Rebuilding a 1958 356A

[58A - 71E]

I cant believe how good it looked before you pulled it to bits.

John, tell me about it It had just won first place in the PCGB concours - luckily the grass was long and wet so not much peering underneath
Seriously though, I've read a lot about 356s hiding things well, well after seeing what was left of the sills, heater tubes and longitudinals I can now appreciate now just what that means

I bet Tracy is excited

You have no idea

This looks tremendous James and will be a beauty to behold once it's completed and is returned to its' previous glory.

Thanks Mick, we'll see. I reckon the car deserves it, they aint making any more, there arent many left and given the attachment that Mrs 58A has for this car it had to be saved

[58A - 71E]

Here's a taste of what I was up to earlier today (Now with extra holes - thanks Bill)

[58A - 71E]

Just been sent this sneek preview by the painter, car should be ready to pick up this weekend

[stuj76]

Hi James,

Looking good in that silver, are you going to keep the interior colour the same as before the resto began?

S

[petric]

hi james he dont mess about painters are normanly snail pace workers and push them in a corner, that means plenty of time in the garage over christmas and not sitting about stuffing ket down yer neck, looking good peter

[tim78]

Looks great. But then I thought it looked great in the before pictures to.
This might be a stupid question but did the early cars have a clear coat over the silver?
Tim

[58A - 71E]

Hi James,

Looking good in that silver, are you going to keep the interior colour the same as before the resto began?

S

Hi Stuart
Yes, the car will be stock throughout, the seat covers are in really good nick, the guts of the seats need rebuilding but I am hoping to save the original covers

[58A - 71E]

hi james he dont mess about painters are normanly snail pace workers and push them in a corner, that means plenty of time in the garage over christmas and not sitting about stuffing ket down yer neck, looking good peter

Hi Peter - the painter in this case is my cousin who just happens to be one of my best mates as well - he has his own business and has cleared work to free himself up personally to do it and has been putting the hours in and then some!
I have seen a lot of his work over the years (he does all my cars) and whether he was my cousin or not I would still be using him - he does a fantastic job

[58A - 71E]

Looks great. But then I thought it looked great in the before pictures to.
This might be a stupid question but did the early cars have a clear coat over the silver?
Tim

Hi Tim
Yeah, on the outside it did look good - my family thought I was crazy pulling it apart, but when you see the extent of the tin worm it was worth doing

Yes, the metallic silver has clear lacquer coat on top - its not a solid colour like the 911 is. The car has had 4 coats of colour and 2 of lacquer

[tea boy]

I have to say this is looking very nice.
When it is done it will probably look just like it did when you started

[roy mawbey]

James,

I have looked carefully at all the posts and photo's and Wow you have worked hard and the work looks really well done. No skimping. As others have said the car looked good on the outside in photos before the work. From the photo's you would never have guessed.

To do all this work like also Bill and John are attempting is very demanding and time consuming for everyone involved including the wives. I know when I did mine all those years ago, my wife was always there for me with tea and biscuits even at 2 in the morning when things were going wrong. I have never forgotten her effort even if it wasn't holding the welding torch. ( Can't really work out why though,its almost 39 years since she's been out in the "A" with me. )

You will have great car when its finished. ( Now, I don't know if I should poke around my original battery box with a screwdriver I sort of find it amazing its not ready to fall apart. )

Well done again! and great photo's.

Roy

[hot66]

....including the wives. I know when I did mine all those years ago, my wife was always there for me with tea and biscuits even at 2 in the morning when things were going wrong. I have never forgotten her effort even if it wasn't holding the welding torch. ( Can't really work out why though,its almost 39 years since she's been out in the "A" with me. )


Roy

I think it's because wife's are happier knowing you're in the garage & contained, rather than down the pub etc etc s

[58A - 71E]

I have to say this is looking very nice.
When it is done it will probably look just like it did when you started

Thanks, at least it should have an MOT and be safe to drive

[58A - 71E]

James,

I have looked carefully at all the posts and photo's and Wow you have worked hard and the work looks really well done. No skimping. As others have said the car looked good on the outside in photos before the work. From the photo's you would never have guessed.

To do all this work like also Bill and John are attempting is very demanding and time consuming for everyone involved including the wives. I know when I did mine all those years ago, my wife was always there for me with tea and biscuits even at 2 in the morning when things were going wrong. I have never forgotten her effort even if it wasn't holding the welding torch. ( Can't really work out why though,its almost 39 years since she's been out in the "A" with me. )

You will have great car when its finished. ( Now, I don't know if I should poke around my original battery box with a screwdriver I sort of find it amazing its not ready to fall apart. )

Well done again! and great photo's.

Roy

Hi Roy, yes the car has needed a lot of work.
Patience, money and time were/are also required in bucket fulls too
I'm not intending on doing this level of work on the car ever again so skimping/cutting corners wasnt an option - I want it right!
Your work on your car has been a bit of an inspiration in that clearly resto work can last a long time and the car still look good many years after doing it
Unfortunately for me the 356 is reallly Mrs 58A's car - trust me, having a petrol head wife is almost worse than one that doesnt understand the obsession that cars can become....no excuses etc

Just the job of putting it all back together again now, but yesterday saw a major step forward, see below.....

[58A - 71E]

Yesterday, for the first time since July 2006, the car was back in the garage wearing its paint.
Its a colour that the light really changes; it can be dark to the point of being almost grey or blindingly metallic - couple of photos....