[ Our Minis ]
56 July 2019 MiniWorld
keeping the tortoise company but
as the snowdrops started to bloom I
thought it was time to take action.
I contacted 999 Hire and Auto Repairs
of Goldsworth Road in Woking, Surrey.
I had used them for bodywork repairs
on my other car and knew they worked
to a high standard. They get their
rather unusual name because, as well
as the restoration of classic cars, they
also have a business hiring out former
police cars for fi lming and TV work.
Jason Shepherd gave me a fair estimate
to replace the o side A-panel and, more
importantly, the rear valance and boot
fl oor. That part of the car is made up of
three separate panels: the boot fl oor, the
rear of the car and the valance. They
meet to form the lip which the bumper is
fi xed to and the gaps between the three
make a great breeding ground for rust.
Jason explained that he would cut out
all the rotten metal and replace it with
a one-piece repair unit specially made
for the job which partly overcomes the
three-panel issue, reducing it to just two.
I nodded knowledgeably and left the car
with him, telling him there was no rush
as long as it was ready for Brooklands at
the end of March. I then went on holiday
to Spain, contracted very painful cellulitis
and really couldn't have cared less about
rusty Minis or anything else for a while!
Time passed and in due course the
work was done. I was pleased with what
had been achieved which was basically
to make the car look just like it did
before but without a few rust bubbles.
I like originality! Of course the bubbles
were simply the surface of much deeper
problems. Jason told me he had to cutdeep into the boot because the rear end
rust was more extensive than anticipated
and full marks to Richard Mattos who
did the work to a high standard. Now
where there was once rust and fi ller we
now have lots of nice new and healthy
properly-painted steel, which should
keep us going for years to come.
What next? Well we are ready for the
show season and hope to do various
events including the IMM at Bristol in
August, MoT pass permitting. We have an
outline plan to make a French road trip
along with friends in their Citroën 2CV.
That should make for some interesting
comparisons. If you see us at any of the
shows please come and say “hello.”“...where there was once rust and
fi ller we now have lots of nice new
and healthy properly-painted steel.”
Pimple-free A-panel!
All fixed, painted and
good to go for the
next road trip!Very smart new
rear valance.