How to make a car door pillar

[@volvo480]

Happy to see you haven't given up making videos of your hard work Martin. 😊

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Robert! I haven't given up, but I am thinking about doing some new things in 2025.

[@HubNut]

Lovely stuff as ever. Really nice pace to this video too - music and fabrication. Nice.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Ian, very much appreciated!

[@AdamJRichardson]

@@GrandThriftAuto Agreed, I like the sound design. The sped up hammer taps are much more pleasant to listen to than actual hammering for an extended period of time!

[@stephenwhite8270]

Always inspiring to see how passionate and attentive to detail you are

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you!

[@malcolmchadwick4047]

I wouldn't worry too much about KZbin, not promoting the video. People like myself watch to see panel fabrication regardless of which vehicle it is applied to.

[@spitfiretrading]

Having seen your car "in the rust" as it were, I can honestly say you are doing such top notch work there bringing her back to life Martin! Keep up the good work young man.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you sir! The rust is very real, right? ;)

[@charliemansonUK]

The fact you are the only option to see a Matra Rancho (a car a tried so hard and failed to buy in the late 80's) is the very reason KZbin should be promoting your videos to anyone who watches car related videos. Cast the net wide as the saying goes! Happy Christmas and keep up the great work.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you! It's weird, I know there's plenty of interest in Ranchos if only KZbin could join the dots...

[@iainmacleod4007]

I am seriously impressed by the fabrication skills that you have developed. I have worked with welders and fabricators in various engineering disciplines over many years but your attention to detail in hand fabricating non available repair panels is on another level and as good if not better than any of the professional body shops.

[@bobfrankish8883]

You're doing a great job. A friend of mine owned one of these cars, I think it would be around 1979/80. I remember none of us had seen anything like it and we all queued up to have a drive in it, which turned out to be an anti-climax as I recall! It was pretty unreliable and he sold it after a few months. However, as you say they are now very rare, so it will be great to see it restored.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I'm not sure how I'll cope when this is ready for actual driving! I can believe they aren't exactly the last word in refinement; adding lots of extra soundproofing might be a good start.

[@bobfrankish8883]

@@GrandThriftAuto I know what you mean. I think I was spoilt a little because I had a new Alfasud 1.5Ti at the time, which drove really well, but was equally as un-reliable. Luckily I only owned it for 18 months, which was about just enough time for it to rot away by about 25%. Happy days!

[@stuarthannay3370]

The very fact that it is a rare vehicle, and that there are no videos on the subject, make it a fascinating and inspiring subject matter. Many thanks

[@cliveb9639]

Marvelous! Learning by doing and becoming more and more skilled with each step. Even if you could find someone who would be prepared to take on the unique and intricate level of work required, I’m sure the cost involved would be prohibitive. Full credit to you!

[@jedrick001]

Great watching the rancho taking shape . Glad you’re giving us more. Think I’ve said it’s the car I remember wanting as a kid but despite getting the brochures and talking about it my folks bought the Chrysler Alpine instead which later became my first car. I’d still love one but maybe with modern day rust protection. 😜

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Very glad you're enjoying it! I had a real thing for Alpines and would love to try one today - but you're 100% right about the rust protection.

[@fulwell1]

So pleased to see this Martin!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Aw, thanks!

[@noexpensespentstudios]

That's a very nice job there, approached pragmatically. Always good to see extra progress on this wee van.

[@Brinslade]

Merry Christmas and a happy and productive new year.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks a lot, and same to you!

[@davejones4804]

Great to see such attention to detail, especially on bits no-one will see! Keep up the great work!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks! Some of this will be visible every time I open the driver’s door, so it would really wear me down if I messed it up 😬

[@alastairwatson3201]

That’s super impressive work you’re doing, Martin! I strongly suspect that a lesser person would’ve given up upon seeing the extent of the rust but you’ve soldiered on, achieving amazing results. A testament to what a bloke in a shed with determination, a bit of nous and a few tools can achieve. Please keep the videos coming!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Alastair, very much appreciated! Cheers for all your support along the way, happy New Year :)

[@stuwhite2337]

The KZbin algorithm is wrong 😂

[@Mads_Villebro]

Such a cool car! And what a job you are doing! Thank you for taking the time, and shiwing it to the rest of the world! 🙏

[@sammm700]

lovely work Martin. I see Johnny Smith just got one as well. Maybe YT will now be awash with Rancho content?!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I did hear that - I agree, that might happen. My guess (just a guess) is he's looking for someone to restore it in return for exposure. I did swap messages with Jonny a while ago when he enquired about buying mine, but it was too much of a project for him and anyway I didn't want to sell.

[@desmondrobinson169]

You’re getting good at this Martin.

[@TK42138]

Pretty sure KZbin's notification system doesn't actually work despite being a subscriber and having notifications clicked on. Keep up the excellent work. That door hinge post fabrication is 👏👏👏👏

[@hohocc1349]

Really really nice work, both in the metalwork and in the production. Thanks for all that effort.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you, you're very welcome!

