That awesome feeling...

[frodo_monkey]

...when you get your car back from a respray!

Picked up my fiancee's 1967 Spitfire Mk3 today after having it resprayed by Graeme from Retro Restoration up here in deepest darkest northern Scotland; she is away serving in Afghanistan (as will I be from next weekend until February) and this is her treat for when she gets home in a few weeks. The car is rock-solid underneath (despite the sill covers in the first pics!), but the paintwork must have been done somewhere damp as it was bubbly, horrible and really dull. She had been driving it without the knackered soft-top on - it was pretty chilly last winter! The hardtop was stored unpainted along with the car; Graeme has done a lovely job of sorting it, fitting headlining and painting it!

Just a few seals and badges to reattach, wire-brush and paint the insides of the chrome, then to sort out the speakers and carpet (already bought from Newton Commercial) inside and she'll be ready to hit the road again! Next spring we'll get a new soft-top for it; some kind of biscuity mohair if I manage to persuade the missus...

Before (pictures being very flattering!):






Mid-resto:







As I saw it today - simply awesome work by Graeme:






And back tucked-up at home:







If anyone is looking for somewhere to get their car restored or painted up here, I can't recommend Graeme and his work enough - and I'm no relation or connection other than being a customer. He has a lot of lovely metal in the workshop too, including his three Escort Mk1/2 rally cars and a gorgeous UR Quattro. A gratuitous plug for a thoroughly decent chap:

http://www.retro-restoration.co.uk/

Frodo

[The Surveyor]

That looks lovely, looks right with a white hardtop and matching steel wheels.

[Hooli]

The Surveyor said:

That looks lovely, looks right with a white hardtop and matching steel wheels.

+1

I've not seen an early Spit with a hardtop before, it really suits it.

[johnfm]

That looks totally fantastic.

The hard top and wheels look brilliant.

[longshot]

Wow! It looks brand new.

[mybrainhurts]

F reg..stop this immediately, it makes me feel old.

Oh, I am...:sob:

[BurblingBrownOne]

Looks Fantastic, you must be feeling chuffed.
Hope the hard tops keeps the car waterproof through the Scottish Winter.
I'm currently looking for options for a re-spray of my Stag in NE Scotland so will give Graeme at Retro-Restortaions a shout.

[frodo_monkey]

BurblingBrownOne - email replied to.

Thanks for the comments chaps - just hope the missus is happy with it! Hardtop should be watertight-ish once I get the door seals I have on order; either way it'll be better than the rubbish old hood

[conkerman]

Nothing much to add here apart from that colour scheme is bloody brill!

You so won't be able to walk for a week when you see the Mrs next

[vixen1700]

Lovely.

[bob1179]

That looks lovely.

[spoodler]

Very nice, I have a soft spot for small chassis Triumphs especially when they are that attractive... my Mk3 was one of the best fun cars I've owned. And you've one of those lovely twin box exhausts that all the purists hate, excellent.
Stay safe the pair of you.

[dartissimus]

Excellent colour, the early Spitfires are much prettier than the later one. It's obviously been worth the wait.
My car's been in since last December, I might get it back by next December,
here's an unnecessary photo

[longshot]

spoodler said:

Stay safe the pair of you.

Seconded.

[Edmundo2]

Hi Frodo. Hope you're keeping we'll. Really lovely looking Spit and reminds you just how right the early shape was.

FYI I've had a good year on the hills with the Jedi - may the force be with you both!

[pacoryan]

The Spitfire looks great, seems odd to go so far but mask around the door handles, why not take them off?