2004-01-22 12:28:47 | Christopher Storey writes:

This is an old restoration from c 1987. Car in good driving condition and looks smart but could do with a new boot floor and a bare metal respray

2007-08-03 13:10:12 | Christopher Storey writes:

I have now started on a complete nut and bolt rebuild, which is going to cost me far more than I intended, but will I hope be worth it in the end. The complete strip down has been done in June/July 2007 and reveals a car which is largely sound but which contains many bodges from the last cheapo rebuild. I will post some pics in due course

2007-09-07 19:08:35 | CHRISTOPHER STOREY writes:

This car is now completely dismantled for a nut and bolt restoration. As usual, what started as a boot floor job has grown and grown.Apart from some bulkhead damage caused by a hole in a heater pipe, the car is quite sound in the sense of being made of metal rather than oxide. However, once it was stripped, it became clear that a restoration some 20-25 years ago consisted of bodge after bodge after bodge.Several old washing machines seem to have perished in this cause! I shall post photos of these as a warning! It seemed pointless to leave it this way, so - new floors, new transmission tunnel, gearbox surround, inner sills together with the usual replacements such as toeboards, and all new frames. I just hope I live long enough to complete it

2008-03-22 14:57:34 | Christopher Storey writes:

The shell is now undergoing very extensive work at the bodyshop. The floors, footwells, transmission tunnel have been cutaway and the newly constructed floor has been spotwelded in place. The rear inner wheelarches/chassis legs etc are in very good order and have not needed replacement. The car now awaits a new boot floor, lower outer wheelarch repair sections, and (probably) new lower rear quarter panels and ( definitely) new number plate panel etc. I have been lucky in that the bodyshop had a spare roof in good condition, so I can eliminate the Webasto roof which always caused me grief because I prepetually banged my head on the wooden surround!

2008-06-10 17:19:35 | Christopher Storey writes:

Although progress has been slower than I wanted, and the timings have slipped by about 2 months, real progress is now being made. Sills,floors, gearbox and shaft tunnels, boot floor, rear lower wings are all in place , and on the lower part of the shell all that remains to be done is to deal with minor corrosion where the outer rear wheel arches meet the inner, and to put the new rear tonneau panel in place. The roof has been cut off to be replaced with a fresh one so as to eliminate the Webasto roof . I was dubious about the lack of bracing for this, but the shop is quite unalarmed about it, pointing out that once sills and floors are finished , no further strengthening is needed. A real heartache ( and wallet ache) has been the doors. I bought a second hand good looking pair. When frames were shot blasted, they were pitted and holed ! The bullet had to be bitten and new doors fitted - an expensive lesson

2008-06-15 08:03:38 | Mike writes:

Your chosen body shop looks like they know what there are doing. I have a 66 FHC in need of similar treatment, could could give the address of the company in the UK, I'm in NW England.
Thanks

2008-06-15 09:11:30 | christopher storey writes:

Mike : I have tried to reply to your e mails forwarded through this site but have had them returned. Please try e mail direct to me at the given address

2008-07-04 16:21:37 | Mike writes:

HI Christopher, I have sent to your e-mail linked to your name on this site.
MIke

2008-07-31 14:41:58 | christopher storey writes:

The new non-webasto roof is now on, with good fits for windows, doors and windscreen and tailgate. Trial fitting of bumpers and taillights has been finished, and the lower rear quarters put on. All that is left to do on the monocoque is fitting some repair sections to the rear wings, and the final welding and lead loading, together with some repairs to the top of the scuttle/bulkhead where aerial holes etc have been cut. I shall breathe a sigh of relief when this part of the job is completed

2008-09-05 07:41:33 | christopher storey writes:

.The rear end is now assembled and welded , and everything now almost ready for final lead loading and painting. The new frames ( E type fabs and of very high quality) ) and bonnet ( Heritage and with some problems concerning the position of fixings for headlamp chromes etc) are on , with the trailing edge of the bonnet trimmed, but the lower rolled edges of the wings still to be finalised .

2008-11-10 12:33:17 | christopher storey writes:

Shell is now completely painted, and looks stunning in 2 pack Opalescent Silver Blue. There was not a trace of a ripple that we could see when we inspected today , and both the metalwork and paint look to be a really first class job. The bonnet and frames still need colour and topcoat, but I hope this will be done this week

2009-01-14 13:36:56 | christopher storey writes:

The shell was returned from Hutson's on 21st November 2008 , and looked stunning. There has followed one of the most prolonged spells of cold weather I can recall , as a result of which I am now another 6 weeks behind the clock . There has also been a bit of delay because we forgot to weld in the petrol pump stand before painting , ( a real trap for the unwary because even the workshop forgot that this is an early 4.2 and not a 3.8) ) and so I have had to rivet it in position . However, I am now beginning to make progress with the front suspension, pedal boxes, heater pipes, wipers, electrics etc , but it is the refurbishment of individual parts which takes so much time

2009-03-10 04:42:09 | christopher storey writes:

At last it is looking more like a car, with wheels on . As I come to put parts back on I am still frustrated by finding that some of the parts are themselves bodged e.g. the servo reservoir came from a Mark 2 and thus needed new brackets welding on, but at least we are moving in the right direction

2009-03-19 18:05:08 | Mark writes:

An outstanding job, Christopher!

2009-10-10 14:12:19 | Christopher Storey writes:

At last we are getting somewhere! The bonnet went on today, (10 October )and the car drives ( but only off the road until it is finished) . I'm greatly encouraged by the fact that at last it looks like a car rather than just a shell, and greatly relieved that the bonnet went on without any hitch, this being an operation i was apprehensive about

2010-01-24 06:00:31 | Christopher Storey writes:

The car is now back on the road and drives very well. Another very nasty problem arose, however : the left hand steering tie rod broke at its neck, fortunately when I was doing about 2mph! The trouble was traced to incorrect front shockers having been supplied which allowed excessive downward suspension travel. All fixed, and the car has now gone off for final trimming

2010-04-08 13:37:40 | Christopher Storey writes:

At last the car is finished externally, and fully trimmed , with just a handful of details to finish ( passenger grab handle etc) . I have just done 500 miles on it and it seems to be running well, with the only disappointing feature being slight axle noise which , oddly, seems to be improving . The whole job has taken 2 years and 9 months and cost me about 60 per cent more than I intended, largely as a result of "wheelwright's disease", but I am very satisfied with the outcome, and very satisfied with my choice of body and trim shop - Hutson's of Bradford, England who could not have been more helpful and pleasant to deal with throughout the whole experience, as well as producing an outstanding result