Part 1
Finally, with all the rust removed and new panels installed, it was time to
start preparing the body for painting. As well as getting rid of all the
slight imperfections and ensuring good alignment of the "moving panels" - doors,
bonnet and boot - the underside would be treated to nearly two gallons of a
stone guard type paint to both seal it and protect it for future use. The
rear axle and springs were also removed at this stage. These would go away
for refurbishment.
At last the virtually totally stripped shell was ready to enter the spray booth
and receive its first coat of grey primer.
Part 2
With the grey primer on it was given an overspray on black. This is done
in order that an imperfections in the bodywork can be seen. Then it was
down to rubbing down and filling anything which came to light.
Part 3
Finally, almost seven months after the car entered the body shop, the first
colour was applied. It was actually wheeled out of the paint spray booth
on an afternoon that I chose to visit the workshop. The colour is pacific
blue - a shade used for a limited period at the end of 1970 and into early 1971
on GT and E models only. Although not the original colour of this car, the
vehicle is a GT and is from the period that the shade was used.
A day or so later the car was wheeled outdoors for the paint to harden off in
the natural light and air.
