Classic Alfa Forums

So, I'm delighted to say that after a period of enforced inactivity - due to a series of regrettable circumstances (all of which upsettingly were completely out of my hands) - work has now resumed at a new bodyshop to complete my Sprint Speciale's restoration!

I'm absolutely chuffed!! Pictures soon!

Delighted for you Colin

Glad your getting it back on track Colin . As the old adage goes “good things come to those that wait”.

Update!

It's a marathon not a Sprint

After a positive myriad and multitude of logistical hold-ups and false starts, I'm sooo pleased to be able to say that work has now definitely re-commenced on getting the marathon restoration of my Sprint finished off!

The body is getting several fresh coats of its original Ionian Ivory paint, the wheels are being re-furbished and the bumpers and the bodykit are being treated to a Plasticote finish to restore the factory-fresh look.

This whole process has not been a simple and quick blow-over job. The body was taken right back to bare metal and all rust and evidence of previous botched repairs has been eradicated. it's now completely corrosion-free. The injection of three litres of Dinitrol should ensure that it stays that way too.

One part of the restoration that'll probably have to wait is the Speciale's unique rubber rear spoiler. I've got to decide whether it can be repaired - it has several splits and cracks - to a standard for the sake of originality or whether I get a replica made up from fibreglass or similar. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

Progress at last, eh? Pictures shortly.

Undoubtedly, the most labour-intensive of repair jobs was the cutting-out and reinstatement of the roof's complex triple-skinned rear panel, which incorporates a latitudinal bracing bar and a strengthening platform for the rear tailgate hinges.

Regular readers will know that this part of the roof was in a shocking state originally being riddled with corrosion - offering no rigidity to the Sprint's structure - and, once all the paint had been stripped back to bare metal, was found to have a full-width 'repair' consisting of body filler over an inch deep! All of this rusty and filler-encrusted mess has been cut out and a used but completely rust-free section from a donor car let in.

There's also a full-width strip of metal that's been welded in underneath where the new section and the roof joins for extra solidity and the whole thing aligns perfectly. It proved to be a long job as the repair was completed only in short bursts to prevent distortion and with the use of heat-dispersing welding putty to keep things cool.

After this, all of the temporary coat of one-pack primer was stripped off the roof and anti-rust treatment applied before final finishing. It took a lot of skill and patience to get it that far on but, boy, was it all worth it!!

Great news Colin. Glad to see she is finally on track again.
Massive amount of work involved there .
Good luck sorting the spoiler out.

It maybe looked like a dog's dinner when the photo was taken Kegsti but that one repair alone, although extremely long-winded and easy to get wrong, has ensured that the car hasn't been broken up for spares or - even worse - sent for scrap. The little legend lives on!

Glad it's back on track Colin, hopefully it'll be done before it becomes eligible for free road tax can't imagine that's been the plan

Fingers crossed again that things progress a bit more smoothly from now on..

I hope so mate. If it wasn't for the bad luck, I’d have had no luck at all but I'm pleased the way things are going. At last!!!

You're due some good luck now Colin

It will all be pukka for next years show season....full steam ahead now.

Glad you back on track Colin.

Thanks for your support guys. Appreciated !

I'm really pleased with the way things are going now. We seem to have gained a massive load of momentum in the past few weeks and excellent progress is being made.

The tricky and skilful repair to the rear of the roof panel has now been completed to a better than new and structurally stronger condition having been augmented with the addition of extra metal reinforcement laterally. It's all aligned perfectly and the shut gaps around the rear tailgate are also perfect. A sign of the high standard of the fabrication work is that the entire area needed only the lightest skim of filler to finish. I'm well pleased!

The Sprint is now going to go into primer. I'm getting excited now !

Progress pictures soon.

I've been a bit busy over the last couple of days but at last I have the time now to attach progress photographs as promised.
One of the merits of being on CAF is that we can, and do, encourage each other to keep going when things are less than ideal. So, on that basis, share with me now the joy of seeing the Sprint restoration finally, finally come together.
More to follow.

Progress has been good.


I'm now looking forward to seeing the top coat applied at the beginning of next month. I can't tell you what a happy and somewhat relieved bunny I am. It's been a long haul and yes, even painful at times, but I'm getting really excited now!!! Keep it here....

Great stuff Colin, shaped up nice and will look fantastic when they put the top coat on.

The painting stage is for me by far the most enjoyable, even if the hard work is still to come, gives you a big boost and a target to aim for at last.
Looking forward to following progress now you're back on track

Progress!

IT'S COMING ON.....

Looking great mate. like Christmas come early for you
Are you going to be putting it back together at home?

KevJTD wrote:Looking great mate. like Christmas come early for you
Are you going to be putting it back together at home?

That's the idea Kev.

That will be a really nice car to build back up

Top coat went on today. We're getting closer!
Further pictures tomorrow.

It's moving along nicely

Reminds me of my old '82 reg 1.5 Veloce. She was in the same colour with the brown velour trim.
Do they plan to get it back to you for the Christmas break?
Good luck on the re-fit.

Kegsti66 wrote:Reminds me of my old '82 reg 1.5 Veloce. She was in the same colour with the brown velour trim.
Do they plan to get it back to you for the Christmas break?
Good luck on the re-fit.

Oh, yes!!

Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”

LooLooSud33Spider wrote:Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”

LooLooSud33Spider wrote:Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”

Ha Ha Ha! Absoutely!