Monaco
It’s about time I started a project thread for this car.
Some of you may remember my 1.2 Odyssey Blue “Low and Slow” from a few years ago. It was a car I was in no hurry to get rid of but being 20 and never owned anything serious I was always keeping my eye open for a faster alternative. It would take something special to tempt me to take the plunge but special I found.
I stumbled across a pensioner selling her immaculate Moncao Blue 172. 28k miles in 10 years of ownership, main-dealer serviced religiously, 2 belt services done, kept in a garage all its life, no melting thumb grips, no dents, no scrapes, I could go on. Needless to say I paid exactly what she was asking for it and after she cooked me dinner (yes, she wouldn’t let me drive it on an empty stomach) it was mine.
Pistonheads advert photo:
After it's first tidy-up and clean. CS sticker and RS mats added. RS Badge removed:
The mods would always have to be sympathetic as this car is far too good of an example to go for an all out track car or some scene machine.
My first iteration was a general tidy up, Eibach Sportlines, some 15” Oz Superturismos, de-tango'd and a ktec matt carbon splitter with plans for a cup spoiler and Trophy Treadlines:
Then in summer 2012 I landed my first proper - and perfect starter - job in London. Living in Dundee at the time I returned the car to standard and got as far as writing the advert to sell it before I sought an alternative. I was living in a 1 room flat in central London and only just able to afford to live. Fortunately my grandparents stepped in and offered to keep it in their garage.
Instagram 12 months in with some serious withdrawal:
Flash forward 18 months and in the same week I land a new job and buy a flat. The flat has safe on-street parking so - in this same week - I MOT’d (it flew through only needing a washer pump), taxed and insured it.
So it is back on the road. 4 years of ownership, 13 years old, still no faults, 39k miles, still no melting on the steering wheel, still no dents or scrapes and still puts a huge smile on my face every time I put my foot down. I could not want for anything more.
Poor iPhone-quality photos of it's first day back on the road:
So the plans are to keep it as OEM as possible whilst tightening it up and sorting a few niggles. Current list is:
C&C welcome
Some of you may remember my 1.2 Odyssey Blue “Low and Slow” from a few years ago. It was a car I was in no hurry to get rid of but being 20 and never owned anything serious I was always keeping my eye open for a faster alternative. It would take something special to tempt me to take the plunge but special I found.
I stumbled across a pensioner selling her immaculate Moncao Blue 172. 28k miles in 10 years of ownership, main-dealer serviced religiously, 2 belt services done, kept in a garage all its life, no melting thumb grips, no dents, no scrapes, I could go on. Needless to say I paid exactly what she was asking for it and after she cooked me dinner (yes, she wouldn’t let me drive it on an empty stomach) it was mine.
Pistonheads advert photo:
After it's first tidy-up and clean. CS sticker and RS mats added. RS Badge removed:
The mods would always have to be sympathetic as this car is far too good of an example to go for an all out track car or some scene machine.
My first iteration was a general tidy up, Eibach Sportlines, some 15” Oz Superturismos, de-tango'd and a ktec matt carbon splitter with plans for a cup spoiler and Trophy Treadlines:
Then in summer 2012 I landed my first proper - and perfect starter - job in London. Living in Dundee at the time I returned the car to standard and got as far as writing the advert to sell it before I sought an alternative. I was living in a 1 room flat in central London and only just able to afford to live. Fortunately my grandparents stepped in and offered to keep it in their garage.
Instagram 12 months in with some serious withdrawal:
Flash forward 18 months and in the same week I land a new job and buy a flat. The flat has safe on-street parking so - in this same week - I MOT’d (it flew through only needing a washer pump), taxed and insured it.
So it is back on the road. 4 years of ownership, 13 years old, still no faults, 39k miles, still no melting on the steering wheel, still no dents or scrapes and still puts a huge smile on my face every time I put my foot down. I could not want for anything more.
Poor iPhone-quality photos of it's first day back on the road:
So the plans are to keep it as OEM as possible whilst tightening it up and sorting a few niggles. Current list is:
- Panel Filter,
- LED interior bulbs,
- Cooksports/Sportlines/H&Rs
- New front shocks (got an advisory on the MOT for a leaky one)
- Cabasse head unit with MCM airplay mod
- Sort the mounting of the rear speakers out to get a bit more bass
- Spacers all round
- Polybushes
- Paint the inlet manifold and engine cover (to tidy up the engine bay a bit)
- Battery cover (to tidy up the engine bay a bit)
- New header tank (I’ve got a yellow-stained one)
- Skoda Splitter
- New tyres all round
- Proper clean and some proper up-to-date photos
C&C welcome
