My 1960 T5B Restoration

Phil Parry · Post by **Phil Parry** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:21 pm

I've been tempted to post some pics of the progress of my restoration for a while. Now the car's at the painter's I decided it was time! Hope you like them. Body / Metal pics first.

Phil Parry · Post by **Phil Parry** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:44 pm

Prep work, priming and flatting at JMA Refinishers in Wickford. Jay Adams has a great reputation for top quality hotrods and classics. He's done lots of 356s so I'm in safe hands. The MG in the background is off to Le Mans next year.

DustyM · Post by **DustyM** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:48 pm

Looks good, nice panel gaps, do keep us updated, might inspire me to crack on with mine.

Cheers

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:11 am

Has to be said-
Some of the best metal work Ive seen on here !
That door is just stupidly good.

Really nice.

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:05 pm

Have to agree... a four-tissue door there. Very nice

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:44 pm

Really, really great. As those above have already said the DOOR 8)really stands out to the standard you are achieving. I did the same to my drivers door in the 70's using standard gas and then 2 ?? sticks of lead. I honestly nearly cried when I performed the weld on a perfectly produced half skin that matched the top half so well. I tried everything to stop distortion

. I presume you used a mig? I find it hard to believe you got that result it seems? without lead.

Some of you guys here on DDK deserve medals for panel work.

Well done indeed.

Roy
RHD356A super75 106954

911hillclimber · Post by **911hillclimber** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:31 pm

The door skin struck me too, a very long weld by any method and with such a killer gap too!

V nice tin work.

More!

Phil Parry · Post by **Phil Parry** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:38 pm

Thanks for the complimentary comments guys. I wish I could take the credit, but I can barely draw a straight line let alone weld one like that. The master at work is Richard Clark (aka Lionel) in Westcliff on Sea - the one being shown a good deal of affection by his dog in one of the pictures. The man's a genius. He's done a whole load of lovely 356s and other Porsches and VWs. You should see the split crewcab and rather special historical project he's been working on lately (probably one for him to reveal rather than me). He started off life as an apprentice to some VW guys and coincidentally worked on my 54 Oval Beetle when he was a trainee and then spent many years as mr metal at Sportwagen. He went on his own several years ago. Take a look at Ritchie's Roadster as another example of his work.

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:33 am

I agree with the above comments, some fantastic work there.

Phil Parry · Post by **Phil Parry** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:12 am

Some more door pics and the car in primer

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:34 am

Phil,

Pass on my compliments to your body shop guy, I think his work is fantastic. He probably knows he is good but it doesn't hurt to tell him so.

I really look forward to seeing how this all progresses.

Roy

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:43 pm

Watching this with interest, good to see another saved

Phil Parry · Post by **Phil Parry** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:21 am

Thanks everyone for your comments. Body now undercoated in black Schutz, compartments painted in satin black and gearbox finished (by Mike at PR Services). Was contemplating upgrading engine to 1720cc with Shasta bits n pieces until I discovered what this is likely to cost - not really worth it for a whim and for a guy who's not really all that bothered about speed (wrong car after all). Given the £0000s spent so far, an extra several thousand on the engine felt like too much to bear. So, I'll be staying stock except for a 12 volt conversion. By the way, I have a spare perfect early T5B gearbox rebuilt by Vic Skirmants in the States, along with a pair of excellent black leather front seats, various engine lids and other bits n bobs. I'll post something on the parts for sale section in due course, but if anyone's looking, give me a shout.

Everything sealed:

Back to Black (the shiny pics = wet paint):

More pics on http://photobucket.com/porsche356B

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:02 pm

Phil,

Ten out of Ten on all counts. You have chosen the right people to do this work and I tend to agree with you with regard to the engine. They drive well enough on our present roads to be enjoyable with the normal capacity. I guess age dictates on that though.

You will have a lovely car when its finished I reckon.

Roy

curbo · Post by **curbo** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:55 pm

Phil
please could you pm me Richard Clark's contact details
thank you