1963 CABRIOLET

(click any image for a larger version)

This is an original owner Cabriolet that is undergoing body and paint restoration only.  The owner will do most of the assembly  and mechanical work himself. We welcome jobs like this and can offer the self-restorer a level of metalwork and paint that is usually not possible "at home."

Below is shown the correct repair of a rear clip that was replaced in the late 1960s. The repair panel was overlapped and welded in place and smoothed over with body filler. A repair like this is not acceptable. The panels should be" butt" welded together and metal finished so that only a very thin layer of filler or primer is necessary. When finished, this repair will be undetectable from the underside as well.

The paint is first removed; the welded edges of the old repair panel cleaned up; the repair panel tacked into place correctly; the rear clip is then removed at the factory seam; the repair panel welded into place; the rear panel can then be reinstalled as per factory specifications.  Simply welding the repair panel into place on the car would be impossible without removing the entire rear clip because the welds could not be metal finished and dressed down from the back side.

Below an assortment of restoration pictures will show the progress from the car as delivered, after media blasting, during body repairs and priming and block sanding of the body.

Unfortunately some of the progress photos from the '63 Cab were lost  when one of our photo CDs got corrupted. The car is completed and has been delivered to the owner for reassembly. Below are pictures of the finished product: