It begins...

[dave.armstrong]

Just wait and see how giddy you will be when you get it back!

[Alfamet]

Just wait and see how giddy you will be when you get it back!

[Veesix75]

That bare metal rear quarter photo shows what a beautiful design the sprint is, doesn't look dated even today in bare flesh.

[dralf1965]

I have PMd you Colin.

[Alfamet]

I have PMd you Colin.

I've replied Nick.
Cheers.

[Alfamet]

The bodywork restoration moves on apace.

As we saw earlier, there were some pretty hideous previous 'repairs' to the rear section of the roof discovered when the car was taken down to bare metal.

Look what removing paint and 2" deep layer of filler exposed! Eek!

At first, it was decided that a full-width contoured steel panel could be fabricated by hand to satisfactorily repair the carnage but then it was discoved that it'd be easier and somewhat cheaper to let in a section from a similar scrapped car. So that's exactly what we've done. A rust-free roof rear section has been sourced from Peter at Alfasud Parts Online and this will be used to produce a hopefully invisible repair.

Perfect rust-free roof rear section to be let in.

The rear panel had also suffered from a lot of corrosion over the years and again at first it was hoped that some hand-crafted repair panels could be made up.

Corrosion to the tailgate slam panel and rear lip is actually worse than it looks.

Similarly, it was decided that the holes and other corrosion to the tailgate slam panel could be repaired cheaper and easier by salvaging repair sections from a used but rust-free complete rear panel.

The used but rust-free rear panel complete will be used to carry out the necessary repairs

So, we're well on the way to achieving a rot-free fully sorted bodyshell repaired using as little or no filler as possible, which is what I want in order to be able to enjoy my Sprint for years to come without having to worry about rampant rust!

Three litres of Dinitrol have been ordered to keep it that way too!
We're motoring now.

[Johnboy]

Hi
Starting to come together now,good news.But why use all that filler. Does annoy me.when cowboys fill dents with a ton of filler ,instead of actually trying to knock the dent out . Plus some times it's quicker to knock the dent out. Than fill it
Anyway looking forward to paint

[dave.armstrong]

The bodywork restoration moves on apace.

As we saw earlier, there were some pretty hideous previous 'repairs' to the rear section of the roof discovered when the car was taken down to bare metal.

Alfa Sud 38.jpg

At first, it was decided that a full-width contoured steel panel could be fabricated by hand to satisfactorily repair the carnage but then it was discoved that it'd be easier and somewhat cheaper to let in a section from a similar scrapped car. So that's exactly what we've done. A rust-free roof rear section has been sourced from Peter at Alfasud Parts Online and this will be used to produce a hopefully invisible repair.

roof.JPG

The rear panel had also suffered from a lot of corrosion over the years and again at first it was hoped that some hand-crafted repair panels could be made up.

Alfa Sud 62.jpg

Similarly, it was decided that the holes and other corrosion to the tailgate slam panel could be repaired cheaper and easier by salvaging repair sections from a used but rust-free complete rear panel.

rear panel.JPG

So, we're well on the way to achieving a rot-free fully sorted bodyshell repaired using as little or no filler as possible, which is what I want in order to be able to enjoy my Sprint for years to come without having to worry about rampant rust!

Three litres of Dinitrol have been ordered to keep it that way too!
We're motoring now.

Seems like a great way to do it.

The bodyshop you are using will make sure that you wont see the repair.

It's getting nearer Colin!

[Alfamet]

Can't wait Dave!

[Alfamet]

Hi
Starting to come together now,good news.But why use all that filler. Does annoy me.when cowboys fill dents with a ton of filler ,instead of actually trying to knock the dent out . Plus some times it's quicker to knock the dent out. Than fill it
Anyway looking forward to paint

Yes. We're getting closer....

[Johnboy]

Looking forward to it

[Alfamet]

Progress continues.

Having had the new replacement front wings taken down to bare metal a while since, it was established that they were in sound rust-free condition. They were subsequently primed to keep them in good condition while work continued on other areas of the bodywork.
The bonnet in particular needed lots of attention as taking it back to bare metal had exposed a lot of damage and minor dents caused by stone chips. With all of this remedied, the bonnet was primed. It's since had its final prep and rub down and has now been painted!

Bonnet is now finished in Ionian Ivory top coat!

With this done, the front wings have been rubbed down again and had their final prep before the top coat is applied.

Both front wings during final prep

They're now ready to receive top coat. Excellent work by the bodyshop!

