The week began with a little surprise in the workshop—a visit from Steven, who brought along some exciting parts from Demon Tweeks, including Purdey’s new headlights. Both eyes are now in place, and while there was a tempting moment to add eyelashes, the team decided to keep things tough. After all, she’s a Gazelle, not a glamour queen.
The team tackled the ongoing clutch issue, with Chris adjusting the master cylinder, which seems to have resolved the gear engagement problems. Meanwhile, they trial-fitted the spare wheel carrier and adjusted the snug-fitting second wing around the water bottle. With the wing in place, the team also reinstalled the checker plate and air intake grill.
It was a week of details: cleaning front eyebrows, installing LED side repeaters and soundproofing the bonnet with Dynamat to reduce engine noise. Chris also modified the front support struts to fit around the intercooler more cleanly.
The biggest milestone? Installing the new starter motor, which finally resolved the starting issues. With gears engaging and the engine firing up, the team was finally able to confirm: Purdey runs! No propshaft yet, so she won’t be moving, but it’s a major leap forward.
The team started to map out the dashboard and prepare the custom intercom mount on the roll cage. A small coolant leak from Lulu interrupted the flow midweek, but it was diagnosed as a split hose—nothing serious.
In terms of new installs, the team fabricated a new bracket for the bonnet pull and trial-fitted the aluminum top for the seat box. They picked up fresh battery cable from the agricultural supplier and mounted the new battery box with reinforcement bars and clamps.
Thanks to eurospare, more essential parts arrived: the long-awaited radiator, new relays, left-hand drive headlights, and more service spares for Santana. With the radiator and intercooler installed, all pipework was connected, and the team began filling fluids using EXO lubricants and coolants.
And then came the moment: Purdey roared to life. Emotions ran high—after all the setbacks, frustrations, and weeks of piecing things together, seeing her run was truly overwhelming. There are still issues to solve—like a jammed starter and a clutch that might need bleeding—but progress is real and rapid.
By the end of the week, the team got both seats installed, started fitting harnesses, and continued designing the dash. The intercom and nanocom diagnostic socket were mounted, and even the windows went in—albeit temporarily, until polycarbonate ones arrive.
The team is still dealing with a few delivery delays (yes, some bits are still stuck in Paris!), but Purdey is almost ready to roll out of the garage under her own power.
If you’ve enjoyed this week’s episode, don’t forget to give a big thumbs up, and subscribe so you won’t miss the moment she drives off for the first time. Thanks for sticking with the team—we’re nearly there!
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