Bess.

I can recommend a place in Camberley to sort out bodywork but as to the mechanicals.... Edd China specialises in VW aircooled engines and simple mechanicals but I don't know his availability or labour rates........

Thanks, I am in Northampton. Nothing so far here. There was a place in Lichfield that was suggested but I have made contact several times but not returned so he probably has a full book and no need.

This in spades if you can do it.

Sometimes you need a vanity project - both of my cars fall into that category and I have no regrets.

I can't help with specialists, but wish you luck.

Thanks guys, appreciated.

I have been looking around and not getting to far, I tried a company not far from here after a google search, Cotswold classics. I only got an answer after the second email and his response was to ask my what the budget was. I do not know what is needed so I said so. His idea of £30k to £40k and then see where the work takes us seems a bit on the telephone numbers side but more likely he did not want the job. I wish people would just say so.

I think you need to find a decent friendly down-to-earth specialist whom you trust when you meet them and get them to put the car up on a ramp and go through it with a fine tooth comb.

Then they need to give you a full report as to what is required which divides tasks broadly into:

(i) urgently needed on reliability or safety grounds;

(ii) recommended on reliability or safety grounds;

(iii) recommended for drivability;

(iv) recommended for aesthetics; and

(v) nice-to-haves.

And then you can work out the costs of each, which you could self-spanner and which you can't, and then work out a schedule of works that respects your budget as well as your desire!

Thanks, I will definitely use that guide.

Very sound and I think I found someone to give me the "Good news" just in time. I have so much to thank a certain specialist refinisher for. A horror story basically. Looking at about ten hours of welding and then the body repairs and paint. They say good news comes in threes well, the guy who gave the news told me his timing kit was broken but he had a go without. After I got to drive the car and phone him to ask what had happened. Drives like an overladen milk float up hills, po'd and no mistake so I called I bloke I know back in Fazely who just happens to be in motorbikes (bikes) and is one of the sharpest people I know and he will ask around. Something that really annoyed me today was a bunch of lycra clad gestapo who pulled in front of me on a roundabout (Dual carriageway) I did demonstrate my vexation and got fingers, would they prefer I run them over? Moving on, I will get there and as the ad say's, Bess is worth it.

What kind of cat?

The cat had been around for a few days and imo was/is a lost pet as it had a collar. I have not seen it since I got back but think it was just scared and lashed out. It had jumped onto my knee but my knee wobbled and I fell over. Hence several bags of razor blades. My hand was basically black as far as half way up my forearm. On day three a reg cam along and started drawing on my arm without any explanation. He then told the two sho's with him that this would be the cut for my amputation. I butted in and asked what amputation and he told me to shut up as I clearly know nothing about it, I pointed out I could come up with a better cut line. When he gave me the pen I put a line across his neck which upset him slightly but I pointed out my opinion that this would give me the best chance of recovery. I should perhaps have been more restrained but I felt like crap and just reacted. He apparently go a crap from the boss which must have increased his happy daze quotient but honestly I do not give a crap. I still feel like crap and coming down from a very high dose of pain meds must now go slightly cold turkey to return to equilibrium. The housing manager turmned up and told me she has to have access to the flat today. No appointment at all. I pointed out I was still not exactly a fit camper and she mentioned I had lost a lot of weight so she would not visit today but next time she HAS to have access. I know this is not right but cannot remember the actual law. She on the other hand tells me she has no duty to repair problems in the flat unless she decides to which is also wrong from memory. IV antibiotics for 8 straight days messes with things for some reason.

When the A&E staff put the IV canular in they managed to transfer the bacteria from my left hand to my right so both arms sore as hell even now darnit.  The ward staff were brilliant and from what I managed to eat the canteen/catering staff to a top job bettering some restaraunts.

Good to hear you've found somebody known and reliable to sort Bess out. It'll be well worth it.

But by heck that sounds like a bad cat bite.  Stay well clear of it if you see it again!

Hope you are feeling a little better Mike.

Cats are vile, evil creatures. Can't bloodybstand the things and the place is overrun with the things round here.

Picked up Bess yesterday, despite man flu. I have a full set of pictures which were not exactly nice viewing showing just how bad things had got under the surface. Driving back on the A38, M42 and M5 I had not gone five miles before the first of many cars drew up alongside with a camera up to the passenger window. The detail these guys went to is something else, they replaced the modern coloured reg plates with period colous. Before hand Bess would mist up due to water getting into the cabin, not last night. I got my car back when it was quite poossible that I would lose the car for good. A close shave.

Thanks, I have to transfer the pics from the card to the pc, there are some truly nasty shots though.