This great sequence shows the painting process and the elegant nut and bolt restoration. As with all such restorations, parts are painted separately and then reassembled, just like at the factory, with urethane based materials. A restoration done to this level should last many years.

Quite a lot behind the dash

12/12/07: Roof insulation installed before the headliner

1/03/08: Reconditioned speedo cluster

Dash being rebuilt...wow...grey wrinkle finish, no longer available for any amount of money

Car art

Head liner came out great! This is always a challenge to get a new headliner installed, wrinkle free

4/16/08: Doors being prepped

Next stop is to work the metal back as close to original shape possible.

A very little amount of filler is usual to achieve the desired shape

Inner fenders (and hood next picture): Mirror finish.

Rust will be cut out and the area will be repaired

Work on doors, like all other sheet metal parts, starts off by complete stripping to bare metal. Any defects, like rust, will be removed and remedied.

Paint was originally intended as a protective coating. The consequent beauty of the finished product is an added benefit.

These front fenders will benefit from great prep and paint work on their under surfaces. This is where protection is needed the most.

Nose panel in primer

Old parts made new again

This beautiful "air dried" paint needs no buffing to look perfect

4/30/08:

No matter where these cars live on the planet, the interiors of the doors "sweat" from ambient temperature changes and commensurate condensation. The moisture falls to the bottom of the door and settles into the pinch weld where it eventually rusts the two layers of metal apart. Here Hans is 'reskinning' the bottom of the door to replace both layers of the door bottom flange

Replaced inside flange-rusty section left of picture is original-it will be blasted before reassembly.

Rust blasted away before welding the two halves back together

Detail of existing and replaced door bottom flange

5/01/08: Final touch-ups before paint (rear fenders)

5/12/08: Finishing the door work

Trunk lid getting primed

Fenders final prime and ready for paint

Inside front fender: better protection than original

Inside all painted parts are masked to prevent overspray when he paints the outside

Finally, parts are ready for painting the outside

Trunk lid gets first final coat

Base coat on rear fenders

5/12/08: Repairing a rusty section of the door

Denis and Hans fitting the rebuilt/repainted dash

5/13/08: Running wiring pursuant to starting the engine. All possible work is done in the engine bay before front fenders go on-so work does not happen over freshly painted fenders

5/27/08: Hans straightening radiator pins

Radiator: previously reconditioned

Hans fitting front fenders

Front fenders on, engine compartment through the inner fender well

Rear wheel well-surface scuffed to accept urethane undercoating

6/03/08: Original hardware-reproduction just doesn't cut it!

Although VERY time consuming, the original hardware is so much better than what is available

Nice lines