gazel- what gives?

[amitc7]

Doesn't that look like a old Ambassador Mark 1 or Mark II steering?

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by amitc7

Doesn't that look like a old Ambassador Mark 1 or Mark II steering?

No, those are much larger! And doubt would fit! Tis actually from a Triumph vitesse/spitfire! I know this as I've fitted one on my Herald too (bought on eBay UK! )

[thebulletboy]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Tis actually from a Triumph vitesse/spitfire!

Yup. The Gazel's original steering wheel has been restored and kept aside.
A spare Vitesse wheel has been installed in the interim.
As you have already pointed out, the Vitesse wheel is a direct fit on a Herald / Gazel column.

[karlosdeville]

19th August 2016

Some updates after a while.

Body is finally completed, 3M body sealant applied at all crevices, Glasurit surfacer application to follow and Wurth stone chip applied on remaining portions, this time acqua based (so better finish), and for the first time we are trying grey colour.















More to follow.

[karlosdeville]

20th August 2016











Shortly the car will move to the mock-fitting stage, where before moving to paint all the fittings are assembled to see that everything lines up, avoiding unnecessary touch ups post paint if adjustments are needed.

[Bulldogji]

Karl,

I do not think even the company took so many pains before delivering a new car


Great going, waiting to see the end result

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Karl,

I do not think even the company took so many pains before delivering a new car

Haha, I wouldn't be surprised. Pankaj said that they found solder filled portions in the car, and this car has had no tin work or paint done in the past, meaning it was done in the factory! Quality Control in the 1970s for Standard Motors was obviously different from what we know today

Having said that, every one tells me it will run much better than a Herald. Can't really think of a reason why, lets see. The drive back from Bangalore to Pune will be enjoyable nonetheless.

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Great going, waiting to see the end result

Thanks for the regular encouragement, any points along the way you noticed needing any particular attention?

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Having said that, every one tells me it will run much better than a Herald. Can't really think of a reason why, lets see. The drive back from Bangalore to Pune will be enjoyable nonetheless.

Maybe they say so because the rear axle in this car is not as troublesome as in the Herald! Atleast I was once told so by a mechanic hereway back in 2001-02, who was offering a TN-registered Gazel for sale for a whopping.........5k!! Yes, I know..I know!
I remember telling him I preferred the Herald and he instantly ridiculed it for the rear axle halfshaft 'sensitivity' ("khat khat khat khat......bekaar gaadi!")
Oh, and you're not the only one looking forward to the drive back from Bangalore to Pune!

[manishalive]

Wow, great going there Pankaj and Karl. The attention to detail is awesome. Good that you guys are using seam sealer which is the way to go to avoid all the future rusting.

What colour would you paint on the underside of the car, grey of stone chip or the body colour.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by manishalive

What colour would you paint on the underside of the car, grey of stone chip or the body colour.

Over the stone chip we will paint body colour on the whole body shell inside and out, like the way it came from the factory.

[thebulletboy]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

this time acqua based (so better finish), and for the first time we are trying grey colour.

This was the first time we were trying Aqua. Many thanks to Kaizad (Nicki Garage) for the pointers on using this product.

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Great going, waiting to see the end result

Thank you for the kind words. As Karl mentioned, if you see any areas that need improvement, pls do let us know.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Quality Control in the 1970s for Standard Motors was obviously different from what we know today

Body panels with evident faults, lead solder in the panels, cheap fasteners, household electrical junctions for the wiring ! The list is as shocking as it is hilarious !

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

like the way it came from the factory.

On a lighter note, the abysmal quality control of Standard Motors gives rise to a fair few conundrums when attempting a factory spec restoration.
For example, does one replace old cheap fasteners with new cheap fasteners, or does one use proper steel bolts (as should have been done at the factory)

We used steel fasteners of course, but I confess, I did have to think about this for more than a second!