[@fhwolthuis]

Glad to see you back, Martin. I admire your tinwork and you video editing skills. Very enjoyable to watch and educational too. Just continue as long as you enjoy it yourself 👍🏼😃👌

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Frank - very much appreciated as always!

[@Steve-xw9ee]

Great work well done 👍

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks! ☺️

[@RobertOverstall]

Well done Martin. I never doubted that you would see it off. However, that is a seriously complex repair and you have achieved a cracking job. The bead roller is very impressive and a bit of a game changer. Thanks for sharing the journey and your knowledge. My only critical observation is that, you might have done well, to have spent a little more time on the seasonal beard? Never the less, a nice thoughtful and appropriate touch. Yours, Tommy the Toolbox.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

True, I definitely need to put more effort into the beard-growing. I’ll come and see you next week for advice.

[@spike2000ification]

Great work. Happy Christmas Martin!

[@martinclapton2724]

You learn new skills as you do each piece. As well as developing personal talents as perseverance and patience. Credit to you.

[@dougwernham5209]

Happy Christmas Martin, good progress & a interesting video.

[@garypoulton7311]

Happy Christmas Martin, good job. Love the Rancho, ever since I first saw one in the late 70s. Like your videos, and appreciate you taking the time to make them and post.

[@ptonpc]

Very much disagree with youtube. I am subscribed and have the bell notification. Of course YT doesn't bother telling me you have posted. Great to see you are making progress.

[@Tagora2664]

That's looking great Martin, nice one. 👍

[@gt40mk1]

Another amazing piece of work Martin. Congratulations.

[@benc8386]

Wow! Incredible work making that complex panel. Which of course was just stamped out by some huge press in about half a second when the car was originally made.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Ben! It is slightly odd thinking I’m doing the job of a huge machine press, although obviously MUCH more slowly.

[@michaellangdon8347]

Love all your videos, particularly this series. Keep up the great, informative and motivational work

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you, that’s really good to hear! I’m thinking of mixing up the topics more in 2025 but will still update on Rancho progress 👍

[@dandandan389]

Incredible skill, i wouldnt have the faintest idea where to start!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks! It did take me quite a long time to work out where to begin...

[@bartheyne2490]

Please continue with your lovely work

[@iandonkin6762]

Great work and very resourceful. You clearly know what you’re doing and have a very good presenting style that makes your videos eminently watchable. My neighbours had one of these, brand new, back in the day and my abiding memory is that it was interesting to look at… Keep going - it will be great to see this come to fruition.

[@richardbest5240]

Anothet great video. You are working incredibly hard to move this project along. I understand the KZbin analystics but this is a bit of a unique one and not an MGB restore lets face it. Keep on going!!

[@hanspeeters3246]

I like the honesty of these videos. Very relaxing to watch. Keep it up!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you!

[@Ben_C01]

Belated Merry Xmas. This truly is a delightful labour of love to witness

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks a lot Ben, and to you!

[@edgarbeat2851]

Like 100 keep going. Even by the late 80s I remember Ranchos certaily two of them locally as a kid in Scotland outside the primary school gate before I went to class. Love them and great videos. My town was sandwiched by two Peugoets Talbot dealerships owned by the same brothers.

[@nealstinchcombe3799]

Always look forward to these videos.

[@asermurias9342]

Amazing work and how you solve problems! Congratulations!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you very much!

[@chevrealpine]

I discovered the serie with this episode so i watched all the playlist and i found it very interesting ! Ilove your steelwork 🔥

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Merci! I have now discovered your music too - I especially love Amnésie: distrokid.com/hyperfollow/julijeane/les-arbres

[@sophiesharp1709]

Great video, well paced & genuinely interesting, I envy your skill. Ignore KZbin, this is the type of content that should be on here ! Best wishes for 2025 & I look forward to the next video.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Sophie, that makes me happy 😊 Happy New Year to you too.

[@davidallum2728]

Good stuff, I'm enjoying you gradually bringing the Rancho back to life. ( you make it look easy) which I'm sure it is ( when you know what you're doing.). Happy new year.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks David - I’m making it up as I go along really so it can’t be THAT hard 😊Happy New Year to you too!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Happy (belated) Christmas Martin - thanks for your superb content this year!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks a lot for all your support Simon! Happy New Year 😊

[@neiljarvis8911]

Happy Christmas! That's some great progress.

[@danielrussell446]

Hi martin hope you are keeping well and merry Christmas to you a brilliant video on the rancho again and just really great fabrication skills on display it’s looking better and better in every video please keep making them I am enjoying seeing the restoration coming on have a wonderful new year Daniel

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks as ever Daniel, really appreciate your support - happy New Year!

[@tho4747]

Jolly good job. I loved every second of it.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks, I'm very glad!

[@murrayblair67]

Yep I disagree Im an audience! My first car was a Simca 1100 gls estate,metallic blue Always wanted a Rancho Like allways,right up till now! Your panel work is brilliant!👍🙏

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you! A friend bought a Simca 1100 last year and I'm desperate to have a go in it.

