[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Hi All,

I wondered if I could have some help with this.

I have been left this MK1 1993 Eunos Roadster with 123,000km on it.

It’s in very good condition with only surface rust on the bottom of the sills.

Been dry stored in a barn for the last 6 years, today I took a new battery and it started first turn of the key.

It’s a 1.8 if that makes any difference?

Also has a Hardtop.

Any idea on its market value please?

I Want to know if it’s worth me spending the money on it and making it ’really’ clean.

 

[boxerdog1]

Although prices of MK1 / NA's are gradually rising there is a huge variation in pricing mainly attributable to condition and history. e.g.

1. What was MOT history like pre barn storage .
2. Does it have any service history or indeed ownership history pre / post import.
3. When was it imported. The later the better from an exposure to salted roads point of view.
4. The hard top alone if in reasonable condition should fetch c £500 + .

These are just a few questions which most buyers would want to know.

Have a look at what's on sale on the various E Bay forums / owners club forum / Autotrader / Pistonheads Sale Site / Car and Classic Website etc at comparable condition to yours - what price are they asking ?

Perhaps put it in for an MOT which will certainly identify how solid it is and whether the sills actually only have surface rust or whether it runs into a more structural issue. These cars are 30 + years old now and unfortunately have a poor reputation for rust although possible not as much as some of the later models !

Perhaps answer the above questions and put a few internal / external / engine bay images up here for further review and hopefully some of us including myself who own or have owned a MK1 / Eunos may be able to offer a more informed opinion.

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Thanks for the above message, really appreciate you taking the time.
The car has MOT history going back to 2005, so I’m guessing that’s when it was brought into the country?
I’m thinking about keeping the car and really tidying it up but upon inspection so far, the bodywork is in really excellent condition. The wheels need refurbishing and I think if I am going to keep it the surface looking rust would need repairing. Luckily my family business is a veteran car restoration company so have the facilities at my disposal to undertake a full restoration if required.
Any idea where I can pick up a Tan leather drivers seat? Only this one is damaged on the bolster.
Service record - have services dating back every year from 2005-2016

I have attached some more images for you to have a look at.

 

[boxerdog1]

Looks to be a very tidy example and with good history too , well worth saving in my opinion. MOT history not too bad either and I suspect it's had a bit of rear sill repair in the past based on the April 2012 MOT failure.

The Green ones do polish up well , I've attached an image of one I had a few years ago - I'm currently bringing a silver G reg one back to it's original glory too.

As you are in the restoration business this should be an exiting project as these cars are well worth saving . They are also very easy to work on from mechanical angle and with only c 77000 miles and full service history from 2005 you still have mega miles left !

The tan leather seats do come up on the various breaker sites and E Bay although a good upholster should be able to sort things out. Rest of interior looks very good .

Engine bay should tidy up nicely and that radiator might need replacing soon as the header tank is showing the 'on the way out' discoloration .

Good luck with the potential restoration and keep us posted on developments

 

[Slushbox]

It's worth restoring & being mechanically recommissioned.
There will probably be some internal hidden sill rot, and in the arches/wing cavity though..
You will not likely find a replacement tan seat worth buying any longer.
Tan interiors are Holy Grail now. Door card spares do not exist either, but you can still get odd bits and bobs from scrappers.
Quality spares for Mk1s, the emphasis on quality, are becoming more difficult.
You will likely find most of the excellent Nippon Denso loom is fine...eg lamp lifter motors etc.
If that ICE is OEM...keep it in. Hen's teeth now. Nardi wheel & gear knobs in good nick are sought after by the Alfa folk never mind us.
Present state? £1,500-ish project.
Proper photo-proofed rot free resto?
Name your ticket.... up to £12k -ish?
How long is that piece of string...as you will know well.
(People in the know do not snigger at Mk1s so much now.)
Especially rarer examples like RSs & JDM BRGs
Like my own.


Nuts...but hey ho!
More dosh than sense? Or is it?

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]

thanks @boxerdog1 really appreciate your input, it’s great to have some input from people that ‘have been there and done it’ I think the order of play to start with will be the following:

Remove from the barn where it’s sat for the last 6 years. Full clean and detail, see what she looks like cleaned up and check over the bodywork.
Remove the Hardtop and clean the soft top. ( looked at the soft top yesterday which appears to be in ‘like new’ condition, no marks or tears present which is great news. Do you have any suggestions on what to clean the soft top with?

