Yoeddynzs 1978 Chevanne with funky stripe rescue mission

[yoeddynz]

So this arrived this evening....

It was looking sad and needing to be rescued. No one had offered to take it on with the intention to save it.  I just couldn't see this get crushed or split down for bits. I had to save it. I couldn't afford monies but have some time so I'm swapping it for some future welding work.  I like the colour (its Monaco Green since you asked...) Not too different to the HB wagon...

The fella I bought my Viva wagon off a few years back heard about this car from me and is quite keen on  doing it up for his son.  But now I , well actually Hannah too as shes partial to a Chevette or two, have become quite excited about seeing it back onto the road ourselves. We couldn't resist. Just look at it. Its fantastic! That colour with that stripe and the added layer of patina.

So this is the basic plan... Weld up the few patches of rot.  Maybe pop out the worst dents. See if the engine is OK.  I have no idea on its condition at all but it does turn over. Fit some better tyres.  Put it through a re-vin. Drive it a while and collect some terrible music to play on the original Sanyo tape deck.  Take photos of it next to the Viva and become 'that local bloke who has two shitty old Vauxhall wagons'

It'll be the 6th Chevette we have owned and the first Chevanne (wagon..) I now have far too many old cars kicking about to work on. 'Is now Gregs' Datsun 120Y is now first in line (I promise Greg..) then the Imp(s x3) and the Viva re-power of course. This Chevanne will just have to sneak in for little bits here and there. So many other local cars lined up on our white board for work too so I see a lot of car shuffling coming up.

But for the carpets the interior is in great nick. Dash top superb. Great colour. Headlining is great.

Useful sized boot area...

There is a small issue of no keys though. We had to use the trolley jack to shift it into its current park. The structure is solid as. Arches are really good. Roof just surface rust. Dents are the main issue. Two rust holes on the floor and the usual Chevette rot under the battery. Windscreen seal melted by the sun.

Interestingly (well to me...) its badged as a Chevanne. This is a wagon as far as I'm concerned with the Chevannes having paneled out rear side windows but nup... here in NZ they were all badged and sold as Chevannes.

Also interesting... the attached rego plates come up as a 1974 VIva wagon.  Hmmmmm? Oh well. It'll all be new plates soon with a new lease on life. 

Not planning on keeping it much beyond having some fun. Just doing my bit in a noble sort of way to rescue a fine and pretty rare classic car.

[yoeddynz]

Its the car that just keeps on giving. Hannah gave it a clean out yesterday. Found $2.10. Then found what was thought to be a large rats nest under the rear seat base. But no... even better. Its our very own miniature Alien!..

 

I'm all fangs...

 

 

[yoeddynz]

There was a power cut all day today. Bummer. No power tools. (no espresso machine either!  back to the plunger) So why not instead give wagon a clean and assess the rust. Which we did. Cleaned up well and looks a lot better..

I'll have to see whats gonna happen as far as the vin process goes. My main mission was to just save the car from being split for parts/crushed (although the front seats are a perfect match in colour for my Viva wagon and they are so damn comfy!!!.....) with the idea that I could fix it up to get it back on the road, having a little fun in the process, then sell make a small amount of coin back for my troubles

However if it starts to add up too much in extra costs and hassle I'll move it on to someone else who wants to take it on and keep it. There's enough old cars taking up space and time right now!!!

So now its been tucked out the back of the shed so I can crack on with some real work (Ie; Gregs 120y..) .  Those front seats will just have to be stored in the front of my Viva for now......