We had been driving the Riv for few years and in that time we decided that the car needed a repaint. The repaint turned into virtually a full restoration. The car was a genuine low mileage car with only 49298 miles on the clock.

We totally dismantled the car. We did not separate the body from the chassis, in retrospect, we should have.

We had two complete cars to play with, so we selected the best bits from each and proceeded with the rebuild. All body panels were stripped to bare metal and repaired where necessary and then file finished. All parts were primed, undercoated and blocked. We then reassembled the body i.e. guards, doors, bonnet, boot etc. We adjusted all the gaps and clearances, and then numerous coats of Classeratt Two Pack Black and again blocked, then another coat of black and four coats of clear and again blocked and then buffed. From the first coat of primer to the last coat of clear took six months.

The car was bought home and on arrival, I critically examined the paint job and many blemishes were found, so back onto the Tilt Tray and back to the paint shop and the whole job was redone, another three months. The second time the job was perfect.
Then to the mechanics. The spare engine was totally rebuilt. The only parts that were not replaced were the block, heads and crankshaft. Every other part was replaced, pistons, valves, rods, oil pump, cam (slightly warmer than the standard GS), and water pump, even the weights in the distributor. The transmission was rebuilt using all NOS parts. The diff 3.42 positraction was dismantled and reassembled. We used the same crown wheel pinion but all other parts were replaced. New rear wheel bearings and seals were fitted and the rear wheel cylinders were sleeved to a size 1/16” smaller than standard, Hopefully to help with rear wheel lock up.

The front suspension was renewed i.e. tie rod ends control arm bushes, etc. A heavier front sway bar was fitted and Koni shocks all round, along with four new springs (ex US). Once the suspension was completed, it was time to reinstall the engine and transmission.

The two rebuilt AFB carburetors were fitted, a rough manual timing of the distributor, and then the moment of truth.

We removed the plugs, oiled the cylinders and with the plugs removed spun the engine. We could not get oil pressure.

The engine was removed from the car and back to the workshop for a complete pull down. One month later, the engine was refitted and it ran like a Swiss watch. We then took the car off the stands, and with the transmission in park, the car rolled out of the garage, more ricocheting spanners.

Back on the jacks, the pan removed from the transmission and with help of a friend the problem was found and fixed. Back on the ground, we started the car, selected D and the engine stalled. Here we go again!! This time it was an assembly problem.

Back on the stands, gearbox out, back to the so-called expert and the problem rectified. Transmission back in, problem solved.

The car was then taken to Liverpool Exhaust where a 2 ¼” mandrel bent stainless system was fitted. From there the car went to Sydney Molded Carpets and a new carpet was fitted, they also fully lined the boot (trunk) using the same carpet.

We refitted the seats and due to the fact that we had two cars we were able to fit the passengers seat with an electric adjustment.