[@mikebrain3219]

I enjoy watching your videos

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks!

[@teaman7v]

This is rather impressive!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Jon 😁 Happy Christmas to you lot!

[@davidwilliams706]

Hi Martin, thanks for the Boelube link, it'll be far easier to use than spray when I'm drilling out Subaru spot welds.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

You're very welcome. I do find it better when you don't want to get oil all over what you're about to weld and/or paint, and you only need a tiny bit. Plus bragging points for aerospace tech, obvs. Good luck with the Subaru!

[@PatrickHostler]

Good to see you back, on a thoroughly rare and very well made film!!!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Patrick!

[@DavidRelphWorkLife]

Hi Mart, I worked in these for many years as I am sure you know the vehicle is based on a simca 1100 van, I think yours is a 1442 cc, the same floorplan and running gear became the talbot horizon! I liked them, yes they had some issues like the tappets adjusting every 10,000 miles timming chain noise ( the last produced had a mod on the gear to stop that issue) and the lower ball joints having issues .. in the delaership i worked in we never had any engine issues, please keep them comming. I can still remember they had 3.5lts of oil in the sum 😊

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Yes, it’s the 1442 version and it still runs, even on petrol that’s at least 8 years old! If you ever feel an urge to give it a service for me once it’s back on the road I’ll gladly bring it round 😉

[@DavidRelphWorkLife]

@GrandThriftAuto happy to do that my friend, I spent so much time on them 😁 PS they also they have an odd synchro set up on all the forward gears very easy repair, I am sure yours is ok, speak soon Dave

[@martysprojects]

Nice bit of fabricating. Cheers Marty's projects 👍

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Marty!

[@dougwernham5209]

Happy Christmas Martin good progress & a interesting video.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Doug, happy Christmas and New Year to you too!

[@ksouster6839]

Go Rancho, remember them when new 🎉

[@markcollins457]

The craftsmanship you've accomplished here applies to a Volkswagen or A MG midget. Good work on the Talbot.

[@richardhalliday6469]

Marvellous

[@infamousaidy]

That's come out very well. Glad to see some well presented home fabrication work with realistic tools. Out of curiosity, have you managed to cut 3mm steel with the vevor guillotine? The advert said it could but that seems very optimistic!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks! The thickest steel I’ve tried in the Vevor guillotine is 1.5mm and it managed that fine, so…it might do a 3mm flat bar? A whole sheet sounds optimistic though. I can try it out next week and report back. I’m happy with it in general, by the way, although a throatless shear would be even better.

[@infamousaidy]

@GrandThriftAuto thanks, I'll look into both. :)

[@jimzivny1554]

Good video. I love the jig you've made to locate the hinges while you're fabricating the associated parts. I'm new to your channel and need to go back and watch everything lol. I'm an older fabricator and hotrodder and I'm not familiar with that vehicle, very unique. Question, the bottom of the A pillar is rusted through at least a full layer, is that something you'll be addressing?

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Hi Jim, welcome to the channel! Yes, I’ll definitely be chasing the rot further up into the A pillar. I’m very much hoping I can just replace the inner layer and preserve most of the outer skin, although obviously I’ll have to cut it to get access.

[@yaz1691]

Subscribed so I don’t miss the next ones. As the algorithm is wrong! I’d much rather watch this than some ‘professional’ patchwork quilt up another ‘KZbinr’s 3 series BMW….

[@benhooper1956]

Oi, KZbin, more of this!

[@davestraight8219]

beast of fab - do jarre/zimmer/moroder know they forgot your sponsorship checks 😁

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Ha! If only. Coming soon, Grand Thrift Auto - The Original Soundtrack Album ;)

[@americanidiot1088]

Please keep going! Ignore the idiogryrhmmmm

[@kennethtalbott2233]

why not use your shrinker stretcher instead of doing relief cuts?

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Good question, I probably should have explained that. On that front edge panel, I folded the first (inner) flange over and used the stretcher to put the curve into it before I folded over the outer flange. It would have been difficult and very fiddly to shrink one flange and stretch the opposite one in tandem so as to make the curve, especially as I only have one shrinker/stretcher body and would have to keep swapping the jaws over. Hope that makes sense.

[@kennethtalbott2233]

@@GrandThriftAuto yes i understand but would have thought possible to have swapped and done it afterwards or the same time you made the cuts. i didn't see a problem doing that.

[@hamshackleton]

It's a shame that none of the modern manufacturers have taken note, and made nice, spacious, airy estate-cars like the Rancho. Instead they go for tear-drops or squashed bug shapes full of electronic gizmos that look pretty from the outside, but have no real space inside!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

It does feel like a big old bus! It's tall, although fairly narrow. I discovered the other day that my Skoda Kodiaq can take a 2m x 1m sheet of steel flat in the boot with the seats down, I wonder how the Rancho will compare?

[@hamshackleton]

@@GrandThriftAuto - My Berlingo is only 5'6"/167cm long behind the front seats!

[@TheHoganDudes]

Grand Factory Auto more like it

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Ha! That's very kind :)