What a great Job!

[Kes]

A while back I was asking if any one could recommend someone in the South West to do a good bare metal respray for my series 2 OTS at sensible money. To my amazement a chap who lives in the same (tiny) village as me responded and suggested I try Dan at PanelCraft in Paignton, Devon (01803 525400). Dan had a good look at the car and quoted ?5K, which was half what two other restorers in the area had estimated.. Anyway, I dropped the car off on Oct 3rd, just before I left for a couple of weeks holiday with the family. I was promised the car back before Christmas, and true to his word it was ready on Christmas eve. I visited the Panelcraft several times each week to check on progress and Dan and Kevin (the other guy who works there) always took time out to explain what they'd done since I last saw it. The reason I'm telling you all this is that they did a truly fantastic job - the car was taken back to bare metal, all the panel gaps adjusted until concours perfect, and then with meticulous attention to detail, resprayed in it's original Regency red. All the rubbers were replaced as was the windscreen (which I bought from Barratts previously) The results are stunning - (wish I could work out how to post some before/during/after shots) Anyway, today I rang Dan just to say that the boot lock was a bit sticky and could I call round when the workshop opens again after the holiday for him to have a quick look? Despite him living about 15 miles away he drove to my house immediately, stripped and refitted the boot lock, and brought me a 'Haynes E Type' T Shirt as a thanks for my custom!
I know it's not really the done thing to advertise on this or any forum, but if anyone is looking for a superb job, at a really good price with the best customer service I think I've ever had (in any field) give him a call before he either goes out of business or gets booked up for decades ahead.

[SteveG]

People like that are worth their weight in gold and IMO supporting local trades pays dividends. I just hope I can find someone as good as this in the South East when I reach the point of having the 2+2 sprayed. :)

[christopher storey]

Kes : I wouldn't be bashful about heaping praise on a trader on this forum, because recommendations are always useful. What is best avoided is slagging them off, which is best done by a private message!