The 'E' Type Forum

Can anyone recommend a body shop in the West Midlands area that has experience of bare metal painting eTypes.

CMC Bridgenorth http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk

Personally I would not be hung up on a shop having previous experience of e-types. If all you are talking about is final finishing of a bodyshell and the painting, one car is much the same as another. Prior e-type experience is relevant to the metalwork restoration rather than the painting, what I would be looking for is a shop with a track record of working on classics and/or high end motors, rather than one geared to rapid processing of insurance jobs. In reality it is the individual paint technician who matters, more so than the establishment.

I had my OTS bodyshell restored by CMC about 7 years ago, at that time they subcontracted the painting to an external company (whose identity they did not disclose, presumably in the Bridgnorth area), and a very good job was done, but maybe they have since invested in their own paint booth.

My own recommendation would be Glen Hall at Hall Bros in Droitwich, although he's overstretched at the moment due to moving to new premises. I'm about to have a Porsche shell painted by Matt Jarvis (Jarvis Autobody) in Upton Snodsbury (hopefully) but can't yet vouch for him based on results.

On a recent visit to CMC was very impressed with tbe new premesis and they now have tbeir own in house paint shop

kingzetts wrote:Personally I would not be hung up on a shop having previous experience of e-types. If all you are talking about is final finishing of a bodyshell and the painting, one car is much the same as another.

I disagree. The bonnet in particular needs experience to disassemble and reassemble.

You spend a long time looking at the paint job. Get it done by someone who knows the cars.

abowie wrote:I disagree. The bonnet in particular needs experience to disassemble and reassemble.

You spend a long time looking at the paint job. Get it done by someone who knows the cars.

That's what I thought, making sure things like the bonnet, light units, etc fit (i.e assemble/disassemble) before painting requires previous experience of etypes.

So are you after a bit more than a bare metal respray....are you looking for a turn key solution.....you drive the car in and they strip absolutely everything just down to the shell and frames.......engine/chrome/glass etc....if you had all this done already then any good spray shop could do the work.....complete disassemble and reassemble needs a bit more experiance on Es.....CMC are doing this regularly...I have no affiliation with tbem

The car has already been stripped completely down to bare metal and the metal work repaired as required. I am looking for a body shop that can double check things by trail fitting the frames, bonnet, doors, boot lid, lights, screen, etc with seals in place and make any necessary adjustments before spraying. I will then re-assemble the car fully.

As you live in Coventry have you spoken to XK Engineering. This would be the most local to you.