The Corolla is more than 10 years old and the years have taken their toll on
the paintwork plus there are several dinks and lots of stone chips that need
to done so it was time to think about a re-spray.
The first estimate I had was OK but the guy said he didn't think it was worth paying
that amount of money when the paint wasn't too bad. He suggested I get some
other prices and also get a quote from a chip repair specialist. I tried that
but was told that there were marks on every panel and I should get it
re-sprayed.
The second place I went to was
Alsa Automotive
- highly recommended by
South Wales members on the Pistonheads forum. The business is run by a
perfectionist called Alun Wilsher. He said he'd love to repaint my Corolla as he
had recently re-painted his father's Celica.
This was what it looked like just after Alun had started work on it. When I first saw this picture it like being punched in the chest.
The car park dinks and scratches were filled and smoothed
This is after it had a couple of coats of
high build primer.
Then a guide coat was applied before flatting back
Wings, doors, bonnet and hatch were removed. The body (and the removed panels) were given several coats of top coat and then lacquered.
And this is what it looks like just before it was waxed ready for me to bring
home.
He's lacquered the underside of the bonnet plus the slam panel and a few other bits. The bonnet and hatch have had the Toyota badges removed and some custom emblems have been painted in their place. There's a new Toyota windscreen because the original was badly scratched and it was difficult to see through it when the sun was on it. I've also added new wiper arms and blades.
It passed another MOT without any problems (the day I took the picture
above) - though I wondered if the brakes were going to be OK after being
unused for 5 months. Alun was very impressed with the engine transplant and so
has everyone else who has taken cars to him while it's been in the workshop.
Now all that's needed
is for the weather to improve so we can take it to a few
shows this year.