With the oldest GTV6 nearing 40 years in service, a forum to document projects and restoration seems sensible.
mikekath@iafrica.com
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South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

This is Mike and over the next while I will be posting the journey of the restoration of a 1982 GTV6 2.5 in South Africa.
Still very much in progress.
The car was bought second hand by me in November 2014 for R35,000.
Initial view on the vehicle was that it was in reasonable condition, but as with any restoration project, the full story only comes out as you strip it down. The vehicle was NOT running smoothly when bought, was overheating and there was oil in the water system, a sure sign a head gasket was damaged somewhere.
The vehicle stood idle in one of my garages until late 2019. Work started slowly and picked up during the 2020 Covid months.
The initial plan was to just have fun and rebuild it NOT to original spec at all, but during the initial investigations, it transpired that the car was a NUMBERED one, 50/100 of the 1st 100 2.5 GTV6's in South Africa. There is still much mystery around these first 100 GTV6's, but the best information I have been able to derive is that they were full knocked down versions from Italy, where the shell and some parts came across from Italy, but a certain % of the car had to be manufacured in South Africa (interesting items like the de dion), and had to then be fully assembed in RSA. There are numerous unique identifers of these 1st 100, some of which are still questioned, and I will cover these in a future post.
With this being the case, I was strongly advised to restore it to original spec, and so the journey began.
To give myself flexibility once rebuild, I have elected to get as many of the cosmetic items "duplicated" so that one set would be to original specification and another to have fun with. This has included items such as duplicate bumpers, side skirts, seats, interior side panels, carpet and possibly more as things evolve.
Getting parts in South Africa is almost impossible, so you look out for the occasional vehicle being stripped, but I have had to bring in most replacement spares from the USA & UK via friends and family. Every time there is an oportunity - USE IT!!
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by KevinR »

Hi Mike
Thanks for sharing your build . By sounds of things its going to a fascinating thread to follow with all work you have done. Any chance of the before photographs.
Cheers
Kevin
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by Michael »

Looking forward to following your build!
Michael
1981 GTV6
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

INSPECTING THE CAR JUST BEFORE I PURCHASED IT

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That beautiful front! Messed up with some stupid little oval spots - those will go!!!
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And lovely side pic - I actually really like the mags on the car!! 17inch (Kevin has already expressed his views on such large rims to me :))

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Missing rear left part of side skirt, and front rust behind wheel arch noted (usual GTV issues....)
Attachments
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

CAR HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME - SOME MORE PICS
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I hope you love the GTV6 emblem.... Yuk.... one of the challenges will be to find all correct badging (which I have done :))
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Last edited by mikekath@iafrica.com on Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

AND NOW FOR THE INSIDE
Stunning high quality car seat covers... (not). First sign of the fact that this was #50/100 in RSA - the headrest and seats are cloth material ALL around, and not just front facing. I came to learn this later in my investigations.
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Usual dashboard cracks - I would be sending it is to be refurbished
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Back seats, also lovely covers.....
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Rear parcel shelf with the commonly installed 6x9 speakers. I have since managed to source another parcel shelf in original "uncut" condition
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Grubby looking boot, no spare wheel, with amplifier hiding in the wheel well..
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

AND MORE OF THE INSIDE
The high quality amp now visible :)
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Battery bay looking a bit tired
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More of the classy seat covers
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Pedals in pretty unworn condition! Fuse box looking a bit dodgy
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And the highlight, the Momo steering wheel.... Will auction this off to the highest bidder!
You can imagine 17inch rims, no power steering and that tiny steering wheel, a combination made in heaven!!
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by KevinR »

Hi Mike, look forward to seen this journey. Keep us posted.
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

STRIPPING THE CAR
Before I stripped the car I tested all the electrics to make sure everything was working. Have to say that there were numerous alterations on the wiring harnesses, mainly relays for the electric windows, and others for the front lights and radiator fan to take the load off the ignition.
Some pics of stripping:
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

You will note on the wiring harness that every connection point was labelled for future reference, rather a mission, and I am sure I will probably not understand half of what I had annotated when I re-assemble!!
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

Some more general pics of car being stripped.
Note the kiddies lap belt system that had been installed. Will have to have those holes welded up when the car is sent in for painting.
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

Last picture shows the transaxle out.....
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

I was very fortunate to have a double garage available to work on the car, as well as a room at the back of the garage (also 36m2) that could be used to layout all the interior parts as I stripped them.
Tried to keep everything in the correct place for future ease of reference. Room started nice and clean and got progressively dirtier.....
Even the cat thinks sitting in an Alfa is quite classy!!
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

Room starting to fill up.
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Re: South Africa - 1982 GTV6 2.5 Restoration (50/100)

Post by mikekath@iafrica.com »

Initial cleanup of the transaxle.
Used some soda blasting to remove the wors of the grime and grease.
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