My first Volvo! A long wanted 145!
 

I just thought i would post up some pictures of my 145 that i took delivery of today! Just 62408 miles on it and very original but been standing for over 2 years.
Managed to get it running after some tinkering and apart from a badly blowing exhaust, it sounds pretty good!
Here's hoping the pictures upload ok!

Excellent.

So what are the plans for the car?

BTW, I agree with your original diagnosis, fit new wings. I think they are too far gone for a repair that you'll be truly satisfied with

John

I plan to restore it to a useable but not show winning condition and use it as much as possible.
I am a Morris Minor man at heart but trying to squeeze the wife and 3 kids into one is a challenge which is why i've been after a 145 for a while!
My Dad had a 1968 B18 that looked identical to the one i now have, so its a blast back down memory lane for me really!
I grew up with that 145 and was so sad when it eventually got too bad to repair!

Good luck! you do have some brown problems...

There are certainly some brown issue's there, but compared to some of the Morris Minors i've done in the past its pretty much like new!!

Ah, yes. If you're accustomed to Minor bodywork, this should be a breeze! My friend does Minors and, if he's not careful, they can gain on him... rusting faster at one end than he can weld at the other!

Don't bin the 145 tailgate too hastily. Although its rusty at the bottom, that should be easy enough to repair and the more complex shape around the window, where they often rust, looks good on yours.

Rear arches are normal; they almost always need to be repalced. Repair panels availably at Brookhouse Volvo.

John

This will hopefully be a breeze! Its amazingly solid in all the right places and just needs the usual archs, sill ends and wheel wells along with the rear shocker mounts!
I will attempt to repair the front wings too, but am on the look out for another pair in steel just incase! LOL!
The tailgate is excellent on the inner skin and the worst is clearly seen in the pictures. This one will live on to see another day and, as you rightly say, compared to what i'm used to with the Minors, its in really good nick!

Take plenty of photos as you go along, I know I'm not the only person on here who likes to see metal work going on!

John

Dare i ask what you paid for it. I have mine on ebay at the moment. It is still at £1000 so i think someone may get a cheap car, although the biggest problem with mine is that it is not tax exempt.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64...family1147.jpg

I have seen yours both on here and ebay and it is a lovely car and a real bargain at its current price!
I paid a lot less than yours is currently at, but that said, mine needs LOADS of work whereas yours is ready to go!
I had very strict criteria of what i wanted though as i grew up with one nearly identical to mine and it just had to look the same and be the same colour!

John, I will try to remember to picture it as i go, but the trouble is that i usually get so involved that the job is done before i've even thought of going to get the camera!! :o