S600bug

Hi there, Paul from Queensland Australia.

New bloke on the block! I purchased my 600 coupe around a month ago, and have only just picked it up in country Victoria..around 2,000 km's away. The car was owned by the previous owner for past 23 years. He had done various work on the car in that time and the car was driven up to 2006, when it was parked in a barn...it has been collecting dust/dirt ever since. The pic's will explain just how dirty it was! Given I had bought the car sight unseen, apart from seeing a couple of pictures...I was very happy with my purchase. Many spares came with the car also, including an original copy of the shop manual. I will post more, as I progress. Cheers.

Bozwell

looks pretty good. just cleaning will be a bit of a mission.

Kuroneko

Great stuff, and welcome. Interested to see inside the cabin, and air cleaner too. Do you have to send all that dust back to the Mallee, it looks like they've none left after you drove that little 600 North...

AussieAS285

Hi there

Of interest, this car belonged to me and was my wifes daily driver around Sydney's northern beaches for about five years from 1984. I then got transferred to the Gold Coast and the rego lapsed. Soon after I was transferred to Melbourne. Upon discovering my wife was pregnant with our first, we sold the car (in Melbourne) to a young bloke. But a month later he found a convertible and onsold the Coupe to the fellow you bought it from.
When I bought it the engine was non matching numbers, but the car was sound and had no signs of major crash damage and only minor rust. The dash, instruments and interior were at the time original to the car. It's correct colour is Honda Royal Red, but the fellow painted it Honda Scarlet.
I dont know of its history prior to my purchasing it. But at least you now have its history back to 1983/1984.
Thats it behind my brothers S8. I have a few other pics if you are interested.
Regards Michael

S600bug

Hi guy's and thanks for the comments. I have enjoyed reading your stories online...I should of been charged a land tax, for taking all that soil from down south...but all that rain, while down there washed most of it away! Here are some pic's as requested of interior, air filter will be next time. Also a couple with icons in the back ground on the way home, someone inspired me to make the pic's more interesting, with interesting back drops....Kuroneko!!

S600bug

S600bug

That's amazing...thanks very much for the info. I actually prefer the colour it is now, has more depth then the original colour. Would love some more pic's also. Cheers Michael.

AussieAS285

Helensavle, Gold Coast, Qld, 1989

The (your car) includes an NOS rear view mirror which I had at the time in my parts collection. And the steering wheel is the later S8, plastic wood look alike.
When I did it up (not using the word restored) I rebuilt the engine with new rings, gaskets, seals, chain guide roller. The exhaust system (probably still on it) was an NOS one I had. The windscreen rubber and silver insert were also NOS, and should still be in good condition.
This is it in Honda Royal Red.
At the time I was on a budget and Honda parts were expensive. So the front indicator lense were BMC (I think). But fitted and worked.

S600bug

Great stuff Michael, thank you. Answers a few questions I had also. Yes, rubbers are still in great condition and still has the same front indicator lenses on it. Plastic s/wheel still on it and cracked etc...in two minds to #1 resin fix and recoat #2 timber wheel, which are very expensive or #3 something different in a black leather. Rear view mirror still looks great, as for engine side of things...as said was running 8/9 years ago, from previous information out there...I will not even attempt to start it. It will be pulled down, checked and rebuilt using all parts needed. Some more pic's once cleaned up. Cheers again Michael, loving the information.

AussieAS285

The engine in it is not the one I did. So I cannot speak for the one in it. From memory I put new chain tensioners into the rear end, so that should be fine. Steering wheel. Yes original timber S6 wheels are expensive, but so are other wheels with a boss kit. It all depends what you want from the car. A bit of work on the S8 wheel is an easy and cheap fix. Allowing funds to be directed into the engine. Do you intend to do the engine yourself ?

Kuroneko

Here's a replacement handle:

???????S800????????????????? - ????!

Pricey, and not 100%, though center badge looks OK! An original S600:

???????????????????????? - ????!

There was a few Momo-style for sale last week too, under \10,000 including boss as well, so you can be lucky. Neko.

S600bug

Michael, thanks for the further info...all helps. I will be doing most of work myself with a little help from friends. I will be seeking advice from this site also from time to time. I have already learned a lot from others on this forum, which will help me also.

