Hi all,
I have a 1990 Mark II Red T Bar with 175,000 on the clock. I have had the car since 70K miles and used it as a daily commute for years...been off the road for 3-4 years now as I intended to fully restore and use it as a classic / vintage for Sunday driving etc. The car tax is the issue and it is nearly the 30 years old so happy days in the future on that front

Not sure where to start, car is currently at a Main Dearer and it is clearly un-economic to fix it there.....

Needs Brake system de-siezing, full service, new timing belt etc

It has rust and red paint with lots of white bloom through. As I have had it for a long time and it being an Irish car (I am 3rd owner) I have the full history for a restore project.

Any thoughts as to how best tackle the work?

I am based in West Waterford so people with experience in the South would be great to talk with in terms of getting a good way forward

hi,leed im in waterford,pm me,and will be happy to help you out and give you a hand.

Welcome along Leed

There are not too many 1990's left out there, am also counting down the clock to that whoopie €50 vintage tax bracket.

My vote for what its worth: Repair (pending the rust)
Breakers aren't worth much and you will be lucky to sell the car cheap with rust..

Service and belt are regular things needing doing so no biggie ex Main Dealer.
Brakes are a fun DIY project

Pay the money and treat the rust, lay her up and give her a deserved respray when she hits her 30th birthday.
Good investment - and will be fun

-=Repair=- best of luck

Welcome Leed, it's nice to try and hold one to one that you've had for a while and have developed an emotional attachment to
We are all hanging on to the cars in the hope of getting the cheap tax!

Many thanks for the kind offer. I have to visit the garage to see how bad the underside rust is...my key issue is I have no garage to keep the car so I have to find a store / workshop to plan the work

Any particular issues that don't jump out

im a panel beater,sprayer,i just restored a mr2 so if you need advice ,your welcome to drop over to me in tramore,i just restored diahatsu charade detomaso that had gone pink after years off weathering,now its bright red again and cost me nothing,just hard work and the right knowledge.

I think it will be well worth restore specially you have it so long and know every bit of history of that car. You would not find second like that!
We all waits for cheap motortax to drive it anytime. Rust is main issue other things could be just maintenance service.