fbekholden.com

Hi,
Has anyone here had a full restoration done on their FB or EK, go to whoa? and approx. cost. My poor old sedan needs some rust repairs to the lower front guards, lower windscreen corners (front and rear) and NSR lower dogleg section. The problem I have is that it has been hard to find a panel beater who is prepared to carry out the repairs and repaint the whole car in original colours, replacing all rust affected areas and body rubbers etc. I have found one restorer here in Sydney who will "restore" my car back to the same, if not better, than showroom condition but I am reluctant to part with the $45000+ as quoted. The attraction being that it would be a total drive in, drive out in a brand new 1960 FB. That's it, no less. All or nothing.
All I really want is as first mentioned, a few minor rust repairs, new exterior paintwork (as the original paint has worn back to the red oxide primer in places) and new rubbers.
Can anyone suggest a good Panel beater in Sydney who would do these repairs at a reasonable price? I just want to tidy up the old thing without spending more than a new Holden will cost, although it could happen once the ball gets rolling!
Cheers,
Troy.

Hi Troy, in the case of getting a full resto done by someone, a quote could turn out to be just the start of finding more rust when the resto gets underway. The rust you can see is not garanteed to be all there is, this is why some people don't want to take on such a job and also why you get a quote of $45,000 ( this guy obviosly knows not many people will do a resto like this) so he will charge what ever he likes!
My suggestion would be if you have the time, do as much of the dismantleing as you are capable of doing and then give who ever is doing the body a head start, and you will save $$$ in there time and labour.
I guess this is why most of the people you talk to are restoring there cars at home like me and god knows I don't know what the hell I'm doing about 95% of the time.
Good luck Trev.

I'm a bit like Trev, I'm not sure what I'm doing exactly but have had great help from my mates where I need it too keep me going in the right direction.

If you were in Melbourne I could recommend Gollings Smash Repairs for this sort of work as I know they do concourse work. I had them respray an FC years ago, very minor repair and bare metal roof, total cost $5000. I stripped it and they reassembled it, although I did the rubbers myself.
I'm currently doing the rubbers in my EK and all I can say is FC's were harder.

Are you up for trying to do it? If you have the time do a TAFE course and you can take panels in and do them there. I have heard a few people do it this way before with great results.

Thanks fella's,
I can do such work myself as strip the car of its external bits and trims but don't reckon I could do a job that I would be happy with. I know half the fun is doing it yourself, except when it comes to the bodywork repairs and painting that everyone can see. I don't mind spending the money if it is a good job but yeah, $45k is more than I wanted to spend.
cheers.

May I suggest at $45.000 (to me) sounds like he dosn't want to do it either

I like many other members didn't or don't know a lot about what they are doing but there is plenty of help & information availiable here & poss the FE/FC forum, as lot have EK/FB as well as FE/FC's.
Remember the only silly question is the one you don't ask

can't really recomend ayone in sydney but i doubt you would get much change from $10,000 - $12,000 in a shop, but get some one who would recomend them. i have a freind who is a panel beater near me (blayney NSW) but could only do work after hours which would be a very slow process, also lately there has been a guy at sydney swap meets with a sign advertising panel/paint/resto work at $30 an hour, don't know him i have just seen him around. there's a swap meet sunday next weekend at cherrywood which is out londonderry way

hey Troy,
Check here,
http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/ya ... 1115330956
This is my FC, some of the pics aren't on this thread anymore, but I can tell you, the guy doing it is an old school type tradesman. He convinced me to go back to bare metal when all I wanted was a quickie job, and I'm glad I did as you'll see in the photos.

This shop is at Pendle Hill and is owned by my stepdad (he also has another at Seven Hills) and obviously I'll be getting a decent rate out of them, but if you'd like to give Barry Norris a call at CNH Smash Repairs (9674 5915) and tell him you got the number from Shane, I can't see why he wouldn't at least give you a quote.

Be warned though, like most beaters they don't really like this kind of work, but they know it helps pay the bills!

ratbox wrote:but get some one who would recomend them. i have a freind who is a panel beater near me (blayney NSW)

hey ratbox, ever go drinking at the Clubhouse Hotel in Blayney?

Bloke who runs the place looks just like me, only older!

no i actually live in woodstock about 50k's from blayney

Thanks again to everyone who has offered their advice on this topic, I am sure you have helped out other people other than myself by posting your recommendations. I hope to follow up on a few leads and get the ball rolling.