dan91
Part of things
Posts: 414
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May 14, 2022 18:42:14 GMT
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So i've slowly started making progress on my MK1, slow being an understatement. The original plan was strip it for parts and buy a nice MK1, but with the ever increasing prices i think it would be a fun project to build myself one on a solid shell. Essentially I'm looking to strip down to a complete bare shell bar subframes so it can be moved. There's a bit of rust, for now I've wire wheeled it off and etch primed it just so it doesn't get worse.    What sort of cost (ballpark) would i be looking at having somebody plate/weld in repair panels, sory any rust and prime, and then a bodyshop to spray the entire shell. Like said i'll be stripping it down almost entirely, so that labour is done, i could also sand/do my best to prep but in reality I'm curse word at bodywork! I'm so out of the loop on bodywork, i could do the welding myself but in reality the appeal of sending the shell away and getting back a nice clean freshly painted base to work on sounds like the best course of action, i can then slowly clean and restore all individual components and re-fit, including some nice OEM+ stuff like a Mk2 Dash/Mk2.5 engine etc. Cheers! |
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May 15, 2022 17:48:35 GMT
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To an extent it's "how long is a piece of string", unfortunately, as the extent of the rust isn't apparent until you start peeling layers away. For example looking through the right-hand hole in that second photo, there's clearly some rust on the section you can see behind it. I imagine actual costs will very depending on where you are in the country, too, or indeed what country you're in.
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Last Edit: May 15, 2022 17:50:17 GMT by droopsnoot
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dan91
Part of things
Posts: 414
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May 16, 2022 20:55:42 GMT
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I'm aware its somewhat ambiguous, hence a ballpark figure, I'm in Wiltshire.
Unless horrendously expensive id imagine its worth saving, doesnt seem too far gone and MK1's are only getting rarer.
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To me, most things are worth saving. I may have to hand in my RR card, but sorry to say I've no idea what it is the Mk1 version of, there isn't quite enough in the wider photo for me to identify it.
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MX5?
Regardless, expect £60/hr for a good bodyshop. Total is all down to what you are aiming for. Proper restoration will easily get into the thousands. It is time consuming work.
If you can find a specialist in the vehicle you may pay a bit more but are potentially better off for it as you are paying for experience which can ultimately save a fair amount of time and money.
Carefully vet whoever you go with and try to view current work in progress.
I would also make sure they are happy for you to visit during the works to inspect work as it goes.
Getting it blasted is worth considering as a first step as it will give a better idea of what you have to deal with.
Putting the car on a pallet with some heavy duty castors is a great way to keep it mobile, raise it and allows you to drop the subframes out.
Good luck
James
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jmsheahan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 681
Club RR Member Number: 121
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You're going to get a wide array of responses here and as droopsnoot has said, unfortunately, it's how long is a piece of string and how deep down the hole you want to go.
My van is currently having major surgery/full body restoration in Wiltshire and in my experience, £40-60 + VAT an hr is about right. Full respray to a good standard I doubt you'd see much change from 5k.
One thing to not get caught out with is the cost of panels, if you can get them, too. I must have done a few grand easily on this alone!
Just go in with your eyes open. Not trying to scare you or anything but things do and will spiral.
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jgtr
Part of things
Posts: 270 
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May 17, 2022 21:58:59 GMT
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I wouldn’t be suprised if it cost £10k, lots of bodywork there are paintwork isn’t cheap
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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I would ballpark £600-700 to sort out that front crossmember at current prices, that’s for metalwork only. You’d get it back in primer, no final coat.
Thats providing it hasn’t spread up the rails as well, mk1 do occasionally go round the ARB mounts but are much less likely to have rusty rails than a mk2.
Stepping back for a moment though, I’d question how good the rest of the car is if a front crossmember is rotted like that. It’s unusual to see one that bad, and if I did I’d expect the back ends of the sills and the rear arches to need significant investment (£2k+) as they’re always the bit that goes first. Check there no filler or plating in that area before doing anything to the rest of the car.
The problem with Mx5s as a whole is that their simple exterior shapes belies the complexity of their construction. You also seem to get people ‘having a go’ who’s skill level is MOT blastover plates on transits and mondeos, and they invariably make the situation worse not better.
I’ve done a few 5s now and have no trouble saying their complicated cars to chaise the rust out of completely becuase do the all overlapping strengthening panels hidden away.
I’ll dig out the pics of one I did a few years ago and you’ll see what I mean.
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May 18, 2022 17:20:08 GMT
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Not sure if irish prices correspond with the UK but if I was doing that job over here you'd be looking around 10k euro.
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mrbig
Part of things
Semi-professional Procrastinator
Posts: 461
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If you want to drop the shell with someone 'as is' and pick up a fully repaired and painted shell, I wouldn't expect to see change from £15k to be honest.
The cost of decent panels, paint and sundries (cutting discs, sanding discs etc) have all gone up significantly in the last few years.
Breaking it down further, at £60/hour, 4 weeks of a regular 40 hour week for 1 person takes you up to £10k.
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1969 German Look Beetle - in progress
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