restoration in Europe

[smeylaerts]

Hi,

I still have a pretty worn down interceptor III. Does anyone have any experience with the Oldtimer Studio in Bucharest, Romania? Of course they gave me a good estimate for the restoration, just based on foto's, but I would like some one with a previous experience to tell me how that went?

Anyone?

thanks

Sven

[Steve Payne]

I was talking to an owner of a Rover SD1 who had sent it to Poland for a restoration recently, he had been quoted half what they were quoting in the UK. They collected it included in the price. Once they had it the price increased on everything they found that was not visible in the photos he had sent. They did turn it around in the 4 months they quoted but once back he reckoned they had used a lot more filler than he was expecting in the restoration and reckoned he would never do it again. The final price was still only 75% of what he would have paid in the UK. It did look good inside and out but time will tell how long it will last.
Personally I would want to be able to ''pop in'' and see how things are progressing if I was having a car restored.
Anybody who quotes to restore from a photo is taking a big chance as most are a lot worse once they start digging.
Out of interest what are they quoting you and what are they going to do for that? Is it a mechanical as well as body restoration?
Steve

[toonkojak]

Hi Sven,

Relying on a restoration quote based on photos is like going to one of those dodgy places in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Friday night singing "Sunderland till I die, I'm Sunderland till I die, I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm Sunderland till I die..."...

In other words, you're asking for trouble.

You've been looking for a "cheap" Jensen restorer for at least 3 years now. Over that period of time, prices of some specialist services or materials have nearly doubled.

Buy cheap, pay twice - as my Mum has always said.

Good luck with your search.

[johnw]

Sven you have a fantastic looking car there. I think it is great what you are doing, taking it slow, enjoy the ride. Maybe don't restore at all. No one wanted it for what seems a reasonable price. Take it slowly, have patience, and keep the car meantime in as good a condition as you can. Once it goes to a restoration shop things can only get worse unless the shop is the very best. While the best is not cheap, it usually isn't top price either. Personally I don't like too much work done to cars. Colin Holley got my car to where I was happy with it, but now I have lost the car and Colin!

In the photos your car looks good enough to spotlessly clean each panel and clear coat it, panel by panel. Then perhaps a black film roof? Leave it clear coated steel. Those Mk3 alloys look damn good with the original shade of grey! You photos of the interior looked very good too. Some leather food and good to go perhaps. That would be a great way to go in my book under the circumstances. These cars don't have to be restored to within an inch of their life.