When I bought my Mark II Zephyr, it was a shell with a seized motor and a boot full of rusted parts. It had been parked under a tarp in Werribee for nearly 20 years. I wasn’t even sure it was restorable. But I’d promised myself I’d bring one back to life – and I stuck with it.
Here’s how it went:
Month 1-2:
- Pulled everything apart and labelled every nut and bolt
- Hired a rotisserie and got the shell sandblasted
- Found rust in sills, boot floor, rear arches and bottom doors
Month 3-6:
- Welded in patch panels (bought some, made others)
- Ordered new seals, rubbers and door cards from the UK
- Got the motor rebuilt (rebore, new pistons, hardened valve seats)
Month 7-9:
- Primed, blocked and painted in ‘Aubergine Red’ (factory colour)
- Refitted suspension with new bushes and springs
- Added power disc brakes up front (kept it discreet)
Month 10-12:
- Installed custom headlining and re-trimmed seats in original style
- Reassembled everything slowly – took time to align doors and bonnet
- Started her up for the first time in two decades – and she ran
What I learned:
- Take photos of everything before disassembly
- Don’t rush bodywork – it shows later
- Join the club early – you’ll save months in time and mistakes
It’s now club registered and hits the road every few weekends. Worth every scraped knuckle.
Matt J
