Pictures of frame-off 1200 pickup restoration

[randyscycle]

Hi All,

Still working away here on the 1200 pickup, but not as much progress as I expected yet. Other jobs and such......

Look for some fresh pics coming up in the next week!

 

[randyscycle]

More new pictures of 1200 pickup body repair

Hi All,

An update with more to come over the next few days.....

The major repairs to the cab structure have been repaired in the front cowl and a-pillars. Included are some pictures of those repairs during and after. Rust encapsualtor has been applied and the seams sealed. This doesn't look like much in the pictures, but it is a huge step forward.

The next step is the floor pans which will be finished in the next day or so. Pics will be posted then. Progress has been a bit slow due to other shop projects that were higher priority. Plans are for the cab to be in a primed state by mid December and the bed work commenced then. The frame and mechanicals are last.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

good stuff

 

[tviera]

Contact me if you have a hard time finding mechanical parts. I was raised in a parts store and my father is a GM for a NAPA franchise. NAPA has been around for 75 years and the sell their own products, so they have a extensive back catalog of their products/part numbers.

If you can find a local (not a major chain) part store that carries Beck/Arnley import replacement parts that would be another local place to make friends with.

 

[maxg765]

Seems like very hard extensive work. Thats one luck truck. Can't wait to see the finished product.

regards

Max

 

[randyscycle]

More bodywork pics

Here are some more pics. These are of the Left Rocker Panel and Inner structure, before the floor pan install. The rocker panels are parts that I fabbed myself from Jeep Cherokee door skin lowers. (should I call it a Jeezda, or a Meep?) Unfortunately there are no replacement panels available, so making them is the only choice. As you can see in the pics, the inner rocker panel was rust damaged as well, so I grafted a repair section in where the cab mount will attach. BTW, thats not putty on the rocker surface, only the primer from the red door that it came from. My goal is to use as little (or no) putty as possible.

Thanks tviera, for the info. Actually the few parts I have located thus far have all been Beck Arnley NOS. I've been in the import world for 20 years and used to use their stuff all the time...... As far as NAPA, I am a very good friend of my local jobber and have looked through all his catalogs and computer inventory. Some 1200 car stuff like tune-up parts, etc, is still available and will interchange, but I couldn't find a single mention for the 1200 truck. As far as it looks from everything I have seen, its like it was never sold in the US or in very limited numbers.

Randy

 

[randyscycle]

On another note regarding these trucks, I have discovered a few facts of interest:

Mazda also made a 1000 pickup. It looks almost identical to the 1200, but is about 2 feet shorter and had wheels painted the same color as the body. Still a four cylinder, it had 990cc's!

The 1200 that was a US/Canada market vehicle had sealed beam headlamps and floor shift. The other markets had replaceable bulb rectangular headlamps and 4 speed on the column shift.

The gas tank is a whopping 7 gallons!

It weighs 1628 lbs!

It has 70 Hp. (it doesn't state whether it's wheel or engine HP)

The bed is 5'8" long inside.

It has 12 inch rims and uses 5.00X12 tires with drum brakes front and rear. Stopping distances weren't listed. (I wonder why?)

 

[kcbhiw]

It weighs 1628 lbs!

It has 70 Hp. (it doesn't state whether it's wheel or engine HP)

That's quite impressive considering the era and engine displacement. It probably scooted along quite nicely considering the low weight.

 

[randyscycle]

Here are a couple of pics of the floor pan on the drivers side. It is fabricated from a Jeep Cherokee hood! It is cut in and welded to the original floor material. There is also a new cab mount that has been fabricated and welded into place to replace the rust damaged original.

Next step is repair of the passenger floor, which isn't nearly as damaged and then the seams will all be sealed and the undercoating will be applied. Then all the underside gets sprayed the same color as the body.

 

[randyscycle]

That's quite impressive considering the era and engine displacement. It probably scooted along quite nicely considering the low weight.

I was surprised too, especially considering its a truck. It has a 4.65:1 rear end gear ratio, so it its designed for low end.

