Restorations
20/08/23
I'M BOOKED UNTIL END 2024 FOR FULL TURN KEY RESTORATIONS, BUT CAN TAKE ON PARTIAL WORK LIKE BODY AND PAINT, TUNING OR ASSEMBLY WORK. OCCASIONALLY THERE'S DELAYS WITH RESTORATIONS AND OTHER WORK CAN BE BROUGHT IN. CALL FOR RESTORATION TIME FRAMES.
One current full restoration is a 2/73 40X trim Chateau Mauve XU-1. Came in for some assembly work and driveline rebuild, but found paint that was peeling off in sections, shoddy collision repairs and deep sandpaper scratches from poorly prepared work. The owner decided to have us strip to a bare shell, send to the blaster and start again.
A BIT ABOUT ME: I'm a professional Spray painter from the automotive restoration and prestige industry. Always having an interest in old cars, I did approx 6 weeks of work experience (while at secondary school) at Rod City Reproductions, who built high quality Hot Rods, chassis and components. Immediately after completing the Rod City work experience in 1988, I knew this was the sort of thing I wanted to do, and got the opportunity to start an apprenticeship at a restoration shop in March 1989. I've been in the restoration industry ever since. In 1990, I purchased my first XU-1 and have specialised particularly in XU-1 Torana's and can perform any sort of fabrication body work you need, and all to show standard. I began making my own reproduction parts in 1990, copied from originals, to complete my own XU-1's, and then this lead to the parts production that I still do today. I can do any work needed, from body panel fabrication which includes fitting new guards, nose cones, front valance panels, floor pans, removal of flared guards and re-creation of original arches in steel, complete reconstruction and skinning of rusted door pillars, the correction or re working of old poorly done collision repairs, rails straightened and squared up, rust removal, panel making, file finishing and paint, then assembly to a full Concours detailed turn-key car. If needed, I can also perform chassis fabrication or repairs to standards that will pass engineering certification for road registration.
Full rotisserie restoration, carby rebuilds and tuning, and the reproduction parts to complete these cars to Concours condition. Every dent or section of rust removed, panel beaten straight and file finished in metal. The bodies are painted exactly how the car left GM. With red oxide showing in places in the cabin and underneath on the floor pan. Two Pack preparation and finished in Acrylic top coats. Approximate costs for this sort of body and paint is $50-60K, depending on the condition of the body after the paint is removed. So far, I've not had a fabrication, body and paint that has exceeded $60K. The cost of the paint stage on the restorations basically stays the same, but the overall cost rises if lots of panel fabrication is needed or if there are parts missing that have to be located and purchased. PLEASE NOTE: ALL PARTS FROM EACH CAR ARE USED AND RECONDITIONED UNLESS THEY ARE NOT REPAIRABLE AND ABLE TO BE RECONDITIONED. IF ITEMS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE RECONDITIONED, REPRODUCTIONS ARE SUPPLIED AND FITTED. ALL OLD PARTS NOT USED IN RESTORATION WHICH ARE NOT CORRECT OR DAMAGED ARE GIVEN BACK WHEN THE CAR IS FINISHED. HUNDREDS OF PHOTO'S ARE TAKEN OF ALL STAGES AND EMAILED DURING THE PROGRESS OF EACH RESTO.
There are some restoration places out there, with no experience with XU-1's who are charging $50-60K (and more), for body fabrication and paint, who rely on the customers knowledge to complete the paint and resto. In these instances, these places still stuff up critical aspects which will impact on the cars final result, authenticity and value. We specialise exclusively on XU-1's, and can return your XU-1 to how it left the factory. Aside from the body and paint, there's the restoration of all the components and assembly. Your XU-1 will be completed to a totally authentic state. Original colour codes, shades and paint formulas are used. The car will be assembled and finished off with all the inspection stencils, stamps, parts ID stickers and coloured inspection marks. If the original paint work is still evident, it's documented with pictures and measurements and patterns BEFORE the paint is removed to ensure it's replicated exactly. Each XU-1 restoration is finished to such a standard that the vehicle can go straight into a judged Concours show.
Even if you have bought an XU-1 and the original paint is long gone from previous paintwork, then we can replicate the paintwork and blackouts according to other documented XU-1's of the similar build date/plant. I have a vast photographic history of documented original XU-1's. While the body and paint is under way, the component restoration will be going on at the same time, so that the suspension is ready to go in once the body is finished.
I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CALLS ASKING IF I CAN RESTORE AND CORRECT XU-1'S WHICH OWNERS HAVE REALISED THAT THERE CARS ARE NOT GENUINE. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN CORRECTING GTR'S OR XU-1'S WHICH ARE REBODIED OR FAKES. IF A CLIENT BRINGS A GTR OR XU-1 TORANA IN FOR A FULL RESTORATION, WHICH ENDS UP BEING REBODIED, (AFTER AN INITIAL INSPECTION), THE CLIENT WILL BE NOTIFIED AND THE RESTORATION WILL NOT PROCEED. I SERVICE OR TUNE ANY LC OR LJ TORANA. INCLUDING STANDARD MODELS, REPLICAS ETC. TRIPLE CARB TUNING JOBS ARE NORMALLY DONE AT 2 WEEKS NOTICE. THANKS
All work including assembly is at an hourly rate + parts. I can also locate missing parts if needed. A full Concours turn-key restoration of an XU-1 to this standard is usually around the $150K figure. This cost is based on an LC or LJ XU-1 that has ' the usual' rusty areas and body issues, and is mostly complete, but the cost will rise if the body needs vast amounts of body reconstruction and panel making. The location and purchase of missing parts will add to the overall cost. Also see pics of triple carby restorations and heater box restorations. I'll soon list pics of the fully detailed front and rear suspension, engine and gear box. Completely detailed to how it left GM.
IMPORTANT: CLIENTS NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY READY FOR WORK TO BEGIN ONCE THEIR CAR ARRIVES. EACH RESTORATION USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND APROX $150K DEPENDING ON CONDITION. ANY MISSING OR DAMAGED PARTS THAT NEED TO BE PURCHASED OR REPLACED WILL ADD TO THIS FIGURE. STORAGE, AND TRANSPORT COSTS WILL BE CHARGED IF WORK PROGRESS IS BROUGHT TO A HALT DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS, UNTIL FINANCES BECOME AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE WORK, OR THE CAR IS COLLECTED. STORGE WILL BE CHARGED AT A MONTHLY RATE.
The Juniper XU-1 in the pics was completed and collected by the owner in August in 2015. He had not been able to drive his XU-1 since the early 1990's. It was a great pleasure and an honour to restore this 1973 Bathurst Special XU-1, knowing it's race history as a Group C Touring car. This XU-1 is a 1 of 1 build. Juniper exterior with Juniper trim.
A lot of people ask where I get other parts rebuilt or plating done. It's taken many years to find reputable, reliable and highly knowledgeable people for these sorts of jobs.
Sterling plating in Heidelberg Vic, for all chrome, and zinc plating.
Aaron Sumner in Melton Vic, for all wiring loom restorations, electrical rebuilds like Starter motors, Wiper motors, Alternators, horns and other component restorations.
MLP Carburettors in Reservoir Vic, for all triple carby and fuel pump rebuilds and restorations.
Enjoy the pics!
Thanks.
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