Mazda 808: Part 3. The Finished Product.

January 4th, 2009

Continued from Part 2

So here's what the car looked like when finished.

I stripped the engine apart and put new rings and bearings in it, just because I wanted to.

Fitted some seat covers front and back to hide the shredded seats. Built a center console out of fibreboard (masonite) and covered it with vinyl.

I registered it, didn't have any problems getting over the pits, and drove it around for a couple of years then sold it.



Posted by Craig in: Previous Rides,


Mazda 808: Part 2. Work begins.

September 8th, 2008

Continued from Part 1

After getting the 808 home, I started stripping it back to a shell. Then stripped the paint back to bare metal. There was surprisingly little rust.

The front panels were a bit banged up and the headlights were missing, so I ended up sourcing another 808 sedan to replace the front end.

Preparation is everything when it comes to a good paint job, so I took my time spraying high build primer/filler letting it cure and sanding it back, then repeating the process until the surface was perfect.

Next stage was to primer the entire car and paint the door jambs, undersides of panels, door hinges, nuts and bolts etc.

Then you can refit the doors and panels and paint the exterior in one go. Though, I painted the front end separately, but I don't remember why.

More following in Part 3.




Posted by Craig in: Previous Rides,


Mazda 808: Part 1

September 2nd, 2008

Here's the last car that I did a full restoration job on, around 1992.

It's a Mazda 808 1600 coupe. I rescued it from the abandoned car lot at the local council for the sum of $15.

It was in a pretty sorry state, as you can see by the photos I took when I got it home.

The plan was to rebuilt the engine, give it a nice paint job, clean up the interior and get it registered.

Part 2 Work begins...



Posted by Craig in: Previous Rides,