MG Maestro Progress

[Guest]

Can they sort trim issues too or is that side of renovation down to trarwling the forums etc?

They will do anything I believe from a repairs to original trim to a full custom trim.. I am investigating options with the Tickford Metro to get the interior in that to the standard it should be.

[Jonathan]

Bodyshops are notoriously tricky, not least because many are reluctant to take on big projects like this much as Sean says. For a start it's difficult for them to quote you in the first place - requirements change and costs tend to spiral as they have on my car as things have been found. Commercial bodyshops prefer to operate on the basis of "this job will cost you exactly £x and it'll take me exactly y hours" - so they'll often tend to do exactly what they quoted for and ignore anything else they find that needs doing, even if it would be beneficial to have it done at the same time. They want your car finished and out the door so that they can get on with the next on their list. They certainly don't want to be waiting around for parts that are difficult to find.

For anyone else considering doing the same, a decision should never be made on cost grounds. You can usually sense very quickly whether someone is *genuinely* interested in the car and what you're asking them to achieve, and seeing a portfolio of their past work or speaking to other customers is equally important. Unfortunately for most of us people with the skills who share our vision seem to be few and far between.

agreed valuation, agreed valuation, agreed valuation, nag nag nag nag...

Definately... The forms will be sent off as soon as the car is complete and I won't be settling for a modest sum!

[E_T_V]

Yes, we have found a local place who's panel work is exceptional. The problem is his spray work isn't so I'm still on the hunt for a good painter.

[Guest]

Yes, we have found a local place who's panel work is exceptional. The problem is his spray work isn't so I'm still on the hunt for a good painter.

You could give my mate GK a call :laugh:

[E_T_V]

Well it is no secret that me and GK don't see eye to eye, however GK can paint very well. Its just the fact that he doesn't take the time and effort to paint to his best standards on everybodys/anyone elses cars as we've both seen.

[G51 NAV]

Definately... The forms will be sent off as soon as the car is complete and I won't be settling for a modest sum!

Jon I'd appreciate your guidance on this. My 'specialist subject' used to be MG Maestro Turbo valuations which I used to officially issue on behalf of the MGCC. I'm out of touch with the value of restored/mint EFi models. I know their value is proportionally less in terms of realisable worth, even though they can cost just as much to restore. I'll PM you separately about this.

[matthewsemple]

MAPS

It's good to see the progress on this car and that others are taking their cars to MAPS to have them restored. As many will know, I used them to do some work on my MG Maestro 1600 after being seeing the work that they did for David West on his MG Montego Turbo.

I believe they are probably unique in that this company does work to an exceptional standard and not only are they sympathetic to our cars, they own a fleet of MG Maestro and MG Montego Turbos and they are members of the MG 'M' Group.

I could go on extensively about the quality of their work and the depth of their expertise (both mechanical and bodywork) but this picture speaks for itself. Next year I am hoping to get the other side done - if they are not too busy doing everyone else's cars!

[G51 NAV]

Any more news on this?

[Jonathan]

Any more news on this?

I think Sean's cars are taking precedence for the time being. Mine was quite a big project and I don't need it back on the road until April anyway. It's essentially ready for paint when there's the opportunity and once that's done, fitting out and all the little details adding. Most of which are NLA parts like sunroof surround rubbers, annoyingly

[G51 NAV]

I think Sean's cars are taking precedence for the time being. Mine was quite a big project and I don't need it back on the road until April anyway. It's essentially ready for paint when there's the opportunity and once that's done, fitting out and all the little details adding. Most of which are NLA parts like sunroof surround rubbers, annoyingly

Ah right. With regards to the sunroof rubber, it's worth noting that the sunroof on these cars never was designed to be a perfect watertight fit, hence the channels and the drainholes. If you can't source another, maybe something else could be modified to fit and provide just a tight-enough fit to prevent rattling.

My car shouldn't be too long now: after weeks of inaction followed by weeks of slow-progress, I've found out tonight that he's now being motivated to complete my car asap by a factor I didn't really consider and had no real direct influence on: he's skint and wants paid :laugh:

[Jonathan]

The sunroof isn't rattling, it's more that the rubbers tend to fade over the years and after so much time and money has gone into getting the exterior of the car just right in every other respect it's things like this you'd never normally notice that suddenly become irritating! It's the same with the rear window rubbers and various black plastic bits - something will need to be done about those.

I'd like to think that this car can be looking its very best for its 25th anniversary year (and 10th year with its current owner). Hopefully it'll be worth the wait, I do miss it.

[Jonathan]

Went over to Swindon to have another look at the car today. Not much happened over the winter because other work got in the way a bit, but hopefully painting will be finished this week, then it's just a case of putting everything back together again and all the details.

How it looks now:


It's a good thing we decided to take the screen out, otherwise this hole and other surface corrosion would have slipped the net. The hole will have to be cut out.


Bonnet is a world away from the discoloured, swirl mark infested mess it went in as, but under the light you can just about make out what looks like a very slight "orange peel" imperfection to the finish...


...so the final stage of the finish involves flattening out and then applying a special polish leaving, quite literally, a glass smooth finish even better than it would have had from the factory.

[Simon]

The orange peel would have been the "straight from the gun" finish as the paint droplets hit the panels. Flatting is a very necessary part of the paint refinishing process, although the paint on my car was glass smooth before being compounded, and still looks good nearly 50,000 miles since the resto was done...

[Oli]

That is looking superb Jon!
Glad to see you 'bit the bullet' and had the screen taken out, would have been a shame to have that rust permiating into view in a couple of years whilst the rest of the car remains mint, eh?

Will you be keeping the 1600 grill and MG X-Spokes? - or returning it to standard?

[Jonathan]

I'm keeping the grille but still have the original. The MG badge could do with tidying up - I've a feeling tracking down a new one would be wishful thinking!

The wheels will either stay as they are (bought new in 2000 but slightly marked and everyone has them) or I might go for a set of earlier "toast rack" style if there are still new ones around, but then I'd need five new tyres all of which would probably add another £400-£500 to the project...