308GTS bare metal respray

Well something had to be done about the rust blips, paint crackle and other blemishes. So after seeing another 308 (and 355...) being restored and the glowing comments, I have trusted my 308 to AlsaAutomotive...


So here the respray story begins. I have bought some nice chrome covered bits and last Friday I took the car down to Wales. This week work has commenced and as you can see there are already many parts stripped off. It is really rather scary to see the car like that! Unlike me, I hope Alun doesn't have any bits left over when he re-assembles it.

Here are the first pictures and I'll keep you in touch with this as it progresses. I wonder if we'll find any of the original blue paintwork under there, as the layers come off?


David

(currently kind of without a Ferrari 308GTS...)
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

More bits removed and Alun reports he's cleaning out the Dinotrol (rust agent) to get the doors ready for repairs...
There must be a surprising amount of weight in the front GRP spoiler and doors, the car is sitting very high on its suspension.


(I see my car has now got a 3x8 mate to keep it company...)


David
.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Cont./

We're seeing some big changes now, as the first of the paint comes off. Apparently no big surprises, although the k/s/f wing needs a repair in the usual place behind the wheel and under the waist indent.

David

.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thank God for that... I have got the right place!

It was your post last year, just when I was seriously thinking about a repaint, that pointed me to AlsaAutomotive. On the back of that post I went down to meet Alun in October to get my car assessed and got a good feeling about the guy. I love people who really know their trade, whatever trade that may be.

The photographic updates are great, but I have another 6 weeks (or so) before I see the results for real.


David

 

I'm going to stay with red, I like seeing the 308 in other colours - particularly yellow for the GTS, but ultimately I chose a red one... so red it shall stay.

Yes I saw the 328 and 355 write ups and that reinforced my interst in AlsaAutomotive. I could have just got a local guy to bang a coat of paint on it and doubtless it would have looked 'okay' for a while. However I wanted somewhere I could trust and somewhere I'd good job done, which means getting rid of the rust problems rather than painting over them.

He's going to have more Ferrari's than a dealer! At least there will be some spare parts to help put mine back together.


David

 

I've just had my latest batch of pictures... Alun has now found some lead loading and the previous repairs at the rear of the car, but nothing that can't be sorted.

The car is getting fairly naked now, but no sign of any blue paint as of yet (the paperwork and Ferrari records say that car was originally blue...). Perhaps it was bare metal sprayed at 6 months old, for the colour change, or was the paperwork wrong? Who knows.


David.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Does anybody watch Tony Robinson and the hairy gang of professors on 'Time Team'? Well Alun has been doing his own digging and the history of my car is starting to come together. His latest reports says:

If I didn't know better, I'd reckon Alun's been reading my service records folder for the car!!!

The history isn't quite complete, but starts in 1988 when the car had done about 37,000miles. Amongst countless mechanical receipts there are chassis and local body repairs and repainting in 1992... Next in 1999 - when there are a series of local spot repairs were done and 2000 when the black waist line stripe was repainted. (ASIDE: 1990 - 2001 the car was effectively off the road and in a private collection).

There is no record for another bare metal repray, but with no blue paint it has clearly happened, so best guess is pre-1988?


I don't know how Alun can tell all this from paint dust, but it all fits together brilliantly!



David.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Nick,


Originally (according to HPi) it was blue for new to 6 months old, then red. I registered the car with Ferrari SPA Owners' Club, their database returned my car details against the chassis nr, showing azzuro metallica. So it left their factory in 1981 metallic blue. But the first keeper was a trader, so I assume they bought a blue one and gave it the old RESALE RED treatement. I never did that DVLA check as nobody seemed to know that was possible, when I bought the car 5yrs ago. I suppose I could do it now for completeness...?

No evidence it has ever had anything other than Italian levels of protection and consequnetly a slight dose of tin worm. The records show all the suspension was dropped, blasted, primed, waxoyled, new bushes and put back in 1989. Also the minor chassis tubes at the front (headlight area), battery tray and alloy undertray were all replaced.

Then there was more local repairs to bottom of back wings, bottom of cill... etc.

Now that the paint is off all the repairs show and seemed agree with the service notes.



The car has had so many coats of paint removed it will proably feel quicker when I get it back! It was still looking pretty enough (from a long distance) but was in the slightly lighter red used for the 328's. So I hoping it will be one shade darker when I get it back.

As for looking too new... I'll just have to live with it! Worse things can happen.


The real problem is the leather is going to look very tired when I get it back... And the driver carpet section is a bit hammered... And the white vinyl lining to the targa hoop... And... And... I've never been a car detailer, but those defects might now look too obvious against the gleaming paint and new chrome badges. What have I started?


David

 

I'm getting the impression that 1/2 of all Ferrari's have had a colour change at some point!!! Actually I now wonder if my leather has been changed as well, as it has red piping and stripe that might have looked odd with the original blue? Who knows?

I'd like details for Tony Willis if somebody post them or PM them to me. I reckon it would be good to see any early records and maybe fill in the gap 1981 - 1989.




Anyhow Alun finally found traces of blue in the door returns and on the GRP parts. So the myth has been verified.

The earlier repairs have been fully exposed and it looks like Frankenstein's scars where it has been over plated. With confidence Alun tells me that there is "nothing unexpected" and he will sort it out. If he is happy, I am happy.



David


Pictures:
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks for the invite, I might be in need of a 'stress rest' on the way home!

It will probably rain, every wagon with an insecure load and every tailgating idiot in a Vauxhall Corsa will be attracted towards the nice shiney paint. It will be like a 7hr game of dodgems, can my nerves take it? I'll just want to get it home, dust it gently and take a deep breath.




David



PS: For the observant amongst you the exhaust doesn't need masking, I'll be putting the stainless system back on as soon as it gets home... this one is full of holes.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login