 

[Kansei]

recycling other car parts ftw!

 

[wannabe]

(thumb) nice work man! looks like its slowly coming together.

 

[Foolish]

I wonder if this Mazda will have "the soul of a sports car"? We already know it's got the doors and hood of a Jeep!

 

[randyscycle]

wonder if this Mazda will have "the soul of a sports car"? We already know it's got the doors and hood of a Jeep!

LOL! Not sure. By the time its finished, it may include many other parts from other donors as well! With that 70HP, it'll sure drive like a sports car!!!:bs:

 

[melicha8]

This is a really cool project. Make sure when you're done you put it on show at the classic japanese car show

 

[tviera]

Randy!!!!!!!!!! We want more info on the restoration project.

 

[randyscycle]

Randy!!!!!!!!!! We want more info on the restoration project.

Keep watching. Things are moving a bit slower than planned, only because this is a personal/secondary project and the holidays are here too! We also expanded our shop as well, by 1200 Sq Ft, so we now have more room for this little Mazda. With the cold weather upon us, this will make it much easier to move along faster now........

I just recieved my scanner the other day, so I will be scanning the brochures and manuals (at least parts of that) and posting them in the coming week.

The last of the floor pan work is being finished as you read this and the cab will be repaired completely then. Then it is on to the bed!

Randy

 

[maxg765]

Coming Along

Keep watching. Things are moving a bit slower than planned, only because this is a personal/secondary project and the holidays are here too! We also expanded our shop as well, by 1200 Sq Ft, so we now have more room for this little Mazda. With the cold weather upon us, this will make it much easier to move along faster now........

I just recieved my scanner the other day, so I will be scanning the brochures and manuals (at least parts of that) and posting them in the coming week.

The last of the floor pan work is being finished as you read this and the cab will be repaired completely then. Then it is on to the bed!

Randy

Hey Randy,

Glad to see that its coming along. I know its a little premature but have you decided on what color you will be painting it? I like the original off white color.

best regards

Max

 

[randyscycle]

Hey Randy,

Glad to see that its coming along. I know its a little premature but have you decided on what color you will be painting it? I like the original off white color.

best regards

Max

Hi Max! Yes, slowly but surely here....... We plan to have the floors ready by the 1st of the year and the cab bottom and engine compartment undercoated and painted. It will be the original color. Its kind of hard to tell from the pictures, but it is actually a sort of Pastel Green color. I did find a brochure and it was avaiable in the green, white, and red too. The red truck looked really sharp.

In a bigger step forward, we also expanded our shop by another 1500 sq ft, so the whole chassis is now inside out of the elements, in a climate controlled environment, which will keep it from deteriorating further until work commences there.

Look for some scans of the sales brochures coming up soon.

Thanks again for the shop manual. Its already come in handy for the front sheetmetal measurements. The front clip is identical to the 1200 car.


Randy

 

[maxg765]

Shop Manual-Sheet Metal-Color

Hi Max! Yes, slowly but surely here....... We plan to have the floors ready by the 1st of the year and the cab bottom and engine compartment undercoated and painted. It will be the original color. Its kind of hard to tell from the pictures, but it is actually a sort of Pastel Green color. I did find a brochure and it was avaiable in the green, white, and red too. The red truck looked really sharp.

In a bigger step forward, we also expanded our shop by another 1500 sq ft, so the whole chassis is now inside out of the elements, in a climate controlled environment, which will keep it from deteriorating further until work commences there.

Look for some scans of the sales brochures coming up soon.

Thanks again for the shop manual. Its already come in handy for the front sheetmetal measurements. The front clip is identical to the 1200 car.


Randy

Hello Randy,

Glad to see that its coming along. Also, very glad to see that the shop manual has come in handy. It was my pleasure to send it over.
The pastel green color is great. I would suggest it over the red and even the white. Its an unusual truck and I think that, that color will compliment its originality. At the same time an original production color is always prefered to the fussy collector should you ever decide to part with it.

Good luck and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Max