The Orange and White Felicia Pickup

[ninjacj]

Arguably a bit late seeing I've owned this for about 18months now, but as circumstances will force me to sell in a couple months I thought it would be good to write down all the knowledge about this particular truck.

Have to bear with me as this will take a little while, I'm going to attempt to do it in detail, chronologically and as far back as possible....

Edited 10 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

Early life: (information provided by previous owner)

"Not much service history except where the truck has been since new.

The truck was bought new by a local chicken processing factory and used to go between local units, They bought four of them and were maintained by the engineering departments.

The chap I bought it off always had it serviced by our local garage but when he bought it there were no records booklet. 

To be honest I did not worry too much as I knew I would be stripping it down and it ran perfectly. I spoke to the local garage and they verified it was hardly used between service.

The previous owner put new front and rear shock absorbers on it and new front discs and pads and new brake drums and shoes just before I bought it."

[ninjacj]

Here we get to the guy I bought it off.

Semi-retired F1 wiring engineer Don, a very interesting and all round great chap.

This was his fourth and final truck, he had one from new, a plain white one he restored and sold in late 2000's, a Shelly Gt500 replica that was sold in I think 2011 and written off soon after and then this truck which I purchased in summer 2014.

There are no pictures of the first truck but here are the other 3 in their finished forms:

Edited 10 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

On to the restoration of this one. Here is it as it began, pretty good nick due to the lowish mileage (70k ish at this point) and local miles. The standard rust patches are visibly coming through.

Then Don stripped it down and began replacing/repairing all rust and stripping it down ready for painting.

New front wings were put on, the sills repaired, the load bed repaired and new sheets of metal.put in in places and the inner rear wings rebuilt.

Then it was sprayed in Citroën alpine white over the original white and a bright orange for bottom half.

[ninjacj]

Mechanical side :

He changed the springs all round for 45mm lowering ones and replaced bushes if required.

The exhaust was new front to back .

All the flexible brake hoses were changed along with brake pipes as required.

Rear wheel bearings were replaced, Fronts were checked and found to be near new.

Then serviced using Mobil 1 Oil and Fram and Wix Filters. The Brake fluid was also changed when the Brake hoses were replaced.

New Halfords battery.

Brand new wheels and Load rated tyres.

New screen rubber when the glass was put back in the shell.

Driveshafts were checked and new CV boots put on.

[ninjacj]

Cosmetics:

Wheels 7"x16" Deep Dish

American "Grant Deep Dish" steering wheel

JVC CD/Radio.

195x45x16" Ovation Load Rated Tyres

45mm Lower Springs.

Rear wheels spaced by 20mm

Dash Surround painted in Body Colour

Gearlever shortened and a No 5 Pool Ball fitted

New Colour matched Floor Mats

Stripe black Graphics down sides and across tailgate

Silver reflective tape on rear window which flashes different colours depending on light

Front bumper is a facelift Felicia version

Both bumpers Colour coded

Door Mirrors colour coded

Graphite grey Rear window surround

Graphite great Tailgate plastic strip

Load bed Grey Anti-slip coating

Edited 10 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

My ownership:

I purchased the truck late August 2014, as I was only 16 my Dad drove it home and it has always been in his name.

Don reluctantly sold it as had moved on to a new van and it wasn't getting used.

With the truck came the original suspension springs , original steering wheel and a couple other spares.

It had 84500 miles on it when I purchased it, and we instantly put another 200 on it driving it home from Norfolk to Somerset! It drove flawlessly.

[ninjacj]

It wasn't too long before I had a radiator leak, possibly that long journey on what looked like quite an old radiator.

A whole new radiator was ordered and replaced by myself along with renewing all jubilee clips.

 

The radiator fan switch has also been replaced in between.

Edited 20 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

I bought a truckman top to keep stuff dry in the winter, it's honestly the most useful thing I could have bought for this truck. Locks too so stuff is secure.

Also load bed great for two bicycles (fit under truckman too)

And summer board set up was cleaned up, given a second coat of white emulsion and then vinyl wrapped by myself, not perfectly flat in.places as was first attempt but looks awesome!

[ninjacj]

I will continue with more photos and other mods/replacement parts/work/servicing that has been carried out another day. Hope you enjoy

[Bete Noir]

The Shelby GT500 replica must be the most inappropriate paint job ever to appear on a Felicia Pick-Up. It made me laugh. A lot.

Edited 14 March, 2016 by Bete Noir

[ninjacj]

The Shelby GT500 replica must be the most inappropriate paint job ever to appear on a Felicia Pick-Up. It made me laugh. A lot.

 

Did you notice the attention to detail of the "GT500kg" decal relating it to the payload  

 

Don certainly has a sense of humor, shame that pickup got written off :(

[ninjacj]

Cosmetics:

 

The truck came with a Kenwood stereo, but being a 16yr old lad at the time that was straight out replaced with a flip out 7" screen Pioneer bargain I found on ebay - it would have retailed when new at almost £1000!

