HELP WITH NON TVR Specialist Paint Shop

[mr lock pick]

Hi Chaps, can you please help me.

I am now looking for a Paint Shop to trust with my F1 Racing Green TVR Sagaris. Following the various Horror stories on here, I would like to know of anyones personnel experience with full resprays with NON TVR Specialist Paint Shops.

Please do NOT list the usual names that we are all familiar with. I know that my comments may cause a stir, however I am yet to see a Spray Job on any TVR that has simply taken my breath away. Don't get me wrong I have witnessed 1 nice job but nothing that would ever get anywhere in a concourse show and win hands down.

Moving forward, I have been informed of a company called Custom Exotics in Harlow. They specialise in Corvettes and I happened to witness one of there spray jobs and yes it was on an old 1960's Corvette, fibreglass of course and the body work was nothing short of 100% PERFECTION. The bonus is that they are also local to me, which means I can pop in and monitor every single stage of the process if required.

Have any of you had any dealing with these guys in Harlow or any other paint shop that offer this level of PERFECTION?

Once again please NO offence to anyone who uses the TVR Specialist Paint Shops. Before you all ask, I would probably be happy to use Surface & Design however the distance would make my local pop in inspections impossible. The pop in, inspections from my point of view are a must for me personally. Nothing wrong with monitoring progress on your P&J.

Feedback on the above is most certainly very welcome chaps.

[Jhonno]

Tbh.. Not really being a paint specialist.. But if they can paint a fibreglass Corvette properly with your required "Wow" factory.. Surely a TVR is no different?!

[m4tti]

I'd be very tempted to give KDS Keltec a call. I've been looking into this as I've got no desire to head to Blackpool. These guys basically specialise in paintwork and detailing. They have done high end composite cars like Enzo's etc and with their detailing back ground things like wet sanding to a glass like finish should be well within their capabilities.

[mab1]

F1 green is my favourite Sag colour by far, good luck with finding a suitable paint shop, I am sure it will be spectacular.

Personally I would be petrified to use the bloody thing after spending the kind of money for a "good" paint job let alone "perfection"

[m4tti]

Link to pics of aforementioned enzo http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...

[Number 7]

m4tti said:

I'd be very tempted to give KDS Keltec a call. I've been looking into this as I've got no desire to head to Blackpool. These guys basically specialise in paintwork and detailing. They have done high end composite cars like Enzo's etc and with their detailing back ground things like wet sanding to a glass like finish should be well within their capabilities.

Having had a car detailed there twice, you need VERY deep pockets. I dread to think what a respray would cost. I know you get what you pay for in this world, but I do regret spending about 10% of the car's value on a polish. Certainly wouldn't again, but there are plenty of rich people with high-end cars prepared to do so, so I'm sure they will keep a busy workshop.

[alex_gray255]

Hi Chris

I know the cars you are talking about as I have seen them quite a few times in the flesh over the years
and spoke with the guys as well - although it was a few years ago.

I'm not going to recommend anyone - we both know why - however, they did seem to be more into modifications
than painting at that time I thought. The corvettes are very nice though, although the paint jobs did not strike me as
anything exceptional I must admit.

Cheers!

[mr lock pick]

Hi Alex

Not sure if we are referring about the same TVR's here, because I have not publicly hinted on any specific cars. I am referring to cars that I have seen in the flesh over the last 10 years and the occasional car that owners have posted pictures of on PH were permitted. I doubt very much that we are referring to the same cars. Anyway second point, as far as the Corvettes are concerned that you were not impressed with, who is even considering that we are referring to the same cars?

Are you sure you know what a good respray looks like Alex?

Anyway thanks for your post fella, very helpful indeed and I will take your comments on board for sure, thank you.

alex_gray255 said:

Hi Chris

I know the cars you are talking about as I have seen them quite a few times in the flesh over the years
and spoke with the guys as well - although it was a few years ago.

I'm not going to recommend anyone - we both know why - however, they did seem to be more into modifications
than painting at that time I thought. The corvettes are very nice though, although the paint jobs did not strike me as
anything exceptional I must admit.

Cheers!

[shake n bake]

You've found your bodyshop you're going to use, these guys sound awesome. Book it in and leave them to it, popping in every 5 minutes won't help your paint come out any better. What do you know about paint better than them? Would you like to be watched doing your job every day? They're just guys who enjoy the work but may not enjoy being in the spotlight.
Just my opinion, I hope you find your unicorn Bodyshop.

[alex_gray255]

Hi Chris

I was talking about the Corvettes, mate, not TVRs

Anyway, they used the same couple of Corvettes at the same shows for the last 4-5 years, so
I think I know the ones you are talking about.

Possibly I don't know about resprays - who knows?

Stand corrected - S7EED did have a nice paint job - but again, I've seen ones of similar quality. At least, IMVHO.

Cheers!

Edited by alex_gray255 on Wednesday 2nd September 22:19

[MrChips]

I guess it depends on how much you're happy to spend but i'd also look at KDS Keltec, but that's only from reading their blogs on the detailing forums, they're obviously passionate and work on high end composite cars so the fibreglass should be no trouble. I think the owner had a white tuscan at some point as well.
Feast your eyes on this!.. http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

For reference, mine was painted by Rick at what is now Autotech Prestige. Some pics here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dh-photographic/albu...