Ready for top coat next

We're getting closer......

[Alfamet]

So, joining the finished bonnet, today we have both front wings and Alfie's front panel and valance in top coat!

O/s front wing finished!

Front panel and valance in colourcoat!

N/s front wing finished!

Work has now begun on the o/s front door and all the rusty metal has been cut out ready to receive the NOS repair panel:

Rusty metal cut out ready for the repair panel to be let in

I'm smiling!

[Veesix75]

Will there be anything left of that rear panel after they have cut out the sections needed ?

If it's still usable but with the odd hole I'd be interested as a just in case spare for my racer, especially after a nob punted me off last year.

[Kegsti66]

Cooking on gas now Colin.
Love it when paint starts going on.
I had a 1.5 veloce in that colour and I like it. Also had a 33 s1 and my brother had a 1.3sc in it as well

[Alfamet]

Will there be anything left of that rear panel after they have cut out the sections needed ?

If it's still usable but with the odd hole I'd be interested as a just in case spare for my racer, especially after a nob punted me off last year.

I'll certainly let you know one way or the other.

[Alfamet]

Cooking on gas now Colin.
Love it when paint starts going on.
I had a 1.5 veloce in that colour and I like it. Also had a 33 s1 and my brother had a 1.3sc in it as well

I had a little bit of a dilema Keith after Alfie was taken back to bare metal. The Speciale was available in red, black, silver, metallic green or ivory. I could have picked any one of these colours for the respray and would still have been keeping originality but in the end, I kept it Ivory. Like yourself, I like it and it reminds me too of a previous Sud I had in the same colour and from the same period many moons ago.

Ionian Ivory. A lovely period colour

[Veesix75]

Good to keep it the original colour I think also from a history perspective. I always liked the early sud and sprint metallic green, but the speciale green was lighter/paler ?

Ivory suits it well with the stripe contrast.

[dave.armstrong]

The paint finish looks great Colin

I had an Ivory 95bhp Ti

[Johnboy]

Quudos to the sprayer .Great work

[NEG]

Looks good!

[Alfasam]

Progressing very nicely Colin.

Avorio (AVOO), available from 1980 model year, is a very elegant colour for a Sprint. Great that you're keeping the original period colour.

Will you be fitting reproductions of the black decals along the belt line, and if so how have you gone about getting copies made up

I am about to get reproduction stickers made for my Super resto, so very interested in other forum members experiences and tips on this topic at the moment

[Alfamet]

Progressing very nicely Colin.

Avorio (AVOO), available from 1980 model year, is a very elegant colour for a Sprint. Great that you're keeping the original period colour.

Will you be fitting reproductions of the black decals along the belt line, and if so how have you gone about getting copies made up

Sprint%20Speciale.jpg

I am about to get reproduction stickers made for my Super resto, so very interested in other forum members experiences and tips on this topic at the moment

I've got the very last original set in existance so I hope that I don't end up having to have a set made up!
I have a contact though if the worst happens.....

[Alfasam]

WOW. Lucky man!
I would imagine they were a very difficult thing to find, you must have been extremely lucky to locate and purchase them. Is the adhesive on them still usable?
I have some new old stock roof joint stickers for the Super, but the adhesive on them has dried out long ago, so going to have to find a way of sticking them on without damaging the paint.

[Alfamet]

WOW. Lucky man!
A very difficult thing indeed to find I would imagine.

You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how much I had to pay for them....

[Alfamet]

Coming on...

[Alfamet]

Update. I'm conscious that it's been a little quiet recently.

In a nutshell, progress has I'm afraid been at pedestrian pace.

I won't bore you with the details but the bodyshop I'm using have regrettably had staffing issues for the last few months. In June they really thought that they had found the right guy to complete the work on my Sprint to the high standards expected, which would then allow other staff members to do their day to day jobs. Unfortunately though, the new guy's talk was evidently much better than his capabilities and they had to let him go!

The good news is that they are about to become fully staffed again so events should now progress a little quicker than they had been doing recently. I'm cool with this and believe that it's better to take longer and have the repairs to the standard we all want, rather than have poor quality repairs just to get it finished! I'm really missing the old girl though...

More news presently together with pics.

[LooLooSud33Spider]

Looking good Colin and your right better to donut right even if it takes longer . I'm about to get in a position to start the repairs on my Ti and would like it to be in the paint shop early next year .

[PETROLHEAD]

Are you typing on your phobea aggen luuu?

Donut?

[LooLooSud33Spider]

Yearrghh