Repainting Mabel

[mole42]

I'm working out how best to get the tired paintwork on Mabel renewed. I'll take off all the outer trim and brightwork, glass and lighting. I need to have both door bottoms rebuilt and a couple of small rust areas sorted - 'B' post/sill junction and one rear wheelarch. The previous restoration used original BL panels but it was done in 1995 and they used a ton of filler under the paint, so there may be some levelling to do. This is a working car - not a garage queen, it gets rallied, tows trailers, and it's my everyday car.

Who is the best in the UK for this sort of work? If I'm going to do it, I want a proper job with a schedule of work and a realistic timetable. I don't mind shipping the car anywhere in the country so long as the job is worth it.

Please shout out with your recommendations!

[The G Man]

I am really pleased with paint on mine so far, will be at the garage again on monday after the shell was painted yesterday, they restore lots of classics, Oswestry Classic Cars owner is Simon Darlington. I had an MGB built last year by a well known NE firm in the MG world, with a new heritage shell the Stag paintwork is in a diffrent league.

I have loads of photos of the strip down and what needed rectification, like yours some rust areas needed doing. 20 years ago it had been restored (poorly) new inner wings but badly fitted with loads of filler, at one point OCC thought it had been rear ended, but found it had rear wing repair panels fitted over the old ones and then built out with filler. All now stripped away and the old rear wing section and rear panels cut away and new replacements fitted.

If you want an introduction to Simon let me know there website is particularly pretty poor frankly and i nearly didnt go to see them as it is not a show case for there work https://www.occar.co.uk but they were recommended to me. I am lucky i live 15 minutes away so visist my car weekly so can see exactly whatthey are doing but Simon sends me lots of pictures as work progresses. Whilst my Stag has been in there the other projects have included an Alvis 2 x Amtrsong Sidney's, a Singer hill climb car and 1957 Hillman Minx convertible plus lots more. They have made new wings for the Minx and nad teh Alvis and have saome skilled staff.

If you would like to discuss or i can email you pictures of the work, please get in touch, my email adress details are jcwinstanley1@aol.com.

He will be doing my crusty battered old SWB G wagon next when the Stag is complete. if you look at the reveveering and restoration topic on the forum there are a selection of pictures on there. i will try to create an albulm on Flikr and share a link if that is helpful.

John

[The G Man]

I have just dropped a load of photos into flikr the link is https://www.flickr.com/gp/194161941@N08/mwu8Sv please let me know if you can see these?

please note they are not in date order and i will sort this album when i have more time but it gives you an idea of what was needed and how it is progressing plus the quality of the work.

i will taking more photos on Monday so please let me know if you would like to see them.

EDITED have chaged the flikr link

[mole42]

Excellent photos John, I'm sure you're be very happy with the result. Looking at the details, they do seem to know about prep work and getting the panels to fit properly.

[JeffW]

Hi Richard

My Mk II was done at Faversham, which I am sure loads on here have as well. Kevin is an expert welder and panel fitter as that's all he does all day long and only on Stags. Unfortunately I think there continues to be about a 2-year waiting list, but the work is second to none and Trevor runs a tight ship and gets things done properly, on time and on budget.

Jeff

[STypeR]

Great to see a Stag not as a Garage Princess and as an every day car! I hope to do the same again (was my everyday car all throughout the 90's) when I eventually finish mine.
You seem to be on the right track of taking everything off and doing the job properly.
I don't think you have the same UV issues there; here for longevity, I would only use solvent based and not water based paints.

Some great photos from The G Man as well. Good to see its gone back to it's correct colour. A real quality restoration. That'll be a really beautiful car when it's finished.