Mike T

Thanks to Michel Verdier for this one: 4496011, Coupé Carburetor, 04 mai 1963, Gris Graphite 1055, Cuir Beige, For sale December 2016, interior and trunk are a mess, 5 main bearing engine, front bumper of a sedan, MOURENX FRANCE Total: 2062 !

This one was submitted this evening on the Registry website: 6801097, Carrosserie 14023, Cabriolet Injection, 10 juin 1967, Blanc Arosa 1132, Cuir Noir 2000, It was sold when new in Romans in France, spent a fair bit of time in the Indre Département. Then in 1986, it was imported to California. The present owner from Topanga CA bought it at the very end of November this year. It is said to be in good condition overall, TOPANGA CA USA Total: 2061 !

Friday I got an email from Coachwerks stating that the suspension was ready to take home (the car just got there Thursday morning!). So I borrowed a friend's pickup and drove down to Victoria to get that stuff and to my surprise, the 404C was already welded to its cart (high up in the air so the media blaster can get to the nether bits). While we were there, the flatbed came by to pull her aboard, to bring her up to the media blaster this afternoon. Mike Grams says that the restoration will begin as soon as the car comes back, probably late next week!

Thanks to Reiner Plass for this one: 4594706, Coupé Injection 1964, Rouge, Simili Noir 3000, For sale on eBay December 2016, $8000, carbureted engine, missing rear window(!), VILA NOVA DE FOS GÔA PORTUGAL Total: 2060 !

I can't believe it's really happening! I mean, I bought this car at the beginning of 1989. I was a young man then!

Coachwerks will be mounting the shell on a cart/casters and removing the suspension, then forwarding the shell to Island Quick Strip for media blasting, then back to their shop for epoxy coating and eventually the commencement of restoration work early next year. They (and I) recommend strongly against dipping any shell. It basically destroys the whole thing. The acid is never properly neutralized inside the tightest seams and eats the car from the inside out. They had a customer with a Ferrari from the 60s who had the car dipped before the restoration and within a couple of years the car was basically scrap due to seam rust exploding everywhere. Also, I know someone with a Renault 8 Gordini who had Redi-Strip in Richmond BC dip his shell and after the car was painted, the panels previously thought to be sound were all weeping orange stains forever after.

Last night the car was trucked to Victoria; today it is at Coachwerks' shop.

You are totally right, the suspension is the first priority. I have all new bushings, bolts and ball joints. New front shocks by Peugeot) but not (so far) new rears (but they're easy to change anytime). All the suspension parts will be powder coated in black and should be ready when the shell is done.

Thanks! Up to now it's been more of a "de-build" and will soon be a "re-build" at Coachwerks (which is the shop that does Rudi & Co.'s cars) and thereafter a "build"! I have to do a lot of work to get the car ready for the build-up. A lot of the parts are tired and need works themselves.

The nice thing about the 404C is it has massive frame channels, shared with the sedan. Add the welded fenders and it's massively stronger! Yeah it makes restoration expensive. But she is so pretty..... The car is completely stripped now:

Thanks! Your own 405 project is very impressive too!

In the better late than never category....for nearly 28 years I have owned my 1966 404 Coupé Injection. Finally the restoration is about to begin. The first step is to strip the shell bare. As of the 28th of November 2016, all that is left to do is the dashboard, heater and a bit of stainless steel trim on the driver's side door. The engine and gearbox are out, the brake lines, fuel lines, wiring and everything else but the basic suspension. Because the 404 has a torque tube, I had to bolt it up to the transmission mount (normally it's bolted into the gearbox) to keep the car on its wheels. It is going to be flat bedded down to Victoria by Top Notch Towing, to Coachwerks on Ellice Street. Coachwerks does rare car restorations - they are choosy about the projects they will take. I guess my pitch worked because it's a go! Mike Grams is my contact there. This shop has done some amazing work on various show cars, dozens of 300 SLs, Pebble Beach show cars for Rudi and Company (Rudi Koniczek - they do all his bodywork). The work is going to be very expensive, but worth it to me! This photo shows the 404C just after the engine had been pulled. It's a KF2 unit with 96 HP. When it is rebuilt, I am hoping for 100. This should be accomplished by using a Reinz head gasket instead of the metal/asbestos one that they usually had. I have a new head for the engine, which will have hardened valve seats installed before I use it. I will tear down the engine when the car is in the shop, to assess its condition. A new piston/liner kit will go in, for sure, as well as the new head. Today we dropped off the NOS body panels I have collected for the car over the years at Island Quick Strip in Sidney BC. We managed to get them all into and on the Mercedes B 200! In a couple of weeks, the whole bodyshell will be there, and thereafter at Coachwerks.

