9 replies to this topic

[jt1689]

I'm looking at getting my mini resprayed, a new front end fitted and A pillar replaced, in white, black roof and group 2 arches. Roughly how much should I expect to pay, waiting on quotes at the minute. Oh and I am supplying all the panels

[Cooperman]

Around £4k to £5k would be my guess.

[humph]

Based on my current experience £40-50 per hour labour for panelwork & £2000-5000 for re-spray depending how much filling and sanding is required. My Elf project which has had all new panels took approx 200 hours of filling and sanding.

[rich_959]

New front end, scuttle, inner door frames and hinges, two door re-skins, one new rear quarter. Respray/colour change.

Raptor to underside and engine bay. Subframes blasted and black raptored. £3800 labour and paint (possibly a little more labour by the time I get the final bill). I supplied panels myself which I think was around £1500.

 

That was based on me supplying the shell mainly stripped, but on rolling subframes with the glass in, and being supplied back to me in the same state (but hopefully nicer!!).

[jt1689]

got me a price, £3500, very good bodyshop too, mates rate though, that's full front end and respray etc in between other work so it doesn't take them away from the other jobs. Personally I think that's a really good price

[I hate Brian]

£3200 for me inside and out I did all the panel work 

[Cooperman]

I reckon my Grandson (Cooperkid) has 'got it made'.

New front RH wing, one new door skin, one outer sill, two new door steps, a lower quarter-panel repair both sides, repairs to the boot floor, A-panel repair on LH side, lower RH door inner repair, mod to fit sliding windows, mod to make boot lid a Mk.1 lid, Mk.1 rear light conversion plates, full prep and repaint. All done by Grandad!

Total cost: Panels £250, paint £290, all labour and sundry materials 'free from Grandad'.

Final painting of basic bodyshell tomorrow. Doors, bonnet & boot-lid painting next week.

It's Ford Radiant Red with a Black roof and Black Group 2 wheel arch extensions. Wheels are Mini 1100 Special 10" Exactons and will be gold.

To be honest, if we didn't do all the work ourselves we would not be able to afford classic cars at all. When I worked for a living I did pay over £5000 for the full preparation of a Mk.1 shell for my rally Cooper 'S', but that was in 1993 and it sort-of 'went through the business' if you see what I mean.

[Norfolk Boy]

Would you like to adopt another grandson Cooperman ?

[MiniMadRacer]

I kinda agree with coope mans sentiment... if I couldnt do a lot of it myself I couldnt afford it...bodywork though is way beyond my skills other than a very functional but not very pretty level...

 

I would love someone to teach me how to do bodwork properly.. sadly to me its an art.. and I do not have an artistic bone in my body

[Cooperman]

I think I was lucky. When I was young I did a 5-year Engineering Apprenticeship with the old de Havilland Aircraft Company. During my time at the basic apprentice training school I did time on the sheet-metal section and learned to gas-weld.

Then I got involved in serious rallying and we had to fix small body damage ourselves 'cause we couldn't afford to pay body-shops. I taught myself to MIG weld a long time ago by buying a cheap MIG set and practising on odd bits of metal. In fact my son is a better welder than I am, but he is a qualified automotive engineer, currently working as a design engineer in F1.

Doing body-work does seem a bit daunting to many, but don't be afraid to give it a try. We are here to help with advice and tips. Buy some sheet-metal working basic tools, a good angle grinder and a reasonably powerful MIG set (Clarke 135T or similar). Don't forget the eye protection and ear defenders!