Restoration shops

[AndyB]

I have a restoration shop near me that says they do work and take payments as and when they do it
My question is has anyone got experience with how this works as im wondering if thats the best option for me

TIA

[miniblob]

All I would say is, in my experience, projects like that get lost/forgotten and end up sitting around forever, unless you are actively on it and hassling them all the time!!!
I've had a guy doing work for me like that and it was great at the start, but I got busy, he had some health and family issues, I moved further away..... I hired a trailer, gave him some cash for the storage and reclaimed it about 3+ years later!!!!!!
Just did similar with my E30, hence why it's just back on the road after a couple of years out of action!

That said, where are you???
Somewhere to park a car and harass them as & when I want it progressed could be useful at the mo!!!!!

I'm currently sitting on my next project until I have cash to take it to a bodyshop, have what I want done asap and then the car back to me again!!!!

[AndyB]

Im in Norfolk
i started doing bodywork myself... I have done the front floor but now losing interest in doing the bodywork as its on my gravel driveway and its annoying dragging tools out every time i want to do some welding etc
3 years seems a long time i was hoping a year max. Maybe ill get it roadworthy then do as and when too

Im a little impatient , I want a perfect car now!

[miniblob]

Ha, I hear ya!!!
I started my classic mini van on my Mum's drive, prob 10 years ago!!! Pretty much stripped to a shell. Went off to a local chap who started doing welding, etc for me.
He did some good work and I was popping round with cash every few weeks, then that became months, his wife got ill, did some more a year later, more illness, his wife passing, I moved further away..... then I didn't hear anything for a couple of years until I popped round to see if it was still in his workshop or if I had lost it!!!

Used to do a lot of stuff myself, but just don't get time and tired of moving tools around for every little thing, as you say.
Bought a house with a garage and thought I'd get on with it, but just filled that with all my crap and got no room to work now


If you can do it, I think a rolling resto is better pesonally - even if you only drive it occasionally, you'll come back thinking I'll just get this done, or that, and it won't just be out of sight in a garage/workshop somewhere!

[Satan]

May be worth shipping abroad.

[215m3]

Im in Norfolk
i started doing bodywork myself... I have done the front floor but now losing interest in doing the bodywork as its on my gravel driveway and its annoying dragging tools out every time i want to do some welding etc
3 years seems a long time i was hoping a year max. Maybe ill get it roadworthy then do as and when too

Im a little impatient , I want a perfect car now!

My M3 projected started in 2006 and about 90% complete. It will be 14 years when finished!

[Foe]

Im in Norfolk
i started doing bodywork myself... I have done the front floor but now losing interest in doing the bodywork as its on my gravel driveway and its annoying dragging tools out every time i want to do some welding etc
3 years seems a long time i was hoping a year max. Maybe ill get it roadworthy then do as and when too

Im a little impatient , I want a perfect car now!

My M3 projected started in 2006 and about 90% complete. It will be 14 years when finished!

14 years, fair play!

Also agree with a rolling resto, It's seems alot easier to digest, sort of like working on bite size chunks. Once all the welding was done on mine, I threw the bits back on, and now spending time, putting them right, but still getting to drive it

[AndyB]

14 years.... must be perfect when done
Yeh im really heading for the rolling restoration. It will be a weekend car so i suppose no rush?

[215m3]

Im in Norfolk
i started doing bodywork myself... I have done the front floor but now losing interest in doing the bodywork as its on my gravel driveway and its annoying dragging tools out every time i want to do some welding etc
3 years seems a long time i was hoping a year max. Maybe ill get it roadworthy then do as and when too

Im a little impatient , I want a perfect car now!

My M3 projected started in 2006 and about 90% complete. It will be 14 years when finished!

14 years, fair play!

Also agree with a rolling resto, It's seems alot easier to digest, sort of like working on bite size chunks. Once all the welding was done on mine, I threw the bits back on, and now spending time, putting them right, but still getting to drive it

Difficult to do a rolling restoration when changing the engine! Wish I could have been driving her.

[215m3]

14 years.... must be perfect when done
Yeh im really heading for the rolling restoration. It will be a weekend car so i suppose no rush?

Perfect, no because some of the metal work on the inside is not glass smooth. The underneath is sold, but not like from the factory. Some of the repairs are not invisible.

When finished it will be used as a daily driver when the weather is good, trackdays, shows/meets and weekends.

I am currently doing a thread on it in the trackday rebuild section. You can make your mind up on perfect or not!

[AndyB]

I will take a look at your build
I suppose if its being ragged around a track its structural thats the priority