I then bought some Alpine 13.5cm CoAxials speakers to replace the originals and trul the difference was unbelievable, the clarity of the sound and new depth of bass was incredible, would highly recommend anyone with a Felica buys a set if they haven't already! I had plans to rig my phone up through the AV input to play its satnav on the screen, but I am still struggling with the digital to analogue conversion hurdle!




 

(Grainy scolling image on screen as was probably messing with the AV input when i took the photo)

 

A underseat subwoofer was on the cards, but then funds were directed elsewhere.

Front headlights were replaced with Phillips Diamond (or maybe Platinum... must check) Vision bulbs which are remarkably good, along with Philips Blue sidelights to get rid of the old car orange "tinge " and rear LED numberplate bulbs just to keep the car from looking dated.

Oh and this was just me messing about as were never fitted for real :

Edited 20 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

Mechanicals:

Truck passed its first MOT under my ownership the day I passed my driving test which was lucky timing! The week before it had failed because of a brake leak and issue with a master cylinder which was all repaired by Ricky Fenby's of Frome.

About half way through the year it also had both full front suspension arms replaced, a CV joint and a steering rack gaitor all again at Ricky Fenby's.

Late last year I hit a pot hole, and exposed a more hidden patch of rust in an area that Don had thought to be solid by having the shock absorber come through the left rear suspension turret. As you probably know these truck are famous for Rot here and Don had only rebuilt the other side as this side looked fine. After about 6 hours of fabricating it was fixed by a friend of mine who specialises in all things old and rusty. He's more commonly found putting Rover V8's in Citroen H vans or rebuilding classic minis. I'm not sure how excited he was being presented with the Skoda....

The trucks back to him at Easter to have new sills fitted (I've purchased brand new estate sills which will be modified at the rear to fit) and to repair a rear jacking point. Its then off to Ricky fenby's for a rear wheel bearing and new MOT. Finally I will then be resealing the windscreen to solve the other common problem of these of puddles in the footwells in the winter.

Once these final things are sorted, I will be happy the truck is structurally and mechanically sound and so it will be put up for sale....

Edited 20 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

Some more photos:

Edited 20 March, 2016 by ninjacj

[JonnyHS]

Only just catching up on this now. Nice work, Shame it has to go, but hopefully it will be snapped up by a fellow enthusiast! Particularly like the steering wheel!

[ninjacj]

Only just catching up on this now. Nice work, Shame it has to go, but hopefully it will be snapped up by a fellow enthusiast! Particularly like the steering wheel!

Thanks, yes I am a fan of the wheel too!

It is a shame but I would hate to be responsible for it degrading to nothing if I kept it sat somewhere. I'd probably buy it back in 5 years!

[ninjacj]

Sills and rear quarter professionally replaced/repaired unfortunately not enough time to finish painting before the spring action day.

Will be painted and MOT 'd next week.

I'm hoping to get some more pictures detailing the work done from the welder to be inserted below.

Advert to be placed in For Sale section shortly

[Leeboy]

Parked next to this at Combe today, love it. Good luck with the sale!

[ninjacj]

Parked next to this at Combe today, love it. Good luck with the sale!

Thanks, saw a few people having a good nosey so fingers crossed

I'm afraid I was too engrossed watching the action on track to introduce myself to any other members... I watched everyone's track action though

[ninjacj]

Officially for sale in the classifieds (although if you were at Combe you could have snapped it up )

'98 Skoda Felicia Pickup 1.3 petrol Orange and White

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/394679-%252798-Skoda-Felicia-Pickup-1%252E3-petrol-Orange-and-White

[ninjacj]

New wipers, new Nearside rear tyre, new offside rear wheel bearing and 12 months MOT all carried out at Ricky FENBY of Frome.

Advisories

Other 3 tyres have about 3mm left and their 3 valves showing signs of perishing

Slight deterioration on front nearside inner and front offside outer CV joints.

Also slight oil leak around engine area.

I meant to expand on the oil earlier on, ever since I've owned this truck I get a small mark of oil on the drive. I check the oil regularly (engine and transmission ) and neither change at all. The leak must be so slow and small I decided it wasn't worth the hassle/cost to investigate.

Obviously if you have some gold infused alpine white small pebble fairy blessed driveway or something you might want it sorted

Just being totally honest, it's 18 years old and isn't perfect, any questions please ask

[ninjacj]

 

Update on photos, as it currently is.

All painted, sticker section replaced.
Windscreen leak fixed, interior all in (I had the carpets out for about 6 months so they weren't damaged whilst I fixed the leak)

Now just to write the eBay advert

Edited 8 May, 2016 by ninjacj

[ninjacj]

Now Sold :(

Sad to see it go, but it's gone to a good home to be used for local miles and advertising truck for a independent garage in Yeovil.

The new owner may even pop up on here sometime in the future to continue the legacy

[Hyphons]

Now Sold :(

Sad to see it go, but it's gone to a good home to be used for local miles and advertising truck for a independent garage in Yeovil.

The new owner may even pop up on here sometime in the future to continue the legacy

I have a good friend who works in Yeovil, I'll ask him to keep his eyes peeled for it