Dulford Autos - TVR Specialists
Dulford Autos - TVR Specialists
Author
Discussion

mikeb

Original Poster:

2,869 posts

311 months

Sunday 19th February 2006
quotequote all
Just had my 450SE back from Dulford Autos run by Richard Smith. They have only just moved to new premises over the Christmas period and I must say I am impressed.

After my recent MOT from hell I ended up with three pages of failure sheets and two pages of advisories (and then again in Welsh!) thats Ten pages of Mot paperwork altogether!

Some of the work required the dreaded outrigger work so I decided to take the car to Dulford (they own the original TVR jigs) so I thought that if anything drastic had to be done then these boys were at least tooled up to do the job properly.

I had the following options: A total body off job, a partial body lift (which can be just as expensive as a full off job), try to weld and patch the rust in situ - which is nigh on impossible on a 400/450 body as the sills are part of the bodywork OR fabrication of brand new outrigger sections and join these to the inner spaceframe.

After consulting with my dear Wife it looked like it wasn't going to be a full body off job so I plumbed for the next best thing the fabrication of new outriggers on their jig, plus all of the other work.

I must say that when I picked up the car a week later I was not only impressed by the quality of the work carried out but also the final bill! It all came within Wifey's budget and they even washed and polished the car ready for me to pick back up. This makes a refreshing change from some of the other TVR dealers / specialists I have dealt with over the years.

Another plus is that TVRcarparts.com also share a section of the building and having wandered through their stock room with racks and racks and racks of TVR bits I was like a kid in a Wedge sweetshop, they certainly have access to all the bits they require to carry out any work.

Richard has also got a rolling road and mentioned that if I could muster up a Wedge posse of around ten cars then we could arrange a Wedge power run shoot-out and make a day of it - Anybody interested?

On another note, I also managed to persuade Richard to sponsor the Wedge BBWF with a good prize for the raffle this year (again) and he intends to attend the BBWF mob handed this year - so watch this space.

I took a load of piccies if anybody is interested, see below:-























MikeB


MARK450

84 posts

251 months

Sunday 19th February 2006
quotequote all
The photos are impressive.

Took my Chim in for service in November (old premises) and I have to say I was impressed with the service and professional approach.



From what I hear quite a few of the Bristol TVR frat. are using Dulford.

I need a couple of chips and scratches touched up - any body know if they do body work ?

Cheers

Mark

pwd95

8,454 posts

267 months

Sunday 19th February 2006
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MARK450 said:
any body know if they do body work ?Mark

Yes

dickymint

29,066 posts

287 months

Sunday 19th February 2006
quotequote all
Good work with the sponsorship Mikey. Gutted that i didn't come with you especially as Man Utd. played Shite

Put me down for the Wedge Rolling road day

mikeb

Original Poster:

2,869 posts

311 months

Sunday 19th February 2006
quotequote all
Richard, did mention that they were quite busy so if you're thinking of having your car done, fixed, upgraded, serviced etc then book up quick before the rush of everybody getting their cars ready for the summers blasts.

They have also got a workshop out the back that they do the engines in as well, there were some tasty looking V8's being worked on as well....nice.

MikeB

mikeb

Original Poster:

2,869 posts

311 months

Monday 20th February 2006
quotequote all
Took the car to work today - well pleased. Having had the rubber bushes polybushed it makes a great deal of difference. The car now goes around corners quite well now, ride is a bit harder though.

MikeB

Gandalf

2,381 posts

267 months

Monday 20th February 2006
quotequote all
mikeb said:
ride is a bit harder though.

MikeB


Had mine done at RT last year - Try the concrete section on the M42 at speed and then T-ttttell m-mm-meee aaaaaa-bb-owwwwt iT Mikey!
Glad it all went well though boyo - look forward to chasing you on the next Cluck.

trackcar

6,453 posts

255 months

Monday 20th February 2006
quotequote all
I'm really chuffed to see Dulford up and running and getting great reviews like this one, it's always nice when good people do well.

to Rich and Neil.

cuneus

5,963 posts

271 months

Monday 20th February 2006
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Mike
I saw your old outriggers today and those welsh mice must have strong teeth!
Eddie said it was a pig to do!

It was hard to envisage Dulford staying long at the old premiese, they have the room they need now, another Speed 6 arrived on a low loader :[

Joo
you owe me a call!

mikeb

Original Poster:

2,869 posts

311 months

Tuesday 21st February 2006
quotequote all
Blast, I wanted to take them as well! I was gonna hang them on the wall as a trophy. I only remembered as I pulled back onto the drive.

Shocking weren't they, parts of them were like paper. The rear bits were a little bent out of shape as well, not worrying at all

MikeB

leorest

2,346 posts

268 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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mikeb said:
...The rear bits were a little bent out of shape as well...
Probably Mr D.P.Gumby of Tyres'R'us who couldn't be bothered to ask where to put his jack!

chuggaboom

1,152 posts

277 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
MARK450 said:
From what I hear quite a few of the Bristol TVR frat. are using Dulford.