Alfa Giulia 1967 Step Nose Resto Mod Build
Discussion
So some time in the past I saw a video with Chris Harris - yep that one and thought how good would it be to own a Step Nose Alfa. Did the usual and looked all over the place talked to some companies did they had a shell ? what would it cost to have it restored, the answer was big money and even if I wanted to spend that much they wouldn't do just a shell you had to have a full build which the present me now understands I guess.
That dream got parked but never went away and finally I met a guy called John H and he had been doing restoration on Alfa's for years but was fully occupied so didn't need to advertise I knew of him, knew he was local to me but finding his phone number seemed to take some detective work.
So the day came when i actually met John at his workshop and saw what he was about the knowledge and experience an eye for detail and we hit it off and in the corner was his own Alfa Romeo Giulia 105 Sprint Veloce to give it its full title.......after 3 falls and a submission I managed to convince John that he really wouldn't have the time to build it for himself and he should sell it to me. We agreed a price but it was contingent on John doing the shell restoration with a good guide on what that would cost.
The car had been laid up for over 5 years when I bought it and I knew it was in need of some love and attention.
This it what it looked like when I bought it
.
Looks ok from 5 foot ? I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted the car to be and I would be doing most of the work but body work was over to John but to get it ready it needed stripping down to a bare shell and having the paint removed prior to delivery. Move forward a few weeks - how much storage does a full car take when its in bits - a lot
Here with 2 willing helpers ready to take it to have it blasted
Until next time.....
That dream got parked but never went away and finally I met a guy called John H and he had been doing restoration on Alfa's for years but was fully occupied so didn't need to advertise I knew of him, knew he was local to me but finding his phone number seemed to take some detective work.
So the day came when i actually met John at his workshop and saw what he was about the knowledge and experience an eye for detail and we hit it off and in the corner was his own Alfa Romeo Giulia 105 Sprint Veloce to give it its full title.......after 3 falls and a submission I managed to convince John that he really wouldn't have the time to build it for himself and he should sell it to me. We agreed a price but it was contingent on John doing the shell restoration with a good guide on what that would cost.
The car had been laid up for over 5 years when I bought it and I knew it was in need of some love and attention.
This it what it looked like when I bought it
.
Looks ok from 5 foot ? I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted the car to be and I would be doing most of the work but body work was over to John but to get it ready it needed stripping down to a bare shell and having the paint removed prior to delivery. Move forward a few weeks - how much storage does a full car take when its in bits - a lot
Here with 2 willing helpers ready to take it to have it blasted
Until next time.....
Spannerman63 said:
Be careful with getting the shell soda blasted. The roof skin is very thin and many have been buckled with soda blasting. Same goes for the stepfront bonnet.
Yes you need to use a company that understand what working with steel panels that can warp is all about - your see all in the next postRemoving the paint and rust from a shell there are lots of ways to do this - sure there are lots of opinions but having looked into it my option was to have the shell blasted. A few things to consider - what media to use, how its applied and what are you doing after its bare steel ? I used a company who had done plenty of old car shells and a massive hanger so they were totally on board with taking time to keep heat down and using an oblique angle of attack with the media so panels don't get warped, lastly speaking with John H he wanted the shell painted in a epoxy primer so the bare shell was suitably protected from rust before and during the shell restoration with panel removal and rust repairs.
Ready for the paint removal
Now you have all seen the pictures / videos where the owner sees the shell for the first time once the shell is in bare steel and what looked like a good shell when painted looks a bit worse once the paints removed
This is when you have to trust & faith in your chosen restorer and know your in for the long haul, I was fairly happy with what I saw, John H's ethos was only replace the panels which really needed replacing and repair what could be saved so all though my plan was for the best it could be it also wasn't to remain as it left the Alfa Romeo factory.
Ok lets load it on a trailer and take it to John H and let the fun begin
Until next time
Ready for the paint removal
Now you have all seen the pictures / videos where the owner sees the shell for the first time once the shell is in bare steel and what looked like a good shell when painted looks a bit worse once the paints removed
This is when you have to trust & faith in your chosen restorer and know your in for the long haul, I was fairly happy with what I saw, John H's ethos was only replace the panels which really needed replacing and repair what could be saved so all though my plan was for the best it could be it also wasn't to remain as it left the Alfa Romeo factory.
Ok lets load it on a trailer and take it to John H and let the fun begin
Until next time
coetzeeh said:
That is great progress and now you know what you have as a base line.
Based on my own experience expect the project to take a lot longer than current thinking. Mine to even longer.
Nice to see a Veloce being restored. Not that many around in RHD.
Not going to be much left to make it a Sprint Veloce when its done but its got good bones - yep it always takes longer Based on my own experience expect the project to take a lot longer than current thinking. Mine to even longer.
Nice to see a Veloce being restored. Not that many around in RHD.
Dexter67 said:
coetzeeh said:
That is great progress and now you know what you have as a base line.
Based on my own experience expect the project to take a lot longer than current thinking. Mine to even longer.
Nice to see a Veloce being restored. Not that many around in RHD.
Not going to be much left to make it a Sprint Veloce when its done but its got good bones - yep it always takes longer Based on my own experience expect the project to take a lot longer than current thinking. Mine to even longer.
Nice to see a Veloce being restored. Not that many around in RHD.
Ps - if you do decide to part with any Veloce parts you know where to find me
. I too am on a similar journey. coetzeeh said:
I hear you. Sounds like you are planning to build something really special. Do tell more about what you have planned.
Ps - if you do decide to part with any Veloce parts you know where to find me. I too am on a similar journey.
Most of the STD Veloce parts have been sold now sorry.Ps - if you do decide to part with any Veloce parts you know where to find me
. I too am on a similar journey. The plan is a no holds bared car with minimal interior, full rollcage and as many Alfaholics parts as I can afford, carbon boot & bonnet , Alfa 75 TS engine with a twist.......
Dexter67 said:
coetzeeh said:
I hear you. Sounds like you are planning to build something really special. Do tell more about what you have planned.
Ps - if you do decide to part with any Veloce parts you know where to find me. I too am on a similar journey.
Most of the STD Veloce parts have been sold now sorry.Ps - if you do decide to part with any Veloce parts you know where to find me
. I too am on a similar journey. The plan is a no holds bared car with minimal interior, full rollcage and as many Alfaholics parts as I can afford, carbon boot & bonnet , Alfa 75 TS engine with a twist.......
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