Very Good Bodyshop Needed - capable of fitting wide-arch kit

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

I am after a little help if I can get it.

I have been looking for someone who can fit a wide arch kit to a 2003 Mercedes SL55 (Black Series style) and complete a post-2008 conversion.

They need to be absolutely top quality in their workmanship and able to start fairly soon as I am all ready to move on this.

Any recommendations would be VERY much appreciated!

[andye30m3]

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

[alsaautomotive]

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

TBH my initial reaction would be to double & triple check the quality of the GRP mouldings. My experience of ALL aftermarket 'kits' is that they are rubbish & no bodyshop will warranty the final quality - & if they do then they are 'winging' it to get the work.
We would (well any decent quality place) all warranty our actual work - in bonding these items on etc, BUT there is NO WAY a reputable 'shop will vouch for an aftermarket kit I'm afraid.
I can forward you the details of someone top drawer who will take the work on - but please be aware of the above!
Let me know, Al.

[PJ S]

Have a chat with KDS Keltec (Kelly) - not sure if he still does this sort of work now, what with being so busy with the detailing side, but if you don't ask....
He's over in Gillingham, opposite Lepsons - handy if the wheels need refurbed, and the train station to get to and from London again.

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

TBH my initial reaction would be to double & triple check the quality of the GRP mouldings. My experience of ALL aftermarket 'kits' is that they are rubbish & no bodyshop will warranty the final quality - & if they do then they are 'winging' it to get the work.
We would (well any decent quality place) all warranty our actual work - in bonding these items on etc, BUT there is NO WAY a reputable 'shop will vouch for an aftermarket kit I'm afraid.
I can forward you the details of someone top drawer who will take the work on - but please be aware of the above!
Let me know, Al.

Thanks Al - yes, I am aware of this, sadly, but I also appreciate that how experienced someone is in doing this sort of work will make a huge difference to the outcome.

Would be VERY grateful for your recommendations!

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

PJ S said:

Have a chat with KDS Keltec (Kelly) - not sure if he still does this sort of work now, what with being so busy with the detailing side, but if you don't ask....
He's over in Gillingham, opposite Lepsons - handy if the wheels need refurbed, and the train station to get to and from London again.

Thank you!

[alsaautomotive]

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

TBH my initial reaction would be to double & triple check the quality of the GRP mouldings. My experience of ALL aftermarket 'kits' is that they are rubbish & no bodyshop will warranty the final quality - & if they do then they are 'winging' it to get the work.
We would (well any decent quality place) all warranty our actual work - in bonding these items on etc, BUT there is NO WAY a reputable 'shop will vouch for an aftermarket kit I'm afraid.
I can forward you the details of someone top drawer who will take the work on - but please be aware of the above!
Let me know, Al.

Thanks Al - yes, I am aware of this, sadly, but I also appreciate that how experienced someone is in doing this sort of work will make a huge difference to the outcome.

Would be VERY grateful for your recommendations!

In that case....talk to Shaun at Panelcraft Elite, they're based in Sittingbourne.
tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Tell him Al @ Alsa recco'd.
Not certain he would do it, but I can absolutely vouch for the quality & I believe his lead times are CONSIDERABLY (!!!!!!) less than ours
Best wishes, Al.

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

TBH my initial reaction would be to double & triple check the quality of the GRP mouldings. My experience of ALL aftermarket 'kits' is that they are rubbish & no bodyshop will warranty the final quality - & if they do then they are 'winging' it to get the work.
We would (well any decent quality place) all warranty our actual work - in bonding these items on etc, BUT there is NO WAY a reputable 'shop will vouch for an aftermarket kit I'm afraid.
I can forward you the details of someone top drawer who will take the work on - but please be aware of the above!
Let me know, Al.

Thanks Al - yes, I am aware of this, sadly, but I also appreciate that how experienced someone is in doing this sort of work will make a huge difference to the outcome.

Would be VERY grateful for your recommendations!

In that case....talk to Shaun at Panelcraft Elite, they're based in Sittingbourne.
tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Tell him Al @ Alsa recco'd.
Not certain he would do it, but I can absolutely vouch for the quality & I believe his lead times are CONSIDERABLY (!!!!!!) less than ours
Best wishes, Al.

Thanks Al - you're a gent!

[lee stacey27]

there is a great body shop in hitchin heartfordshire.called fast n furious. try them speak to james. they have had many cover cars.

[Candellara]

Call a chap called Ben Robins

http://www.finish-first.co.uk/contactus.php

Ben is very competitive (too cheap IMO) and based in Sussex.

Had him do paint on my old Ferrari 348, a friend has an old Healey 3000 for a ground up restoration with him at the moment. Other cars he has re-sprayed include an original Gullwing Merc, Ferrari 275GTB and a Ferrari Daytona.

