FTO AUSTRALIA

Hello all.

My first car was FTO GPX in white.. 17years ago.
Since then I've been through lots of sports cars (DC5, STI V7, RX8, classic mini etc)
Now I predominantly ride motorbikes but I ended up buying my first car back -This time a 1997 Version R in white!
(Bought it from gumtree wld anyone know of this car by any chance? Going to need TLC which I'm more than happy to)..
Now this car will be with me for the rest of my life and looking into keeping it as original condition. If I do mods it will be in a way that it can go back to factory stock!
Looking forward for your advise and friendship. Thanks!
Jesse

WTTC! Good to see someone back in AN FTO after so many y other cars.

Cheers, there's something about men and his first car.!

DODO`` wrote:Cheers, there's something about men and his first car.!

Too true! Sometimes I wanna get another BJII Mazda 323 and do the 2.5 KL V6 swap to it like the Lancer and Mirage guys do with the 6A12.

Welcome back to FTO ownership!

Welcome to the club,

Where you from. If you arent too far away, the club bonfire is coming up in the first weekend of April (South Coast NSW). Have contingents coming from QLD, VIC and SA.

Oh and we need pictures....

dstocks wrote:Welcome to the club,

Where you from. If you arent too far away, the club bonfire is coming up in the first weekend of April (South Coast NSW). Have contingents coming from QLD, VIC and SA.

Oh and we need pictures....

Thank you.
I'm from sydney, just paid for the car from Albury and it is being delivered so no pic that I took but here's some pic from gumtree listing. Not sure if crappy pic or crappy condition.. seller tells me its in good nick but can't wait to see in person. Version r was so hard to come by so I think ill keep it even if it means sand blast and restore from scratch. (Unless if anyone know of un-stabbed version r in good condition for sale?)

Cars not road worthy atm and it looked like it will need lots of TLC so if the car's on the road by then ill go. Thanks for the invite!

Interesting, looks to be missing the front strut brace?
Doesn't look too bad otherwise, going by those photos.

I might start up a progress thread actually..!

Technikhaus wrote:Interesting, looks to be missing the front strut brace?
Doesn't look too bad otherwise, going by those photos.

Yea.. I thought of that too. It must've been taken out at some stage. Ill put one back in already found the seller.
Checked the interior and rev history confirms its version r though..

Ahhh, thats the one I was pointing a few others towards as I thought it was an absolute bargain. Good pickup.

dstocks wrote:Ahhh, thats the one I was pointing a few others towards as I thought it was an absolute bargain. Good pickup.

Thanks. I was a bit skeptical because the price was very low but it seems free of major rust (especially roof area) and generally everything is in reasonable order. I'm prepared to bring it back to its former glory!

Looks mad, good pick up! Loving the 3 spoke advans.

Definitely make a ride thread Where abouts are you from?

DODO`` wrote:Thanks. I was a bit skeptical because the price was very low but it seems free of major rust (especially roof area) and generally everything is in reasonable order. I'm prepared to bring it back to its former glory!

If it's a facelift GPvR then you won't really need to worry about the roof rust issue

kiz wrote:

DODO`` wrote:Thanks. I was a bit skeptical because the price was very low but it seems free of major rust (especially roof area) and generally everything is in reasonable order. I'm prepared to bring it back to its former glory!

If it's a facelift GPvR then you won't really need to worry about the roof rust issue

Oh cool! Thanks for the info sir!

mezje wrote:Looks mad, good pick up! Loving the 3 spoke advans.

Definitely make a ride thread Where abouts are you from?

Grew up in NZ, had my first car there too. Now I'm in Sydney!

kiz wrote:

DODO`` wrote:Thanks. I was a bit skeptical because the price was very low but it seems free of major rust (especially roof area) and generally everything is in reasonable order. I'm prepared to bring it back to its former glory!

If it's a facelift GPvR then you won't really need to worry about the roof rust issue

Not that simple. You may or may not. They addressed the roof rust issue in 97 by changing the glue (and it didnt correspond with prefacelift/facelift changeover). Now, your version R is 97, but when in 97...... Was it before or after replacement. If it was built in the latter half of the year, you are safe, if not, you are probably not.

dstocks wrote:

kiz wrote:

DODO`` wrote:Thanks. I was a bit skeptical because the price was very low but it seems free of major rust (especially roof area) and generally everything is in reasonable order. I'm prepared to bring it back to its former glory!

If it's a facelift GPvR then you won't really need to worry about the roof rust issue

Not that simple. You may or may not. They addressed the roof rust issue in 97 by changing the glue (and it didnt correspond with prefacelift/facelift changeover). Now, your version R is 97, but when in 97...... Was it before or after replacement. If it was built in the latter half of the year, you are safe, if not, you are probably not.

holy moly. its 05/97..! are you sure it is exactly second half of the year?
Dayum..
Would this be worth restoring then? If I choose to. whats involved to save this from turning into rust bucket??

If the rust hasn't started, then it's easy, just remove the glue

http://www.completefto.com.au/Default.aspx?aid=341

According to this post above it says 94/95?