1800E Restoration progress - pictures
 

Finally seeing some progress! After a long wait and a lot of visits to the painters delivering things like new windscreen chromes and checking up on progress my car was delivered back to me in its super shiney new coat of red paint!

Pictures can be seen here: http://www.barendbmx.co.uk/volvo_resto.html

So far the biggest challenges have included refitting and reconnecting the newly upholstered dash...trying desperately not to mark it squeezing it into place! The rear "fin" trims are also a pain and need nimble fingers to get the bolts back into place.

Thankfully, it started first time.

I have a few parts that have been replaced with new parts and am alos desperately in need of the Volvo badge that sits on the front of the car!


Mark

Looking good! :)

That looks so good. I have to ask, who did the painting and how much did it cost? My 1800s badly needs new paint.

Thanks,
Andrew

The paint was done by Sandydown bodyworks, near Stockbridge in Hampshire. In the time mine was there they also painted a mustard yellow 1800E. The cost ran to near enough £3000 for the paint and any welding / fabricating that needed doing (see my previous posts for the rust that needed fixing!)

I stripped the car myself except for the front and rear windscreen which saved a lot of money + gave me the time to strip / clean parts as they came off the car.

Mark

If you can find a used front badge you can get it re-chromed and it won't damage the enamel Volvo logo in the middle. They look better than the reproduction items,,,, which look reproduction. Tony Barrett or Charlie Garrett should have a used badge knowcking about.
Mike

One final question. Are you happy with the result? Would you go there again?

Thanks,
Andrew

Mike,

The problem is it's the enamel part that's got two big chunks missing! The chrome's not too bad.

Andrew,

I had used Sandydown previously when I had an MG and they did an excellent job then...out of all the quotes I got and the places I visited they were the most professional and had the best facilities. Hopefully I won't need to use them again, but if I did need to I would definitely use them again.

Thanks,

Mark