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MG MGB Technical - Body shop estimates?

Hi

I have a 77 UK roadster. It's had a recon. engine and I have done fair bit of work on the interior. It has a new hood - although admittedly only half fitted as I had a sudden need for the car before being able to fit it properly to the header frame and it's been held on by being jammed between the weather strip and the windscreen frame for the last month. So lots about the car is quite tidy and trim, however, it's let down by its body.

There isn't really lots of of rust visible - in front of the rear wheel being the worse place - probably needs a section replacing. The remainder has small bits of rust here and there but nothing obviously major. However, the car has had a (bad) respray in a previous life and doesn't have much of shine, bits flaking off in the creases and one or two of the panels look like there might be a spot of filler in there somewhere.

So I know the real answer is "you could spend however much you want have and still need more" but can anyone suggest a "typical" price for a good overhaul, clean up a few bits of rust, replace a small panel and respray of an MGB?

The car was once that mustard colour (not sure of its real name) but has been black since I got it. I quite like black but it really shows the dirt and I'm not much of a car washer. Would I be shot down in flames for considering silver? (nothing fancy - just common or garden modern day car colour silver) Would the rubber bumpers stand out too much and look ugly?

As it happens I could do with making a quick decision as it's booked into a garage for replacement bonnet and scuttle on insurance (at least I won't have to pay for those parts!) so could do with some ideas about going the whole hog...

Any recomendations for a garage near Southampton - would you recommend an mg specialist for a respray or not care?

Any recomendations as to where to get the hood finished off, I can't face going back to it now!

Thanks for any ideas
Darren
D Lewis

Darren,

Stay away from Silver unless the body is perfect - Silver shows up every bump and dent and body imperfection.

Light non metallic colours, white, primrose, iris blue are good for hiding the less than perfect body - dark colours and metallics are worst. Red is OK but tends to fade with time.

A half decent respray will cost £1000 to £1500 - not concours but not rubbish either.
Chris at Octarine Services

I recently got told that a decent respray including prepping and sorting out the common rusty bits that they usually find (not counting the doglegs) would set me back about £2000.

hth,
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2004 and 01/09/2004

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