Lotus Cortina - Repair Panels

Stacy · 13 Nov 2007, 08:45 (Ref:2066296)

Hi,

I'm restoring an App K Lotus Cortina. It came back from the dippers with daylight in more than one place you wouldn't expect (mind you, not bad for 42 yrs..) and I've been waiting for panels for some time.

I've obviously looked at the LCOC, and Espressed Steel who do the type of things I'm after (full panels rather than repairs if possible), but the lead times have proven to be horrendous..

Are there any alternatives I could be chasing to get this moving?

Any help appreciated.

Stacy

jonners · 13 Nov 2007, 10:55 (Ref:2066369)

Stacy

My suggestion is that the Mk 1 Cortina Owners' Club is a better bet for these items than the Lotus Cortina Register.

Expressed Panels will make you wait months or longer until they do a batch - they won't do you a one off.

There used to be someone in the Midlands who advertised numerous remanufactured panels for the Mk 1 - haven't seen them advertisng for a while but ten again I've drifted away from the owners' clubs.

Will do some digging and send you a pm if I find anything.

As a last resort - there's always ebay....

simon drabble · 13 Nov 2007, 11:16 (Ref:2066393)

and as a very last resort the ridiculously rude man in the west country! But zef is prbably your best bet and here is normally lurking around these parts......

zefarelly · 13 Nov 2007, 11:49 (Ref:2066441)

in order of quality, standard of service and niceness to deal with

MK1 Cortina owners club (they are without doubt the best source of parts full stop for MK1 Cortinas ) although some of the panel fits are questionable apparently. not had any problems myself

Expressed, although I've heard mixed stories about quality and fit, more recently I've heard good things.

I have inthe past bought whole cars for panels, for example a scrap 4 door can offer lots of useful bits at the fraction of the price

send me a PM with what you need, I mat be able to help, but with 3 cars of my own and one to restore/prep I try and hang on to stuff these days as its got increasingly difficult to find anything worth having.

Robyn Slater · 13 Nov 2007, 18:03 (Ref:2066706)

Quote:

and as a very last resort the ridiculously rude man in the west country!

Is that the same man who could,nt be bothered to reply to my request for prices for a quaife gearkit and rebuild kit.About £1400 worth!!!!.

Stacy · 13 Nov 2007, 20:14 (Ref:2066800)

Hi,

Thanks Guys.

Most bizarrely I had an email out of the blue today from Espressed Steel, saying my order (with them since the summer) was approaching completion - apparently there's only a couple more things to be made. I nearly fell of my chair, but gratitude kept me vertical.. So this may be sorted after all. I'll gather up what comes and ready the welder!

As for 'our friend' - yes, I know what you mean..

S.

GORDON STREETER · 13 Nov 2007, 23:01 (Ref:2066935)

Stacy You could probably get some made up from old Morris Oxford panels in India, and delivered by push bike for 10 bob a piece.

zefarelly · 14 Nov 2007, 12:22 (Ref:2067242)

I've just looked very closely at shell prep, 7k is tight to do it properly

Stacy · 14 Nov 2007, 12:39 (Ref:2067256)

T'will be done properly.. The first non wheel lifting Cortina on the grid I'm sure.

S.

zefarelly · 14 Nov 2007, 12:42 (Ref:2067258)

depends how you set them up, I'm sure some people set their cars up for the cameras not lap times

500 lb front springs and 1" ARB and I don't lift, at least not noticable

600 7/8" will a bit and seems to be a popular set up, I'm trying this next year

johnw · 14 Nov 2007, 13:35 (Ref:2067311)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Stacy You could probably get some made up from old Morris Oxford panels in India, and delivered by push bike for 10 bob a piece.

The RX7 secret is out

zefarelly · 15 Nov 2007, 09:18 (Ref:2067841)

most morris oxford panels are probably recycled BL panels anyway, cutout the middle man, go down the scrappie!

BoT . . . 90% of genuine LC shells I've seen have plenty of evidence of hammer rash on repair panels, harking back to the time when repair panels wheren't available, and you chopped a bit from an old washing machine panel! a bit like that fugly Peugeot/Hindustan ad !

zefarelly · 15 Nov 2007, 13:29 (Ref:2068022)

just been on the phone to expressed

a grand a pair and 4 months for inner wings ! my 2 year old son could make them from scratch quicker

repair panels it is.

terence · 15 Nov 2007, 15:38 (Ref:2068122)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zefarelly

just been on the phone to expressed

a grand a pair and 4 months for inner wings ! my 2 year old son could make them from scratch quicker

repair panels it is.

Just as well he has'nt started school yet then.

terence · 17 Nov 2007, 08:46 (Ref:2069407)

On the subject of LCs,anyone read the article In Motorsport this month?.Fairly good reading ,apart from the inacuracy's stated like the gearbox being from a "Cortina 2000E" in 65!.One or two others as well.If that is the car I think it is,it has more filler than steel in it.

zefarelly · 17 Nov 2007, 09:50 (Ref:2069427)

99% of LC features are the same, I'm just reading some old mid 80's copies of Classics and classic & sports car . . . .its probably been copy/pasted from one 20 years ago !

terence · 17 Nov 2007, 10:06 (Ref:2069435)

Mind you ,you would think that these scribes would at least make the attempt at proving they are not stupid Zef.

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