The main damage to the body is on the left fender, left rear door and lower left quarter. The fender will have to be replaced, but the door and left rear quarter can be pulled back out. These photos have high contrast to try and show detail of the damage which is still hard to see.
The turn signal indicator lamps have deteriorated due to exposure to the sun, water and moss. They’re supposed to be reflective silver, but they’re bleached white and literally crumble when touched. This part is interchangeable with the 99 and 900 between 1977 – 1980 (I believe).
The same goes for the tail lamps, though the lamp housing is a little more intact. The lenses are compatible between 1977 and 1980. After 1980 they get a little larger.
But these aren’t really the major issues .. đ
I went into Scanwest to get the backup light switch replaced on my NG900. The backup light switch, when grounded, will take out your windshield wipers too. It was raining, and I needed those. While in the waiting room I saw an advert for a 1977 99 GL.
I had specifically been looking for an older 5DR, so I took a card.
I came out to see the car on a Tuesday to see what I’d be getting myself into. The owner had kept good records but it seemed after a demoralizing collision with an SUV in 2006, it sat rusting and collecting moss.
The original paint is mostly intact, but the Earl Scheib finish was flaking away like latex house paint. There are several rust spots, but they appeared to be surface rust with the exception being the left front door water collector.
The left rear door and quarter panel were damaged, but they were such that it seemed they could easily be pulled/tapped out. The left front fender would have to be replaced.
A big job for sure, but these 5DRs often go to the crusher in favor of the Combi-Coupe and 2DR Notchback. With limited import numbers for this body style it only makes them rarer.
