New Forum Member with a 8450-mile '78 120L Estelle

[42GPW]

Hello all,

 

I thought I'd copy this over from the introductions page, for you RWD guys to read!

 

My names Guy and I live in deepest, darkest Northamptonshire...oh, and I've just become the proud owner of a pretty-rare, little play-thing...a 1978 Skoda 120L Estelle - in a very fetching shade of really dull & faded mid-green...  ...she'll T-Cut & polish up beautifully though, with a hefty bit of elbow greese! 

 

The most astonishing thing for me though, was the cars almost total originality...which probably has a lot to do with the fact that its only done 8450-miles from new! 

 

She's been off the road since 1988, so needs some work doing and some parts restoring or replacing, but I'm really looking forward to it...

 

With that in mind, I'd like to ask you 'educated in these matters' folk a question if I may though please...???

 

I'm a classic car fan through & through - In my little collection I have a couple of WW2 Jeeps, a '68 Volvo Amazon 123-GT, an '85 Opel Monza & a W126 Mercedes...all of which I know where to look for spares and help with both maintenance & restoration - but in all honesty, I have absolutely no idea where to turn or who to turn to, for help with the Skoda - SOOO...can any of you chaps point me towards someone who can help me sourcing those awkward to find bits and bobs please???

 

I know its not nice to ask questions on an intro post - so please forgive me...but I'm an excitable sort who wants to crack on with it - Sorry!

 

Any help would be gladly accepted...

 

Kind Regards to all...Guy.  

[Leeboy]

Hi Guy,

Welcome aboard! Was this new purchase on ebay a couple of weeks. You'll need to check out Snotty, Peter's somewhat modded wheels (Hawkeracing on here).

Parts are getting scare in the UK, but there is still a decent supply back in the "Homeland" and www.skoparts-international run by a chap called Paul Wyatt always comes up trumps. Try the other Skoda forum at erm, www.skoda-forum.com. More RWD enthusiats there. Daverapid a member both here and there runs a garage for old Skodas too and has all the answers too!

Like the sound of your Opel Monza, and photos?

[skodanorman]

Hi.

 

Is this the one off eBay? I am always pleased when I see a rare car like this is sold to an enthusiastic owner. 

 

Daverapid is a guy ask for technical matters on these vehicles, and he isn't a million miles from you either which is handy. 

 

As mentioned above, Skoparts-International are the people to speak to for parts in the UK. The guy who runs it, Paul, knows his stuff about parts and will be able to advise and sort you out. 

[hawkeracing]

I sat and fretted over whether to bid or not once I found out the reserve and didn't......it looks easy enough to get back on the road....guess it needs a complete braking system - probably £100 on Ebay and that will probably get it an MOT unless there are holes in it anywhere. If you ever get bored of it or want to swap it for a working mk2 105 I'm your man because it's virtually the twin of my race car.

[hawkeracing]

I should add - looking at the state of the interior I would be very suspicious over the mileage claim for the car......the rear seats always go, even just whilst sitting (unless they're in the dark) but the fronts tend to be ok....it's hard to fully assess the fronts from the photos and it might be that they're in great nick but the pictures didn't give that impression. The speedos can be replaced in about 10 minutes and are easily wound back as well.....the milometer also fails regularly....I clocked a good few miles in Snotty when I got him and the milometer was stuck!

You should check the P plates up inside the front wheel arches and check how crusty they are - they are a hidden rot point that will lead to the front wings rotting from the inside.....mk1 wings are getting hard to get according to Skoparts, interior trim is also non existant so you will probably need to get the interior re-trimmed. AFAIK everything else should be available......there is a guy called Julian over on the other forum who has brand new old stock bonnets - the leading edge of the bonnet is another place they rot.

Edited 7 October, 2013 by hawkeracing

[42GPW]

Hi guys,

 

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner chap's...and thanks for your replies - their much appreciated!!!

 

Yes - your right,  it was the car on eBay and yes - when you looked at the car in photo's, you'd of been right to be suspicious of the mileage claim...but - see the car in the flesh and you can see that its genuine!

 

There isn't ANY rust underneath - anywhere, other than the lightest spots of surface 'dust' where its been standing (it was shown in the eBay ad and made the car look far far worse than it actually is in reality) indeed, its still factory green underneath...even under the wheel arches -just as it was when new...its still on its orginal tyres, the spare wheel has never been out, even the oil filter's the original Skoda one...

 

It has its original tax-disk holder & key-fob from Elmbrook Garage, Sutton (which was just around the corner from where I grew up as a kid...funnily enough, I remember them selling Skoda's as a kid, in the 80's too!!!) along with the 'Skoda-Insurance' Temporary Cover Note, as issued to the first-owner (Mr Spencer) who lived in Worcester Park, Surrey...

 

I've spent all of yesterday and most of today cleaning it out and T-Cutting/cleaning/polishing the outside...and I must say, its coming up amazingly well...I've taken the rear seat's out and given them to a trimmer, who is going to set-in a section of black vinyl & piping into the top of each seat back - it's not going to be 100% original, but it'll match with the fronts nicely and will be a lot better than the sun-bleached, torn originals...the roof lining is like new, as are the carpets - three of the door trims are in great order, the drivers one needs work, but is a simple fix...the dash is excellent too...   

 

It was last on the road in 1988 and has been in storage since, so it's going to need new fuel lines/brake lines, the calipers freeing,  new pad's etc...along with some bling-bits...the bumpers either need rechroming or replacing, the door mirrors need replacing with some original's and the chrome window-surround inserts need replacing too, but overall, for very little work, she is going to be a little beauty! 

 

I'll post some photo's soon...

 

Regards to all - Guy. 

Edited 7 October, 2013 by 42GPW

[arcot1751]

Sounds a great find, I have just rescued an '84 Estelle 120 that has been in the owners garage since his father died twenty years ago, I am amazed at it's condition NO rust and it runs great.   I replaced the whole braking system sourced from ebay but now I am struggling to find an exhaust system anywhere ?  I too own a jeep a '43 GPW to be precise so we have a couple of things in common

[42GPW]

Sounds a great find, I have just rescued an '84 Estelle 120 that has been in the owners garage since his father died twenty years ago, I am amazed at it's condition NO rust and it runs great.   I replaced the whole braking system sourced from ebay but now I am struggling to find an exhaust system anywhere ?  I too own a jeep a '43 GPW to be precise so we have a couple of things in common

 

Cool!...Well, what can I say...another madman like me!!! 

 

I've got a '42 Script GPW and a 'standard' '44 MB - and my lads restoring a July '45 GPW with a factory-fitted Deep Mud Exhaust...

 

If your interested, I'm currently starting a UK/European owners-club, much along the lines of the G503 but for this side of the pond...if you are interested, PM me your details and I'll add you to the list for when it gets going proper (won't be long!).

 

Which part of the world are you from mate?...I'm in Northants (Nr Kettering) 

 

Your Skoda sounds cool too - we'll have to get them all together...it'd make a superb photo-shoot!!! 

 

Guy.

[skodanorman]

FYI - http://www.skoparts-international.com

The place to get spares from.