The Dark Wob

Like with the wobsley, big respect for your metalworking and fabrication skills. Self taught?

Thanks yes, I started at 16 and taught myself whilst picking up a few pointers along the way. My first few jobs weren't pretty but it didn't matter, lots of people messed with cars back then still (mid nineties).

Since then I've been in and out of the motor trade in various roles but have always bought and sold cars from home and done the odd paint job on the side.

My metal work skills leave a lot to be desired, I'm no panel beater but so long as I get the shape somewhere near I can shape it with filler. Im not very fast at it and do not have enough time to do a proper job so neither this not the Renault are being done as well as I would have liked but it's either that or never get it done!

Anyway, here is this evening's work:

Thought I would have a go at doing the roof next. I reckon it will be easier if its as low as possible so I took the passenger side wheels off and lowered it. For those who don't know, I use use electric cable to put under the lip in the screen rubbers. It means I can sand under there and get a better finish. The rubbers are all perished though so it still won't look that good!

I did think this would be just a quick prep and prime job but no, obviously not...

All circles and squiggles are either dents or tiny rust dots. I may as well bare metal this too. Had to buy a new paint gun the other day, mine is starting to drip from the end. Only slightly but I've had it 10 years at least and it's done loads of work.

I reckon I'm up to about £350 so far already in consumables

That's a neat trick with the screen rubbers. With fresh paint it will really look the bee's knees.

Well it's white so that's a big help, it's hides all sorts!

I had forgotten about the Pennant. Lovely things, by far the best of the little Standards. Mate had one back in the day and despite an unfortunate shade of dog-dick pink it provided many memorable jaunts....

CLINT wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2019 10:28 pm Thanks yes, I started at 16 and taught myself whilst picking u
My metal work skills leave a lot to be desired, I'm no panel beater but so long as I get the shape somewhere near I can shape it with filler. Im not very fast at it and do not have enough time to do a proper job so neither this not the Renault are being done as well as I would have liked but it's either that or never get it done!

To see this car solid, tidy and on the road is more important.

That's just, I can do perfect but it would take forever. I never used to be able to restore cars because I used to be a perfectionist so never got anything done! Everything on this Renault is good enough. As and when other little jobs need doing then they can have more time put into them.

Looks like there is a scrap car in my garage right now. Roof is nearly in primer. I'm typing this while the last bit of filler is drying. Normally I leave filler overnight, give it a chance to shrink slightly but this is only a tiny bit. Was going to prime the back wing but some fool parked the car 1cm too close to the workbench and now I can't open the boot which I need to do to remove the badges Anyway here is a picture of my first Renault 16 50k from new. I bought it off the original owner. Really nice elderly Polish gent. Instead of a cup of tea we drank whisky in the afternoon. Say to say he is probably not about anymore. Victor Buzderwicz I think he was called. I tried to restore it but after poking the rear sill ends and seeing the car drop an inch made me call it a day. No garages wanted to touch it and I wasn't confident enough to fix it myself so it got stripped. I sold the engine to a chap in Tamworth who was going to put it in a Europa. (Amazing the shit I remember as I cannot tell you where !t wallet is) Technically I still own the rolling shell, I don't think it was ever scrapped.