Unfortunately, you either don't say or don't know if the fenders are actually
welded to the body. This is the usual reason for the bondo over the seam. If
the fenders are welded on, then all 4 fenders are going to take major work to
make useful. Replacement used fenders are pricey.
I purchased a rusted out car, but at least I didn't have to take apart stuff
that was welded together. I'd think long and hard about this. It looks like a
major body working project.
Dave Rupert wrote:
> Fellow listers,
>
> I've been on and off this list for several years now, in constant
> search for a smallmouth '57 TR3. Lo and behold, I open up my weekend
> paper, and there's a local ad for one staring me in the face. 30
> nanoseconds later I'm on the phone arranging a visit for Easter
> morning.
>
> The car is listed for $4000. It looks good from a distance, in a very
> thick fog. However, closer inspection revealed problems. All of the
> body seams that would have fender beading have been filled with bondo.
> Inspection under the car shows that the holes in the floor pans have
> been covered from the inside with large squares of sheet metal pop
> riveted in. The rear valance is full of bondo, as is the bottom of
> the doors, the fenders, and the rocker panels. Suprisingly, the spare
> tire compartment and the trunk floor show no rust or bodged repairs.
> Looking up inside the wheelwells at the top of the fenders reveal rust
> covered with bondo.
>
> The car drives quite well. The engine fired immediately and ran with
> no problems, and the trans and clutch worked just fine. The brakes
> pulled the car up straight, I didn't hear any howls from the rear end,
> and all of the accessories worked (lights, turn signals, windshield
> wiper motor, heater, etc.)
>
> I picked up the April issue of Hemming's, and found that TR's of this
> vintage are either in the $10,000-$20,000 range, or they are contained
> in several boxes of various shapes and sizes. Interestingly, I
> couldn't find any cars of this type/year in the driveable-but-nasty
> category.
>
> I am just finishing a body-off, bare metal restoration of a TR4, where
> I replaced at least 50% of the sheet metal. I have the
> knowledge/equipment to do this sort of thing, but I'm not sure if this
> the right car at the right price. I'm sure I could drive it this
> summer and probably next before I started to tear it completely apart.
> The burning question is, should I pursue it, and if so, how much is it
> really worth? Any and all advice on this subject would be greatly
> appreciated. Please respond directly to me as I only get the digest
> version of the list these days, and I would like to move fairly
> quickly on this car if it is worthwhile.
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> Dave Rupert
>
> Dave_Rupert@codl.com
> Rupert@oakland-info.com
> 1967 TR4A
> 1980 TR7
>
>
--
George Richardson
The Wyvern - '57 TR3, TS15559L - http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
The Hippogrif - '71 Stag MKI, LE8176E - soon to get a site of it's own
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