THE INITIAL STAGES: BODYSHELL AND CHASSIS
To start, dismantle the car, saving all screws and bolts – taking lots of photos along the way – and having boxes for the various bits. Lift the bodyshell off the chassis – you’ll need a bit of space – and put it on stands.
The shell will almost certainly need some welding to repair rusted areas, before installing the roll cage and the seat mount. The roll cage must be to Motorsport UK regulations for saloon cars and can be home-made or more often supplied and fitted by a specialist.
An aluminium sheet outer roof should be fitted to replace the cloth, and a steel inner roof must also be welded to the top of the roll cage. The windscreen can stay as standard, although a heated screen can be useful when racing in the rain.
It’s important not to rush into painting the renovated shell, but do prime it. It’s better to build the car to near completion, then dismantle and finish painting before re-assembly.
Strip the steering rack, suspension arms, petrol tank, brake pipes and everything else off the donor chassis. Check it for rust and cracks; they often need some repairs.
If badly rusted, consider a new chassis – they are not too expensive. There is a choice of two chassis and there is not much difference between them in performance. The standard Citroen chassis is the lightest, while the SLC is slightly stiffer.