Category Archives: restoration
With ambitious eyes we begin our third winter restoration. This MG TF was a long time gift that has remained in the same family for considerable time. The goal is to turn it into a showcar which will mean a complete frame up job.
Being the last of the T-series MGs this model still retains the wood frame central tub with sheetmetal overtop. MG certainly made a great leap when they went from this model to the MGA.
They certainly come apart fast. We are happy to report this a matching numbers car with an original wiring harness and no missing pieces.
Still attached to the front windscreen is an inspection sticker that was in BC required for all cars. This drive-through service is long gone but you still see the stickers every now and again. This car was inspected in October of 1982 and that is probably around the time it was last used.
Today we finished the first stage of teardown on this untouched, low-mileage 1974 TR6 for restoration. This very solid example has typical undercoater all over the inner fenders that will be removed and replaced with Wurth Self Etch Primer under a topcoat.
Many of the inner surfaces will be blasted while the entire exterior will be chemically stripped to prevent warping.
Some great progress to report from Jetstream who finished the car Federal XJ6 in a DuPont hue similar to Ecurie Ecosse Blue. This 11-part paint benefits from a high-gloss finish. It was applied to entire body, engine bay and underside.
One of the top restoration facilities in Canada is RX Autoworks in North Vancouver. The last 10 years have been particularly successful for them. They completed David Cohen’s 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS 6th Series Figoni Coupe and subsequently won the 2012 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este outright. This car is very well documented in an e-book that s free for download from their website.
After the Villa d’Este victory, I thought the spirits would be high enough to let another photographer in the shop and poke around. Rob Fram graciously invited me in and all I had to do was find his Austin Mini out front! He showed me a stunning Lagonda V12 slated for completion next year. Also in the shop was and a fabulous Lancia B20 GT from a prominent museum in Naples, Florida.
Sitting on top of the paint booth was the same chopped and channeled Morris Minor I remember seeing as a kid in their shop. I think it looks fantastic!
Progress is coming along nicely on the XJ6C. The engine, front subframe and rear subframe are out, with the dashboard left in.
New floor pans were welded in by Jetstream Custom Auto then the whole outside of the body was media blasted with the dashboard wrapped up. Now that I look at it, maybe the new floors could have been blasted too. Not long after this shot, the entire car was covered in primer.
