Car Bodywork Repairs.

[Old Peter]

Hi All,

A couple of weeks ago I managed to to make a dent in SWMBO's car while getting it out of the garage. The dent was in the wheel arch and was not particularly serious, but obviously needed a repair.  I was interested in a TV Advertisement by a well know company who you often see repairing/replacing Windscreens.  I took the obligatory photographs and they were very efficienct in giving me a quote within an hour.  The  fixed quote was £358 including VAT.  When I queried the amount, the man who spoke to me said that because the car was a Hybrid they had to use a special tool ro repair the dent, as electrical current was running through the car.

This was a new one on me, so I check out a local one man body shop who has done work for me before and his quote was £216 including VAT.  The job was done on Tuesday to a very high standard, and even SWMBO could not see where the dent was.

What amuses me somewhat is that most modern cars have electricity working the immobilisers etc. and the cost of a "special tool"  must be very high!.

[Jaguar Owners Club]

Hi Peter

Possibly it's the safety procedure and tools required to isolate the power supply to avoid electrocution especially if they also have to spot weld pins to pull out the dent.

But you can't beat the good old panel beater who probably didn't worry about any of that as he would have dollied it out and not had to involve touching any other part of the vehicle, especially the electrical system.

Glad it all worked out okay and very good price as well.

Personally, I would have denied all knowledge of damaging it in the first place and blamed it on a supermarket car park incident....but I'm sure either way, you would have ended up paying for it, lol

Cheers,  Trevor 

[Old Peter]

Yes, Trevor.

The "old fashioned" panel beater has loads of skill.  I used to work in a large steelworks which had its own garage to maintain its 100 red minis used to get around the works, plus cars and lorries.  I used to have repairs done there for 5/- and a service for 17/6.

My s type is going in for a bad scratch along the nearside doors [no dents, thank God] on Thursday.  The scratch was caused by a girder holding up some Rhododendron branches at the premises we stayed at in Devon.  It was completely invisible against the sun in the very tight entrance.

Regards,

Peter. 

[Jaguar Owners Club]

oh dear, sorry to hear that you scratched the S-Type, no denying that one by the sound of it.  Hope it's not too expensive to repair.

100 red Mini's....how much would they be worth nowadays...I wouldn't even like to hazard a guess.

[Old Peter]

Two panels and a wing mirror, Trevor, and with pearlescent paint needed  --  £396 inc VAT.

The red minis would be worth a fortune  --  all 1960 models, absolutely basis with starter button  on the floor no carpets or door trim.  My department was number 68, and I learnt to drive a car round the works when it was my turn to use it!

Peter.

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Ouch, Peter.  That seems a reasonable quote, hope there's a tone match.

With regard to the Minis......an early (starter on floor) model (strangely enough, in red) went for £27K at a recent Classics sale.  It didn't have an "As driven by Peter round the works" certificate, but was quite cute.      Beautiful unmolested condition but who would have thought!

Us, we'd rather spend our pennies on a good Mk2!

[Old Peter]

He is very good on the paint match, Carole -- genuine Jaguar paint. 

On the red mini  --  I once saw one of my workmates trying to start one using his foot, as he thought that was how it was done as the button was on the floor.

Peter.

[Old Peter]

I have had the S Type back for a week now and after careful examination cannot find a flaw in the finish.

The marks you can see are reflection from my driveway.

Peter.