The old SD1 needed some body repairs - it had failed the last MOT on a small hole in a sill and had been 'patched' merely to pass it. The bottom of the D post beside it was decidedly crusty too - but this was merely part of the rear wing skin, rather than structural. I'd collected a new rear wing skin, new sill and inner sill, and new front wing and inner wheelarch panel over the years so decided to have all that side done at once. The front wing wasn't bad, but a bit crusty at the bottom. The inner wheelarch had some repairs done by me - so best done properly as I'm hopeless at welding. Basically, that side of the car still looked pretty good at a glance - it was only if you examined it closely that you saw the problems, which would only get worse.
But there was a problem. All of the bodyshops reasonably close to here that I'd used before no longer existed. Some demolished and replaced by housing - which is happening all over London to many such small businesses. And those left where more into quick insurance repairs on newish cars - not 'restoration' work.
After lots of research, I settled on a one man band at Guildford. Nice website with lots of pics of classics he'd restored. Didn't know anyone who'd actually used him - but did find an SD1 club member who knew of him and had had decent reports.
Took the car for an estimate, and he seemed fine. Had a nice workshop out the back of his house - so not the same high overheads as a large place. No spray booth so guessed the paint might be a problem, but I was geared up to have that done elsewhere if needed.
His quote I thought very reasonable at about 1200 quid - but did know by experience it was likely to be only a rough guess as you don't know what you'll find behind the outer panels until they're removed. I'd sort of budgeted 2 grand for the whole job. Excluding panel costs, which I already had.
Work was done as arranged and on schedule. Actual cost was slightly under the estimate, which surprised me. Paid by bank transfer.
After getting the car home and having a chance to examine it properly, it was obvious things weren't great. Instead of replacing the whole rear wing skin, he'd cut it just above the wheelarch. So a join ran across the entire wing, and could be seen beneath the not too good cellulose paint finish he'd done. As can the repair to the D post. I can't for the life of me understand why he didn't just replace the majority of the panel cutting it at the E post and at the D post half way up the window as the factory recommends and shows in the BL manual - which I'd given him - and mentioned how it is normally done. That way, all the welds are concealed behind trim, and the only joint which needs to be cosmetically 'good' is the small one on the E post. But it probably can be sorted by a decent paint job.
The sill has a very obvious dent at the rear where it meets the door. Really catches your eye when you view the car from a few feet.
The major problem is the front wing. It is 5mm out at the waistline
and by a similar amount at the sill. The gap to the bonnet is approx 7.5mm instead of the original 4mm.
And to crown it all, there are lots of paint chips on surrounding panels where he's bashed them when fitting the new ones.
I've contacted him and he says it was all done to the best of his ability. No offer to rectify things.
So where to go from here?