General description

The body is of welded steel construction available in 3 or 5-door Hatchback, 3 or 5- door Estate, soft-top Cabriolet, or Van configurations.

The body is of monocoque construction and is of energy-absorbing design.

Rust and corrosion protection is applied to all new vehicles and includes zinc phosphate dipping and wax injection of box sections and door interiors.

All body panels are welded, including the front wings, so it is recommended that major body damage repairs are left to your dealer.

    See also:

    Engine/manual gearbox assembly - reconnection and refitting
    1 Reverse the procedure described in paragraphs 1 to 33 of Section 7, noting the following points. 2 Before attempting to reconnect the engine to the gearbox, check that the clutch friction disc ...

    Minor body damage - repair
    Note: For more detailed information about bodywork repair, Haynes Publishing produce a book by Lindsay Porter called ”The Car Bodywork Repair Manual”. This incorporates information on such aspects ...

    Hydraulic system - bleeding (anti-lock braking system)
    Note: Before starting work, refer to the warning at the beginning of Section 11 concerning the dangers of hydraulic fluid. 1 On cars equipped with the anti-lock braking system there are two bleed ...