I've just bought a GTM Coupe and thought I would start a project thread to track the progress. The car is pretty much complete and was last on the road early 2015. The monocoque seems pretty solid and mechanically it is very sound. The bodywork needs some tlc with repairs in places and it is very faded, the interior needs some work and wiring is the usual mess. It's got a MG Metro 1275 and 4 pot front brakes. The plan is to tidy it a bit and do the essentials to get an MOT on it and then drive it a bit through the summer then take it off the road for a more thorough strip down over winter.

2017-03-11 15.12.59 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-03-11 15.13.14 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-03-11 15.13.25 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-03-11 15.13.40 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-03-11 15.15.03 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-03-11 15.16.35 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

I couldn't work out why it had a plastic number plate stuck to the bonnet rather than the usual sticker type. When I removed it there was some blistering underneath, presumably caused by the heat from the radiator?

2017-03-11 15.12.41 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Saw this on Fb, nice to see another yellow one
Looking forward to seeing your progress!

Looks a good starting point for a usable project. Good luck with it and I hope you enjoy it.

Is the yellow a painted or gel finish? Those blisters could be osmosis, try popping one.. if water comes out you need to break them all and make sure its good and dry then fill back in. I'm assuming you'll be re spraying the car anyway

Thanks for the comments. The previous owner told me thought it had been sprayed with rattle cans although I do think the gel coat was yellow too. I'll see if the blisters on the front will pop as suggested.

I tried popping a coupe with the cornea of a stanley knife blade, no water came out and I can see a different shade of yellow underneath, presumable the original gelcoat.

Been doing a few bits to the car. Most of the electrical gremlins are now sorted, rear light lens replaced. Stripped and cleaned the rear brakes and checked the front calipers. Have given the engine an oil and filter change and replaced the manky looking air filter. A few more jobs to do like replacing knuckle joints as the boots have perished and then hopefully will be ready for an MOT.

I've been looking for some different seats, below is a photo of one of the mx5 ones i'm using resting in place, just need to sort out the runners.

2017-04-23 14.17.26-1 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Did some more work on the seats today. I managed to adapt the runners off the mx5 seats so that I could use them.

Drilling the holes for the new seats

2017-05-07 12.40.39 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

One side done

2017-05-07 12.59.40 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Both fitted

2017-05-07 15.07.20 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

They need to come out again so I can get some proper 10mm spacers fitted and to paint the floor. Pretty happy with the result though.

Looking good. They look pretty comfy too.

The floor had a fair bit of surface rust where water had got in whilst it had lived outside. I'm trying to get it on the road for next month so didn't want to go too crazy but wanted to treat it before a final fit of the seats.

2017-05-20 10.15.08 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

I got the grinder with the wire wheel on it

2017-05-21 11.06.52 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-05-21 11.34.23 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Then I treated it with some Kurust and a few hours later painted the floor. It could do with a light second coat at some point this week and then I can bolt the seats in properly.

2017-05-21 16.29.11 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Rather than fitting carpet to the floor I thought rubber matting would work well.

I bought a roll and started cutting the pieces

2017-06-03 11.01.30 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Trial fitting one of the pieces

2017-06-03 11.21.17 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

All fitted and seats and seat belts refitted

2017-06-03 20.46.21 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

One thing that bothered me from the moment I went to see the car was how badly the air intake on the engine cover and boot lid had been cut out

20170123_112210_resized_1 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-04 15.39.24 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Part way through neatening it up with a hacksaw and file

2017-06-04 16.11.52 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

The finished result

2017-06-05 18.25.07 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

I'm sure you'll agree, looks loads better!

Today I tackled the front knuckle joints and various perished swivel joint boots

2017-06-17 09.08.17 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-17 09.08.32-1 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-17 09.38.04-1 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-17 10.09.15 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-17 12.04.21 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Still have the rear knuckle joints to do but think i'll need the spring compressor to do these

2017-06-17 17.21.43 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

I'd had trouble with the pedals being too long for me to operate properly. I was going to get another set to alter but someone on the Facebook page had some spares that were already shorter.

2017-06-17 12.29.43 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Fitted

2017-06-17 13.20.13 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

I've been busy crossing jobs off the past few days. With some help from the father in law I swapped out the old points distributor for a proper MG Metro electronic ignition one, it fired up first time and only needed some slight tweaking to the timing.

I got hold of a cone compressor and did the rear knuckle joints

2017-06-22 21.02.30 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

2017-06-23 09.17.59 by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

This afternoon I put it in for an MOT and it passed!

2017-06-23 15.27.00 HDR by Pete Clayton, on Flickr

Congrats on the Mot pass! Another back on the road any advisories?