Next job will be to drain the old fuel out and give it some fresh Juice, get it on the ramp and see what we have on the underside. I have seen on the dread ‘EBay’ that sellers are offering Sill repair panels? Are these any good or should they be avoided. I had in my mind that I would cut away any rust underneath and then MIG weld back in a plate/section….

I have also been thinking about the state of the Timing Belt….. I am guessing this could do with changing after sitting for a prolonged period of time? I will also give it a full service.

I have heard a lot about the ‘browning’ of the radiator header tank and that it should be replaced, any idea on where or who make a good quality Rad replacement?

the interior upholstery will come last alongside a refurbishment of the Alloy wheels as these are purely cosmetic. On the off chance, you would know the brand and Model of alloys on the picture of your old one? I have to say it looks stunning with those wheels in the green colour combination.
Thanks again for your help and input.

 

[EastsussexEunosMK1]

Thanks @Slushbox appreciate your help and it’s great that you think it’s worth/ financially viable to restore the car.
I plan on getting the car on the ramp next weekend to see what’s really going on underneath and luckily I have access to a work space with MIG welding facilities to try and address anymore rust issues.
With regards to the Interior, it’s generally in great condition it’s only the drivers seat that is showing a few war marks. Perhaps as @boxerdog1 mentioned an upholsterer will be able to help. Other than that it’s very clean, the Head Unit is in superb condition and works well. I agree with your point, almost every one I have found images of online has had this replaced so it’s nice to keep the originality.
I am still amazed to be honest that after sitting for 6 years I was able to jump start it and it sat and idled without any smoke, incredible really.

one last question I forgot to ask, is the 1.8 engine rarer than the 1.6? Only I can only find later (1997-1999) cars with the 1.8 for sale, all the others are the 1600.

 

[Slushbox]

During a cambelt service it's good practice to renew the water pump...and tensioner.
I'd advise ONLY to use either Gates gaskets & belts OEM. Only fit an OEM pump.

There is a lot of poor quality stuff out there.

 

[boxerdog1]

Hi ESE - I've appended a few comments to each of your queries on your last post .

Remove from the barn where it’s sat for the last 6 years. Full clean and detail, see what she looks like cleaned up and check over the bodywork.
Remove the Hardtop and clean the soft top. ( looked at the soft top yesterday which appears to be in ‘like new’ condition, no marks or tears present which is great news. Do you have any suggestions on what to clean the soft top with?
I'm presuming it's the original plastic 'non mohair' type soft top same as I had on the Green one - I believe a simple wash / soft brush with a ph neutral car shampoo will suffice with these although I never had to do anything to mine as it was new when I acquired the car and it never really seen rain or was up as car was only used in dry weather !

Next job will be to drain the old fuel out and give it some fresh Juice, get it on the ramp and see what we have on the underside. I have seen on the dread ‘EBay’ that sellers are offering Sill repair panels? Are these any good or should they be avoided. I had in my mind that I would cut away any rust underneath and then MIG weld back in a plate/section….
MX5 Parts UK stock various repair panels which I believe are good quality.

I have also been thinking about the state of the Timing Belt….. I am guessing this could do with changing after sitting for a prolonged period of time? I will also give it a full service.
Good idea to replace belt and ancilliary parts inc. waterpump - mind you if you did have a belt fail it's a 'non interference' engine so only harm done would be lack of motion ! Remember when servicing these engines are designed to use semi synthetic oil .

I have heard a lot about the ‘browning’ of the radiator header tank and that it should be replaced, any idea on where or who make a good quality Rad replacement?
mx5parts.co.uk stock good quality replacement rads .

the interior upholstery will come last alongside a refurbishment of the Alloy wheels as these are purely cosmetic. On the off chance, you would know the brand and Model of alloys on the picture of your old one? I have to say it looks stunning with those wheels in the green colour combination.
Those wheels are OZ alloys and were specific to the '91 BRG Limited Edition - unfortunately rare as Rocking Horse S*** although they do come up for sale from time to time.

Hope this helps and as I said before , keep us updated with progress - that Eunos has a lot of potential !

 

[Bobthebuilder]

I know someone selling this MERLOT edition only 27k miles.