Early HPE restoration

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

I seem to remember it is a sort of bastardised Ferrari, but will ask John when I see him to refresh my memory as he told me the saga of it a while back which included some very bad and expensive work being done in the US.

I have to say the journey has been an interesting one and certainly have learnt a lot, the main one being bodywork time/costs do add up significantly over time. Given what I know now I would have approached the build from a different angle which would have saved me a significant amount of time/money, but the old adage is you have to pay to learn and normally no real substitute. The one main positive is that the work being done is by someone who is bothered about the result which is the most important thing as far as getting a quality finished item.

Here is a link to a video John sent of the finished engine bay, again colour in the video is lighter than real life, but nice to see a finished part of the car.

http://ashlyn.co.uk/downloads/Beta%20Engine%20Bay.mp4

Peter

[peteracs]

This is a word of warning for anyone who is taking on a restoration, under no circumstances keep an ongoing list of the costs involved, it is way too depressing. I kept a sort of mental note for the Spider of rough costs, but actually have kept a list of the main costs involved in the HPE and it is quite sobering looking at the totals. The drip drip over the months did not seem to be that significant, which is why I think you should look at restoring a car like Betas, which will most likely cost more to restore than it will be worth in resale value, as a ‘hobby’.

At the end of the day it is the whole journey which is reason for me to do this, so whilst the end result is the target it is not the be all and end all.

Just a word of warning…

Peter

[SanRemo78]

I would like to echo those thoughts Peter. I spoke to Hagerty as, now the car is home, I wanted to arrange insurance for it. The maximum they were willing to insure it for, as a rolling shell and a pile of components was £14000. They are willing to review that value as the car progresses so it will be revisited on a quarterly basis. But they say that they can't insure the car for what it will have cost to restore but will consider assessing the value at or over current top market price once complete. All modifications from standard are declared, especially the engine.

Just adding up the cost of buying the car, repairing the shell and painting it takes me way way way over the £14000 total. Add in the interior, engine and parts bills and I'm into totals you laugh at when you watch Bangers & Cash - Restoring Classic Cars! But I'm not doing to make anything out of it. I just want a great Beta that will see out the next 50 years with me and it's next owner(s). The aim is to enjoy it as much as I can!

Guy

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

Never really understood the B & C restorations given the costs versus the sale price. As you say doing it for your own pleasure is very different to looking at it as a commercial concern.

Guess the revenue from the program must be worth it.

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Nail hit on the head Peter, the Restoration show makes it's money from the advertising revenues and repeats ad infinitum. It ought to teach idiots like me and you that the restoration process is rarely profitable (other than to subcontractors) and should only be done with that in mind....

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

Idiots? I think not. Our want/need is to restore a car which we are proud to have and know it is not a orge job. For me it is the whole process as much as the result never having done a complete restore. The Spider taught me a lot of what to do and not to do. This also gave me the chance to rebuild/mod an engine which has been on my wish list for a very long time. For me I am lucky that the cost is secondary.

On another subject you asked about the car in the background. It is a replica P4 Ferrari apparently which has had a chequered history. Originally bodied over several years in US based on a Ferrari chassis (no idea which) which should have been shortened but was not. Doors however were made for shortened chassis!  Then came over to UK and chassis shortened in centre part, but by more than the door size so screen was adjusted which meant original Ferrari screen no longer fit!  John has spent some time on the screen surround apparently, but is not enthused about it and it is moving on apparently. Sounds like an expensive basket case.

Peter

[peteracs]

On with a few other bits, have agreed with John a silver metallic to paint the grill and the wheels. If you cast you mind back I was pretty unimpressed with the paint job on the wheels and have now decided to have them painted over the powder coat once the imperfections have been taken out.

Also one of the stainless side window surrounds had a crack in the original weld, so have left that withJohn to repair.

Lastly the colour in real life is lighter than I remember, but very happy with it. Apparently main body going to be painted this weekend!

[peteracs]

Big week this week, the car is finally painted and John has informed me to come and sign it off.

So need to find storage for the Spider and then the real work for me begins.

Exciting and daunting at the same time, good job I am not in a hurry!

Peter

[Neil-yaj396]

Looks amazing Peter, like Guy you are looking to have a pretty much brand new car. As to the costs, just think how much a mediocre brand new car costs now, they only sell them because of the convoluted finance they offer.

[Clifford3051]

Looked beautiful Peter!
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