Hello from the Midlands !

[romasaver]

Hi my names Nick,

well what can I say… just aquired a 1968 Roma HA (series II canvas rear) to say it has underbody corrosion
would be the understatement of the year but im game and will have a go… last on the road in 99 and sat on grass
since..

any other Ha’s on here or have they all succumbed to the dreaded tinworm?

(only photos I got are the ones I go sent pre arrival)

ill get some pics of the chassis an floors (well where they used to be) in the light tomorrow if I get home from time from work !!!

also drive a mk2 transit CI camper, a mk2 humber sceptre and a pair of mk2 astras

😆

[romasaver]

I should add that its on saving grace is the fact it is intact fittings wise inside and everything appears to be there apart from the missing metalwork.. didnt get any keys with it but ran the jumpleads from the astra to it tonight and bridged to the coil positive and it had dash lights, working lights, working horn and the heater fan still blows !!! starter however is siezed solid… but the engine turns on the pulley and feels to have a little bit of compression still…

[romasaver]

now for some inside pics.. (found the camera with a flash)

did I mention the rust?

roll on the warmer weather..

[Gaz]

Thanks for posting your photo’s and story Nick, you certainly have your work cut out there. 😯 Your a braver man than me for taking that on. I hope that it’s not worse than your first thought, once you get started, aqfter all, it’s been standing for 11 years. 🙁

Still, I suppose once it’s all done, it will be worth it. Keep us informed with your progress please.

Gary

[romasaver]

thanks Gaz !!

van has turned up some interesting problems thats for sure.. went to a friends today and armed with measuring devices and my laptop I came up with the following plans..

need a pair of these for starters..

the van is a deluxe not an SL so considering most Romas were SL makes it that little bit rarer (out of the 10 or so remaining lol)
have managed to source a good quantity of panels from a car floorpan that was mint but was being cut up for scrap as the top had been salvaged already for repairs to a very much loved family car..

so have
2 jacking points and sill re-enforcers
both panels OS and NS where front and rear rails overlap and 8 inches either side??
both rear filler free mint wheel arches
both front chassis rails and front cross member (did I mention these have the consistency of fibreglassed cardboard too?)
mint bonnet
the little pieces that cap the ends of the front cills in behind the front wings
and a few other little bits..
have amazingly had the engine running.. a splash of fuel down the carb and a clean of the points saw it fire straight up (seriously!!!) no il pressure though so suspect either stuck oil pressure relief valve or strainer..

[cat]

hi nick, just looked at your project, I myself own a bedford ca, but a very good friend of mine owns a mark 1 (solid rear end) bedford ha. but hers is drivable, so it would be good if you can save it so there can be one more on the road, good luck with it , cat

[bedfordbad]

hi nick, i think you contacted me through a third party somehow, as you know i have a few of these in various states of repair so if you need any photo`s, measurements ect during your restoration please let me know…and i will try and help!! you`ve certainly got your work cut out !! good luck!!!!!!! steven

[romasaver]

hello mate, yes
I contacted you about Oliver if memory serves…

can you have a look and see if you got a sticker under your cooker in one of your mk2 vans when the cooker is locked open??

also what locks into the large open pocket in the side behind the passenger seat on the wall??

cheers again

Nick

[bedfordbad]

hi nick, no stickers on mine,, the pocket behind drivers seat is for the 2 picnic tables that slot in behind a chrome fastner, hows resto going? i need some space so will probably end up putting a deluxe on ebay in next few weeks, cheers steve

[romasaver]

ill keep an eye out for that then Steve,
you got any roof canvas’s for teh tailgates by any chance? in green 😀

[bedfordbad]

sorry matey, can`t help you there, ive no green at all!! yours must be a fairly late g reg as ive got 2 1969 g reg ones and both are the solid rear deluxe variants, , cheers steve

[romasaver]

well its bee a while since I came on here, the Roma is amazingly still with me and has sat untouched for a couple of years due to promises of parts that never arrived and new work commitments etc, this year is going to be his year though, either make or break so to speak.. So where did I get to?
A full stripdown of the van revealed the true horror of the corrosion present.. I had to step back take a very deep breath and then decide as to wether or not it was savable.. after viewing 4 other HA vans with a view to using their bodies to recreate the roma I came to the conclusion they all rot in the same places.. just mine hadnt been bodged..
in the last issue of the magazine I recieved before my membership lapsed (sorry Allan) I had just got to the point where I had removed the front end of the van

this had revealed bodgery of horrific proportions on the front rails in the past at some point

that was “as found” it had been filled with fibreglass

the other side

im hoping the front end of a car is winging its way to me as we speak, I know I can only use the lower parts as the screen aperture, door apertures are all unique between van and car but it should provide the inner wings, front panel and a few other bits

[Author]

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