Graham, I think over the last ten or eleven years and 40-45 911's I've been through most stages: terror, frustration, boredom and so on. As you know, 90% of the body metalwork is just good old grotty slog. Frankly, that's why so few people do it at all, and even less stick with it for any length of time. You get it right, and they say 'wow, who did the paint', if it doesn't look right, it's absolutely always going to be down to the panel man
.As for the last 10%, I'd say 3% is talent and the rest is experience.
Where am I now? I'd say that 911 shells are my comfy slippers. I know them pretty well, and on the whole little surprises me. I've seen quite a few of the issues and have never failed to complete a project, there's always a solution to be thought out. Lot's of things keep it fresh, the top one being the desire to always be able to fabricate to get out of trouble. Some of my tooling is now third generation as ambitions, techniques and standards develop. Simply, if I was told I couldn't fabricate, I wouldn't do restoration. I've always believed that the difference between a restorer and a panel fitter is that a true restorer can make what's not available, rather than chop it out of an ever diminishing supply of donor cars.
There is nothing so satisfying as working out how to make a seemingly impossible shape, make the tool, make the part and then see it welded into place. The next thing for me is gaps, I could just tweak and fettle gaps forever. Commercial limitations stop me just going on and on, they are like therapy. Sad I know, but it's that whole problem solving / technique thing I think. I'm just off in my own little world when it comes to gaps. What a sad git.
Overall though, I just like the 911 shells. They are beautifully made for their era, very well thought out and a truly lovely, lovely shape. They have just enough pressed features to make the above fabrications a challenge, but not so much so as to make things impossible. I wouldn't really consider any other shells (although do have a certain E-Type visiting later in the year). I do have a much more creative (non Porsche) project being developed very slowly in the background, and that will break cover at some point, possibly during next Winter. It's nearly 100% fabrication, steel and alloy mix and a very different proposition.
Anyway, back to this one, I had a feeling I would enjoy it when I first saw the car last year. We're only six weeks or so in to date, and progress has been pretty healthy so far. Since I'm keen to keep on top of my waiting list (18 months), and Adam is keen to see it develop, we might as well make the most of the momentum. We have done the majority of the fabrication work now, although there are some detail areas to tackle yet.
Thanks again, and apologies for the amount of radio silence during past year or so
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unbelievable work rate and he's been flat out as you will see!
