Punto (Mk1) My exploit yellow 75 elx

My GT wheel arrived from Italy yesterday.
Got stung with import tax so it was even more expensive

Still….. cheaper than a Tipo

Swapped the wheel over this afternoon. No airbag light on
I used the original airbag just in case it upset the car swapping it over.

Have a spare airbag if anyone needs one

Today- at great expense I bought a brand new old stock Punto GT1 leather steering wheel from Italy

Exactly the sensible thing to do when I’m looking at selling the car for a Tipo

Anyway, I was putting it away for winter today and was sitting in it thinking, so he leather gear knob makes such a difference, a leather steering wheel would be ace.

It’s now on its way from Italy.

It’s coming with a spare airbag if anyone needs one.

A wee while ago, I bought some old magazine adverts for a mk1 Punto and also a Tipo 16v.

I’d been meaning to put them up in the garage since I cleared it out, so today I got some cheap frames from b&m and stuck them up.

Love it. Just need a red Tipo 16v to fill the garage

Also the sun was on the paintwork of the car. I adore exploit yellow in the sunshine. It’s so bright.

I found a place online that makes reproduction paraflu coolant stickers for the windscreen so ordered one…. And two turned up.

Really good quality so put one on the van too

That was a pita.
The old gear knob pulled off easily and undamaged, but lining this one up with the collars and tightening the tiny screws was a nuisance.

Thank god it’s on

Have been watching this on eBay for a wee while and was umming and ahhing about it.

Especially as there is an exploit yellow elx on eBay with a black leather interior- the thought of buying that and swapping the interior into mine was tempting…. Anyway, I made a stupidly low offer on this, thinking it wouldn’t be accepted, and forgot all about it.

Next thing, this turns up at the door today

My car is looking like the old accessory brochure.
Just need to find a new old stock leather GT1 steering wheel to match now

Also just looking through my book, it turns out it’s made by momo

Remind me- how do you remove a mk1 gear knob without ruining it?

If anyone wants a wooden one, there is one on eBay just now cheap

Just a wee update on its little house.

I picked up rubber gym mats from Halfords that were on clearance for the garage floor. I also took the opportunity to run the wire for the battery trickle charger underneath so it pokes through the floor beside the front wheel, and doesn’t dangle about or get in the way.

It just tidies up the garage I think and was really cheap.
I also painted the walls and roof fresh white, as the bikes and all of the stuff in the garage has marked them. Taylor wimpey seem to use tippex on the walls instead of paint.

I have some mk1 Punto and Tipo Sedicivavole magazine adverts that I want to put in frames on the wall underneath the wheel trims (one advert which has en exploit yellow Punto elx), and also number plates that I’ve kept from my old cars to put on the wall.

It’s coming on. My missus thinks I’m mad.

Since we moved into the house, we have been meaning to get the loft space floored, so we could put all the crap from the garage up there, as getting the car out meant moving boxes, Christmas trees, bikes etc.

New builds are crap for garage space, the Punto luckily is small enough but my missus’ previous car a Kia ceed didn’t fit in it and my Doblo certainly doesn’t.
However it’s very warm and dry inside even in the winter.

This was done at the weekend, so tonight I cleared the garage out to give much more space so that I can actually move around the car.

There are still a few things still to vacate the garage like the wheels, whirligig and bikes once a new shed is built but I’m so happy about the space now and I’m going to turn it into a bit of me space.

The car is covered in sawdust from the joiner and of course it started to rain as it was out when I was clearing and sweeping up so everything’s stuck to it

Love island started tonight so I disappeared from the house for an hour and decided to take the car out

Had a drive through to queensferry for the Scottish Italian car day.
Weather was awful, but I got to see a panda italia 90 in the metal, so that was nice

Gave the car a quick hose down when I got back and couldn’t believe the amount of crap on the front wheels

Have been using the Punto the last couple of days- even took it to to work today, and it rained, then it was blowing a gale and my car park is just pure dust- so tonight was spent getting back to business

fresh MOT this morning

Taxed and battery charged.

MOT booked 9am Saturday.
Had better dig it out of the garage

Nothing to report.

Although I had to push the car around inside the garage to put Christmas decorations away.
My garage is part of the house (new build), with the boiler in it, so it’s warm all of the time in there.

Even still, when I store the car over the winter, I always put 2 of the little plastic crystal dehumidifier things in it, and leave the windows down slightly.

I was surprised to find they were both completely full of water, although luckily, no mould in the car and it smells like it usually does.

It was nice to be inside it again though, roll on summer.

Today, my 13 day old son had his first experience in the car whilst I had it out of the garage.

Will see if I can take the same pic in 17 years time

Over the last wee while I’ve lost interest in the car. I get like this every so often- it sits in the garage for months over winter, life gets in the way etc.

But the reaction it got on Sunday gave me a bit of motivation, and a couple of spare hours had me deep cleaning the arches.

Also found a suitable place for a mini exploit yellow mk1 (if only it was 5dr)

Managed to win the people’s choice category in the show for the 2nd year in a row somehow….. people seem to prefer a 90’s small hatchback rather than an exotic Ferrari.

Anyway, I was parked next to a lovely uno selecta which the owner uses every day

On Sunday, I will potentially (if my missus doesn’t give birth by then) be taking the car to the Scottish Italian car day 2023 through in Queensferry.

So over the last week or so, it’s had bits and bobs done and tidied up, and it’s annual wash.
The ceramic coating is still holding up really well, considering it was applied a good few years ago.

I was surprised by the amount of crap that bled off the wheels considering how little mileage the car does.

And what a Good Friday it is for an MOT…..

Also an update of all the cars in the household now- the xc40 is absolutely brilliant!