Puma Thunder

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bemyguest

New member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
5
Hi all we own a Puma Thunder In graphite grey. A great car ...but... we’ve found it has a rust problem with the sills and the seat belt anchor points. There is a hole now where the vin number used to be. We are deliberating whether to try and get these issues sorted or whether to say by by. I’ve met Barry who is on this site, what a great guy, and had a few chats with him. Has anybody had similar issues that they’ve resolved we don’t really want to give up on this car.
 
Hi and welcome

Graphite Grey? They were Magnum Grey or Silver..? Unless you live somewhere different to me.. :lol:

I had a 2002 Thunder and unfortunately it rusted like it's life depended on it. For some reason the later/newer models seemed to rust a lot quicker and worse than the earlier ones.

I can't comment on this as I am no welding/bodywork expert. Maybe you could try and get some pictures posted up on here... then someone who is more experienced in this sort of thing could advise accordingly... someone like Barry!! :grin:
 
Hi.
I can't say that I've had to battle serious rot but it's all down to how far and how much money that you personally want to put in to the car.
If you can weld and fabricate yourself,or know someone who can,then you are in a much better position. :grin:
Paying for a professional to carry out the work for you will prove to be expensive,and may ultimately decide the car's fate. :cry:
Expressed steel are making full and repair sill panels for the Puma now,so all is not lost....they ain't cheap though!
I would gather some quotes first and take things from there.
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
My apologies this is my partners car and I was told also by her after the post that it is magnum grey not graphite as I previously quoted :roll: we also have the book ‘Puma the inside story’ this car seems to disappearing which is a shame :-(
 
Hi Steve
Maybe after the big garage you could find "an old man in a shed" to do the repair work as it does look a nice car but finding a genuine one rather than a bodger is really hard these days. I would love to see this one saved but as per usual you have to look at cost versus return. As I said before best of luck :)
Barry
 
Hello Steve
If you want to compare the cost of restoration against value then the outcome is to scrap the car.
However, as an old man in a shed (lock up garage) the restoration of my daughter’s ex 1999 1.7 has become a hobby, learning experience and labour of ??? I am fortunate in that the Puma is not really needed as a means of transport but will be one day.
Rust is the enemy and to cure it means hacking out dead metal and replacing it. As mentioned earlier Ex-pressed sills are available - not cheap but value for money. Replacing them is only part of the issue. On my car the drivers inner sill, floor edges and bottom of the B pillar all needed fabricating. This has been a learning experience of how to create new panel sections and to weld them so they are as strong as the original.
Puma values have reached the bottom and there is only one way they will go - up. Not for a few years yet though. My children have been told to hang onto the restored car because like Mk 1 Escorts (who would have thought that!) demand will outstrip supply with resulting value increase.
Unfortunately I cannot upload any photos for comparison.
Stewart
 
Hi, we are still deliberating what to do with the car. We now know it needs a new floor and they are no longer available. Barry has advised us to contact Ex-press panels at Keighley, which we have done but the minimum order is for 10 as they don’t currently make them. They do do sills and some other body parts. So I don’t know if anyone is in the same position and wants one ?
Cheers Steve
 

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