S3 body

[baganz.sven@web.de]

Dear forum colleagues,

This year I will try to get my 1971 S3 running.
Mechanical things I will repair by myself.
But it needs a lot of body repair work and I think it will be difficult to do it by myself.
I have not welded something for nearly 30 years and have no experience with E types.

So now I look for a good workshop. I don‘t target for a concours restauration.
The car should become a good daily driver.
I‘m looking for a reliable workshop with E type experience.
I‘m not lookin for a „cheap“ one. Price for their work has to be reasonable.

Could you recommend someone to me?

Sven

[cactusman]

Hi Sven...are you looking for someone in Germany? We do have members in Germany but most of us are probably UK based. If you are looking for a sound and safe refurbishment then there are still plenty of people who could do the job here in the uk....be wise to see if you can view previous jobs, especially on e types. As others will say, the structural bits are important and if there is major rust the body should be put in a jig (esp the ots) before hacking the rust out to avoid sagging and distortion that will make panel fit poor or awful later. Who ever you choose it won't ever be cheap but a smaller independent will have lower hourly rates than the major players in the concourse restoration business...choose carefully and agree payment terms. Never pay all up front...most reputable places will ask for staged payments to cover materials costs and a final payment on completion of the works...there is a place local to me in Hertfordshire who would do a perfectly satisfactory job. They restore all sorts of classics but have done several e types...they are working on a series 1 fhc at the moment...

good luck....

[mark10337]

Hi Sven

Which area in Germany are you in? It is quite a large country (in European terms)

[baganz.sven@web.de]

Hello Julien,

Thank you for your reply. In Germany it is difficult to find a workshop.

In my area exerienced specialists retire and have no sucessor.
I have one where they have done my VW T3.
But they have no jigs for Jaguar and are not specialized in british cars.
I think about bringing the body to the UK.
Not in 2018 but later.
I only fear the Brexit (how about taxes, nobody knows today)

So I‘m interested in workshops in UK and Germany.

Sven

[baganz.sven@web.de]

Hello Marc,

I live in the northern part of Germany, close to Hannover.

Sven

[cactusman]

Brexit.... I live in hope that common sense may prevail but I am not optimistic...

[JJC]

Probably not what you want to hear, but if it were me, I would load car on , or in, a truck, hopefully a one way rental, or a trucking service headed in the right direction, and ship it 500 miles to England. Hannover to London is an 8 hour trip, but that would put you right smack dab in the center of the "fix all Jaguar's" land !!
Worth a thought. Best of luck. Rather spend the money on shipping rather then a local shop that might be learning as they go with your car.
John

[baganz.sven@web.de]

Hello John,

That's my idea. For me it' s no problem to bring the car to UK. I have already visited UK during a Major Ivan Hirst (who rescued Volkswagen) memorial tour.
We took the ferry from Rotterdam.
Also Calais Dover is no problem, a trailer is available.

I think it' a better idea to look for someone with E Type experience and equippment.

Best regards

Sven

[JJC]

Great Sven.......lots of Jaguar talent in the UK. Can't swing a dead cat (pardon the pun) and not find somebody with the talent to bring your baby back to its original beauty ! Off to Merry Old England. Good luck.

John

[atb]

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