Thanks to the owner, Thierry: 4499942, Carrosserie 13950, Cabriolet Carburetor 1967, Blanc Arosa 1132, Cuir Noir 2000, under restoration in 2017 CENTRE BELGIUM Total: 2059 !

Two more ! 4670289, Cabriolet Carburetor 1968, Rouge China 1135, Cuir Noir 2000, Owned by the grandson of the original owner, Jorge Montero (the photographer) tried to buy it for restoration but he would not sell, Nardi gearshift, ÑUÑOA (SANTIAGO) CHILE Carrosserie 119, Cabriolet Carburetor (?) 1962, Bleu Ciel 1041, Cuir Beige, For sale Nov 2016, 37,500 Euros, Robergel wire wheels, AVEIRO PORTUGAL Total: 2058 !

I came across this one today on Flickr: 4495730, Carrosserie 1482, Cabriolet Carburateur 1963, Blanc Saratoga 1031, Cuir Noir 2000, Photograph taken by Elmar on Flickr in August 2016 at the Flugplatz Langenthal, Fulray (South Africa) floor shifter, KF2 Injection engine fitted, BLEIENBACH SWITZERLAND Total: 2056 !

My dear old friend, Reiner Plass - owner of a 203 Commerciale, 306C, 607 HDIV6 - found another new one on Friday: 6801032, Carrosserie 13901, Cabriolet Injection 1967, Blanc Arosa 1132, Cuir Noir 2000, Hard Top, STARNBERG GERMANY Total: 2055 !

Another one was reported today on LE Club 404's web forum: 4595764, Coupé Injection 1965, Gris Graphite 1055, Tissu Beige 2063, 53,898 km original km, PYRENEES FRANCE Total: 2054 !

Another one - I am trying to find the serial number (certainly 68026xx ) - but the Carrosserie number alone allows me to add this car to the Registry: 68026xx, Carrosserie 16067, Cabriolet Injection 1968, Rouge China 1135, Cuir Noir 2000, For sale October 2016 at 27,500 Euros @ Véhicules MSA, Carte Grise Collection, partially restored, MORANCEZ FRANCE Total: 2053 !

Thanks to Gilles (of Alveas) for this one: 6800516, Cabriolet Injection 1967, Purchased for renovation and eventual resale, TBR Auto, THOIRY FRANCE Total: 2052 !

New one today: 4599514, Cabriolet Injection 1967, Blanc Arosa 1132, Cuir Noir 2000, Jaeger Sport instrument panel, Nardi gearshift, Robergel spoked wheels, grille on the dashboard, Peugeot 3 spoked accessory steering wheel, laid up for 20 years but works well, seats need to be redone and a few other things to attend to, ISERE FRANCE Total: 2051 !

Submitted the 6th of October on the Registry website: 4670516, Carrosserie 15558, Cabriolet Carburateur, 29 mai 1968, Robergel wire wheels, undergoing a restoration in 2016, LA POSSESSION (REUNION) FRANCE Total: 2050 !

Found on Leboncoin - thanks to the owner for the serial number: 4498700, Carrosserie 8782, Coupé Carburateur 1965, Bleu Ciel 1041, Skai Noir 2000, For sale September 2016, 8000 Euros firm, the very last 1965 model*produced; DREUX FRANCE Total: 2049 !

Thanks to Gilles Gouret for this one: 4598567, Carrosserie 10733, Coupé Injection 1966, Gris Graphite 1055, Tissu Beige 2063, MAULE FRANCE Total: 2048 !

Spotted by Michel Verdier : 4598518, Carrosserie 10641, Coupé Injection, 26 avril 1966, car is undergoing a restoration in September 2016, NEUFCHATEL-EN-BRAY FRANCE Total: 2047 !

Thanks to Yoann Nikodem, the president of Le Club 404 for this new one: 4598765, Cabriolet Injection, 09 June 1966, Blanc Arosa 1132, Black Leather 2000, will be repainted in the original colour Blanc Arosa, new member of the Club in 2016, CHAMPIGNY-SUR-MARNE FRANCE Total: 2046 !