Description
For sale is my 1987 Bluebird 1. 8 SLX auto. MOT until August 2022. (Please read the full description).
I bought this back in the summer as I wanted a cool retro boxy 4 door.
It's a 1. 8 single cam CA18, It's on 76, 000 miles, was owned by an old lady before me. Check the MOT history (D173 HFX), it was barely doing 1, 000 miles a year, and I assume it was garaged for most of its life as the underneath, wings, arches, sills, and strut tops are all in fantastic condition with no signs of having ever been welded.
I will get more photos asap, I just wanted to get the ad up with the ones I have for now. Will take photos of the arches and wings, and will also dig out any others I have of the work I have carried out.
I've done quite a few things to it since buying, as below:
Cambelt
Water pump
Thermostat
Headgasket
Cam cover gasket
New aux belts
Oil change
Spark plugs
Coolant flush
New radiator (converted to readily available MX-5 mk2 automatic radiator and fan, new lower mounts welded in to accommodate this)
New auto box cooler hoses
New wipers
Golf mk2 adjustable coilover conversion
All of the work above I have done in the last 4 months.
I've been using the car as a semi-daily, about 50/ 50 with my MX-5. It's been cool having something that you really don't see around anymore, but I just need to free up some funds to finish off my MX-5 I've spent 2 years restoring, and I could do with something a bit more economical as a daily to be honest.
Good points:
Most recent MOT had 2 advisories, one for an exhaust blow and another for a minor oil leak. I have welded up the blow (midpipe), and I have changed the cam cover gasket which appears to have been the source of the leak (no drips underneath at all now).
Lots of engine parts refreshed as listed above.
Idles perfectly and temp gauge never creeps up even in heavy traffic.
All rust prone areas are in fantastic condition (only rust underneath is on some of the exhaust heatshields).
Rear exhaust section looks to be fairly new.
Interior is in overall great condition bar a couple of bits, and is completely original.
Heater works perfectly.
Auto box is smooth, overdrive works nicely, gear selector works as it should.
Suspension top mounts are in great condition, these have been reused on the coilovers.
Brakes feel good, handbrake is strong.
Power steering works nicely.
Lights all work.
Original wheels and hubcaps.
Bad points:
The paint is tired in places (see photos, I will get more to show the paint asap) there is some flaking and some minor surface corrosion where it has flaked off (mainly on boot lid, roof and A pillar).
Dash is cracked and parcel shelf has faded in the sun over the years.
Occasionally doesn't like hot starting if left 15 or so minutes when warm and re-started. This has only started happening recently, it cold starts perfectly every time, even in minus temperatures, but just being totally honest about the hot start, has only happened to me twice.
Rear bumper has had a knock at some point and is a little bulged on the top, but it isn't cracked and is still securely attached.
Radio doesn't seem to get any reception, but I haven't really looked into it much, it is however the original radio/ cassette player.
Weird point:
The left side instrument stalk is completely missing, I have no idea why, but the previous owner has had the wipers and washer jets put on toggle switches next to the steering wheel instead. It's a bit weird, but it all works as it should. It's not really an issue, everyone who notices it finds it quite amusing, I've just left it as if it ain't broke don't fix it!
I've been as honest as possible, I've listed every little thing I can think of both good and bad, just so you know what to expect if interested.
Overall it's no show winner and won't win any races, but it is a really clean car body and interior wise, mileage is quite low considering it is 34 years old. With a little bit of love and some paint it would be a really tidy almost totally original car.
The car will also come with a spare key, a small amount of paperwork, Haynes manual, 4 original suspension springs, new valve stem seals (I didn't need these when I did the engine work as current ones are good), a manual carb (bought as an auto carb but it turned up and wasn't, has a couple of solenoids and other bits on that could probably be used if ever needed), original Bluebird rad fan, and a couple of other engine seals that weren't required in the kit I bought.
Looking for £1, 850, located in Brighton, East Sussex. I really don't want to sell it as it's such a cool retro car to drive about in, but my MX-5 could really do with some cams and a better diff, and having 2 ongoing projects with constant planned upgrades just isn't realistic for me right now.
PLEASE NOTE: due to current Covid isolation in my household unfortunately no viewings can take place for approx. the next 2 days, however feel free to ask any questions, and of course viewings are welcomed once this period is over.
Thanks.