Actual quality of the paintwork is very very good, but as with most tvr's it's the extras which some bodyshops struggle with such as the sealed headlights, and A Pillar trims. Rick was very helpful in re-doing the bits I wasn't happy with, and that's something quite rare in the bodyshop world i'm led to believe!
However it's almost impossible to get sealant lines and bodyfit 100% perfect. It's just finding someone who is able to do it, and then being aware that it'll likely take some time and money.

Best of luck with it though!

[Nick Brough]

Hi,

You could try Haslam Body repairs in Bolton they did my friend's GT40 replica and do modern cars as well as pre war Bugatti Bentley etc.

I know you said you needed to pop in and check things but believe me with these guys you will not have to check until the end. You will however pay for their services, as in a lot.

http://www.haslamsbodyrepairsltd.co.uk/index_files...

[Plan B]

Another vote for Autotech Prestige in the Woburn area. Rick and Aaron do a fastidious job. As said before with the way our cars are there are always problems that will usually make the job bigger than a simple re spray. My Griff was painted over a 2month period. Correcting various body issues really ate up time but at the end they delivered a fabulous job. Just to add IMO it's best to visit the car every few days during the painting process as I have found there are often cost related decisions to be made depending on whether you want true perfection or are prepared to compromise on detail to save cost. For example one of many problems - car had tiny bubbles in the gel coat - these were courtesy of TVR factory. I elected to have the gel coat stripped and re-applied but could have cut corners and had these just painted over. Rick pointed out either tackle the bubbles now or they would have reappeared in a year or two. Lots of places wouldn't raise the problem and just paint over. I prefer to know all of the problems and the cost of remedy then decide what to do.
I suppose what I'm saying is pick your paint shop carefully (vitally making sure they know their way around GRP and Sikaflex and the other many foibles of TVR) and monitor progress without taking up too much of their time.
Also don't get fooled by fixed price re sprays shown on websites. If you get a proper job done it is likely that the website price is the starting price and there will be inevitable "unforeseen extras" that will need to be seen to. That isn't a criticism of the trade it's just that time equals cost and nothing is free.

[Plan B]

Another vote for Autotech Prestige in the Woburn area. Rick and Aaron do a fastidious job. As said before with the way our cars are there are always problems that will usually make the job bigger than a simple re spray. My Griff was painted over a 2month period. Correcting various body issues really ate up time but at the end they delivered a fabulous job. Just to add IMO it's best to visit the car every few days during the painting process as I have found there are often cost related decisions to be made depending on whether you want true perfection or are prepared to compromise on detail to save cost. For example one of many problems - car had tiny bubbles in the gel coat - these were courtesy of TVR factory. I elected to have the gel coat stripped and re-applied but could have cut corners and had these just painted over. Rick pointed out either tackle the bubbles now or they would have reappeared in a year or two. Lots of places wouldn't raise the problem and just paint over. I prefer to know all of the problems and the cost of remedy then decide what to do.
I suppose what I'm saying is pick your paint shop carefully (vitally making sure they know their way around GRP and Sikaflex and the other many foibles of TVR) and monitor progress without taking up too much of their time.
Also don't get fooled by fixed price re sprays shown on websites. If you get a proper job done it is likely that the website price is the starting price and there will be inevitable "unforeseen extras" that will need to be seen to. That isn't a criticism of the trade it's just that time equals cost and nothing is free.

[FUBAR]

Chris YHM

[Zippee]

Hi Chris - What about Hilton coachworks - Proper job

On a more serious note another recommendation for Rick at Autotech. I would have used him to sort out my mess but his company went through a change of ownership and so weren't booking anything in at the time.
Else, bite the bullet and travel to Blackpool

[Plan B]

The work on my car was done in June/July under the new ownership. Same personnel same Top job.

[The Big G]

Number 7 said:

m4tti said:

I'd be very tempted to give KDS Keltec a call. I've been looking into this as I've got no desire to head to Blackpool. These guys basically specialise in paintwork and detailing. They have done high end composite cars like Enzo's etc and with their detailing back ground things like wet sanding to a glass like finish should be well within their capabilities.

Having had a car detailed there twice, you need VERY deep pockets. I dread to think what a respray would cost. I know you get what you pay for in this world, but I do regret spending about 10% of the car's value on a polish. Certainly wouldn't again, but there are plenty of rich people with high-end cars prepared to do so, so I'm sure they will keep a busy workshop.

Kelly is hugely knowledgable and sets himself extremely high standards. Spent a hour or two going over my car noticing things I have never noticed before. He will also help tidy up the interior and lepsons is next door so the wheels can be refurbished at the same time. Was going to book my 840 in for a lot of work but I ended up moving house and had to spend the money on that instead! Hope to be in a position to send it to them in the next 12-18 months though and it'll look far better than new.

Go along and have a chat. I'm sure you'll be very impressed. But it'll explain their extra long waiting list!