I’m pretty filthy as I sit here and type. And to think I just went to the shops looking like this. I’m too tired to care though, since today was bittersweet.
I met this morning with Steven and Graham from [details to be confirmed] who were previously affiliated with Tom Maben Classic Car Restorers cc. First off, what a couple of class chaps – really friendly and accommodating insofar as they are willing to help me out with professional advice on the project going forward, possibly even teach me how to weld. Also extremely apologetic, as much as it was not necessary for any apologies to be tendered. Apologetic because in their expert opinion, the car would require around a month’s worth of solid attention at a rather pricey hourly rate. Pricey for me maybe, but if I had to be honest with myself I’d say I’d like these chaps to work on my car, money aside. The plans that were in my head when I bought the car certainly involved the proper restoration of the car. Not a ‘slap-together’, ‘buckets o’ body-filler’ job. I envisioned fresh metals being grafted into the body once the cancer had been carefully, properly and diligently removed in whole. I envisioned a restoration that began way below the body panels, on the structural arms and load-bearing beams – a method that would certainly result in a 2010/11 version of a 1974 classic. These gents seem like they know what I was thinking.
In their expert opinion, this project would be best accomplished (on the lowest possible budget without cutting corners) if I knuckle down, learn some skills and do this myself. That was the bitter part, not because I am unwilling but because I am impatient by nature. What I need to learn, apart from welding is that this project is in fact going to take a long time. I am going to need to come to terms with that, even though it was originally my understanding. A classic ‘got-your-hopes-up’ scenario.
The sweet bit. Right. Some pics first:
The front bumper eventually came off, ironically while I was trying to re-fit it prior to Steven and Graham's visit.
Front passenger fender off. And yes, that's the first glimpse of me; there might be more to follow. Might.
Started to get the bottom metal thingy off (Sorry, will try to work on my automotive vocab...)
Exposed some metal on that sill. What lurks inside is what troubles me though...
The fender, out of captivity. I took a hammer to it briefly and it's in far better shape than it was before. If only the previous owners hadn't taken such shortcuts, life would be so much simpler.
Joel getting in on the action.
Hood coming off.
Hood liberated.
Scrap metal or car? You decide.
Just for kicks, my car's gorgeous bums!
Front bottom metal thingy liberated. It's a custom part from the previous geniuses, er... owners.... so it's going in the bin.
Part of the earth's crust that came out of the car as I tried to pry the driver-side front fender off...
That driver-side front fender is 80% toast by the way. 
Some oil on the sensitive bits to prevent rust for the rest of the week while I'm slaving away in corporate hell.
There you go ladies and gents. The sweetness of today can be summed up in the boost of energy that came from the report I got this morning, to get going on this thing, push forward and make this happen by myself. Not only will it cost less, but in the words of Graham, ‘When you get done with this car, you’ll never sell it.’
Agreed.
Take it easy.
. I also purchased a proper air hose, as the horrible orange coiled ones that come with the compressor kit are near impossible to work with. All in all, things are starting to look like they’re falling into place for me to continue working on the Tina.