Neko, thanks for the links. Some costly wheels there, will keep looking out there. Another option could be to cover mine in black leather with nice stitching...would still look classic. I like the design of the wheels very much, and would like to keep that style.

A couple more pic's, after a wash, wax and engine degrease. Also some spares that came with the car and air cleaner shots, as requested Neko.

Cheers, Paul.

AussieAS285

Would you be interested in parting with one of the complete gearboxes, maybe a parts swap ?

S600bug

Hi Michael,

Very early days at the moment...until every thing is cleaned up, checked and I know what I have and need, then I will look into selling stuff. That is a while off yet though. I am enjoying this project very much and may do others, will see if I feel the same in 6 months time though!!

Cheers, Paul.

S600bug

Started pulling things down, stripping etc. Taking many pictures and bagging all bolts screws etc individually. Also had a little fun playing with a mates Porsche 911 wheel!

95eggsr66

this is incredible, amazing work, and the previous owner from the 80's is in here!

S600bug

Thanks 95eggsr66,

Yes, pretty good haviing a previous owner on the same site. Filling in some history blanks is a great thing also.

Cheers, Paul.

Kuroneko

Totally impressed by the change after a wash and wax. That parts stash - three 'boxes - alone is amazing. Two or three cranks too. Quite a find! The air-cleaners look toast, so would definitely be pulling down engine, but I see you're doing that already.

What size Fuch did you fiddle with, as it looks half decent! Also, the seat in the background looks like a side-bolstered bucket? Not standard I think, but interested to see if it has a depressed base to fit inside, or sits above... Great stuff! Neko.

S600bug

Hi Neko,

It did come up well with the wash and wax, thanks. Although I'm stripping the paint, I waxed it for the shine to show up all the imperfections...which worked well. Got lucky with the parts, didn't know what I was getting, until pick up! Will take a while to go through every thing. The Fuchs was a 16x7, which worked perfectly...as long as I didn't need to turn left or right or move back or forth! The rears were touching the back springs, the fronts hitting inside arches. He has other Fuchs wheels that are 15x6 and different off set, will try those just to see what options are out there. I can't see them working either though! Will post more pics tomorrow when stripping continues.

Cheers, Paul.

S600bug

Car is pretty well stripped out now, just hand brake and steering column left inside. Floors, side panels, bulk head, windscreen frame etc all perfect and sound. The roof will require a little work with heat to get it dent free. Apparently when the car was stored in it's barn, the cars roof doubled as a trampoline for a 4 year old's birthday party...also a couple of shots of those seats, I thought they were original but as Neko mentioned...perhaps not.

Cheers, Paul.

Kuroneko

Those seats look original, but a bit hard to see from the camera-phone snaps. The base should tell you - if depressed on one side or not? Totally amazed at the state of the body. A tremendous result. Is the paint original, or are you wanting a concours finish? I think the 14-inch Fuch fit without much more than some hub-milling (or similar).

Also, I note an S800 speedmeter - assume in MPH, but if in km would you consider selling? Neko.

AussieAS285

The seats are dead set original. The ones which came with the car. Not bad for nearly 50 years old.

S600bug

Seats are depressed on one side, on underside of both the seats. They are the originals. Speedo's are mph. Car was resprayed in Scarlet Red, a deeper colour to original Royal Red. Will be doing a very neat job of the car, to do her justice...don't know about concours! Will wash,scrub and hose out floors, sills etc etc tomorrow to get rid of the last red earth in the car. Cheers, Paul.

Kuroneko

Thanks and really looking forward to seeing the work and the results! Neko.

S600bug

Body now totally stripped and ready for removal. Most of the body mounting bolts came out nicely, with a good dose of WD-40 left over night to soak in. There were only 2 bolts that were badly rusted through, and snapped straight away! The plastic surrounds were non existent! Only 2 bolts out of 26...for a 50 year old car, happy with that result. Car is now propped up on blocks between chassis and body, just to make sure everything has been disconnected. Just waiting on a hand for lift off! Also water pump pulled down for inspection.

Cheers, Paul.