His workmanship is second to none IMO and everything oven-baked etc

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

lee stacey27 said:

there is a great body shop in hitchin heartfordshire.called fast n furious. try them speak to james. they have had many cover cars.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

Candellara said:

Call a chap called Ben Robins

http://www.finish-first.co.uk/contactus.php

Ben is very competitive (too cheap IMO) and based in Sussex.

Had him do paint on my old Ferrari 348, a friend has an old Healey 3000 for a ground up restoration with him at the moment. Other cars he has re-sprayed include an original Gullwing Merc, Ferrari 275GTB and a Ferrari Daytona.

His workmanship is second to none IMO and everything oven-baked etc

Really appreciate the recommendation - I don't suppose if you know if they have any experience with difficult bodykits?

[Candellara]

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

Candellara said:

Call a chap called Ben Robins

http://www.finish-first.co.uk/contactus.php

Ben is very competitive (too cheap IMO) and based in Sussex.

Had him do paint on my old Ferrari 348, a friend has an old Healey 3000 for a ground up restoration with him at the moment. Other cars he has re-sprayed include an original Gullwing Merc, Ferrari 275GTB and a Ferrari Daytona.

His workmanship is second to none IMO and everything oven-baked etc

Really appreciate the recommendation - I don't suppose if you know if they have any experience with difficult bodykits?

Yes he does, as he's done quite a few race replica's for clients in the past. Not only does he do paintwork but also metalwork.

I believe that one of the guys that is with him used to build bespoke hot-rods for clients. Last time i visited his premises he had a wide arch Escort rally car that he was building for a client amongst alot of "exotica" - Porsches etc.

Considering his workmanship and the sorts of cars he's entrusted with, I know that he's very cost effective compared to most bodyshops.

Best thing is to give him a call

[The_Palmdale_Kid]

Candellara said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

Candellara said:

Call a chap called Ben Robins

http://www.finish-first.co.uk/contactus.php

Ben is very competitive (too cheap IMO) and based in Sussex.

Had him do paint on my old Ferrari 348, a friend has an old Healey 3000 for a ground up restoration with him at the moment. Other cars he has re-sprayed include an original Gullwing Merc, Ferrari 275GTB and a Ferrari Daytona.

His workmanship is second to none IMO and everything oven-baked etc

Really appreciate the recommendation - I don't suppose if you know if they have any experience with difficult bodykits?

Yes he does, as he's done quite a few race replica's for clients in the past. Not only does he do paintwork but also metalwork.

I believe that one of the guys that is with him used to build bespoke hot-rods for clients. Last time i visited his premises he had a wide arch Escort rally car that he was building for a client amongst alot of "exotica" - Porsches etc.

Considering his workmanship and the sorts of cars he's entrusted with, I know that he's very cost effective compared to most bodyshops.

Best thing is to give him a call

Great! Thank you very much indeed!!

[kds keltec]

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

alsaautomotive said:

The_Palmdale_Kid said:

andye30m3 said:

If you don't mind heading down to sussex I can highly recommend this place http://www.sprcoachworks.co.uk/

I am happy to go anywhere in the UK for the right company with the right expereince. I know that wide-arch kits can be difficult and it is really important that 3 months down the line it doesn't start to show paint cracks or anything else...

Thanks for my first recommendation!

TBH my initial reaction would be to double & triple check the quality of the GRP mouldings. My experience of ALL aftermarket 'kits' is that they are rubbish & no bodyshop will warranty the final quality - & if they do then they are 'winging' it to get the work.
We would (well any decent quality place) all warranty our actual work - in bonding these items on etc, BUT there is NO WAY a reputable 'shop will vouch for an aftermarket kit I'm afraid.
I can forward you the details of someone top drawer who will take the work on - but please be aware of the above!
Let me know, Al.

Thanks Al - yes, I am aware of this, sadly, but I also appreciate that how experienced someone is in doing this sort of work will make a huge difference to the outcome.

Would be VERY grateful for your recommendations!

In that case....talk to Shaun at Panelcraft Elite, they're based in Sittingbourne.
tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Tell him Al @ Alsa recco'd.
Not certain he would do it, but I can absolutely vouch for the quality & I believe his lead times are CONSIDERABLY (!!!!!!) less than ours
Best wishes, Al.

I have worked on cars that have been repaired and painted by Panel craft and i was very impressed with the workmanship , also seen on forums and heard alot of good things that come from your workshop Al

Edit to say i dont get involved with paintwork any more other than small plastic trims parts for part of the detailing packages etc , but thanks PJS anyway

Kelly

Edited by kds keltec on Tuesday 18th January 11:16