250 GTO Restoration

Hi Vintage, you are right as for us this is the equivalent of an Oscar nomination, hopefully we'll get the Oscar, Cheers Kev.

 

Great posts all around.

Bravo!

 

Hi Team, After a great weeks work we are progressing well with the paint preparation of the 250 GTO. NEW PAGE ADDED !! Check progress on www.mototechnique.com Cheers to all, Kev

 

Hi Team, Check out the latest page www.mototechnique.com and witness our progress as we prep and paint this Icon. Cheers to all, Kindest regards Kev.

 

i really enjoy the pictures and i LOVE the "on the road again" pic. GREAT !

 

Kevin, looks like you guys are have a blast. Keep up the great work. I was the kid who was visiting relatives in the UK and visited your shop last summer but you weren't in. Do you have a idea of when this project will be finished?

Best


Chris Dodds

 

New Page added, Was watching paint dry ever this interesting ??? Follow the painting progress www.mototechnique.com Enjoy, Cheers and kindest regards to all, Kev.

 

Kev

The links on your site have stoped working after page 10, you've put one too many 5's in so the link reads as 2550gto_p11.htm

 

Hi Andrew, please be a sport and give it another go , it works OK from here. Cheers Kev.

 

Kev, sorry still doesnt work, real simple fix though, you need to modify the link to the next page on page 10, it currently reads "http://www.mototechnique.com/2550GTO_p11.htm" (note the extra 5) The problem will only show up when people read from the start and are clicking on the link at the bottom of each page. A fixed version of your page is in the Zip file in this post

So what colour is the car going to be?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

All fixed and working properly now Kev

 

Hi Andrew, cheers BIG time !!!! think I'll give up the IT and stick with Ferrari, Kev.

 

Might be a good idea as Ferrari is still spelt Ferarri (the link to the GTO restoration) on your very first page .

Looking good and many classic nutters are watching with interest!
Pete

 

I have a couple of questions regarding the work itself.

Why does the unlucky young guy doing the stripping work seem to be working mostly without hand protection? Assuming the stripper is essentially the same as we use here in the States, it's an acid and burns like mad on the skin. Wish I had seen the technique of the plastic film over the stripper before I did my SII cabriolet - would have saved me some work.

Second, any particular reason you used gas welding on the body panels instead of TIG? Wouldn't the TIG have resulted in less heat distortion and followup hand hammering?

Just curious...

 

Hi Booth Guy, I note your humour but the young guy does not consider himself unlucky. He came here unskilled as a labourer and by dint of his hard work and dedication has a wonderfull carreer opportunity. Gloves are provided but can cause problems as the solvents in the stripper can penetrate and cause a green house effect which results in bad blistering to the skin. The stripper we used was not particulary noxious as we are only removing air dryed paint. We are very aware of health and safety issues and provide all necessary protective equipment as you will see on the web site.

We gas weld the alloy bodywork as it provides a mallable weld which does not split when it is hammered, distortion is not a problem as we have the skills to control it, the proud weld is dressed back into the surrounding alloy and the hammering of the welded area work hardens the anealed welded areas. The result is a joint which is flexible and apart from a discolaration is allmost invisible from both sides of the joint. For this type of work TIG / HELI arc welding is crude and brittle and prone to cracking after it is hammered / filed. ( My personal opinion ) We use TIG for fuel tanks and some welding where inner access is a problem. We gas weld, Mig weld, Tig weld and Arc weld as appropriate, all have their place and merits. Hope this answers your questions, Kindest regards Kev.

 

Hi Kev: I was just being funny, since I've chemically stripped a couple of cars and was empathizing with the amount of rugged work I know it to be. And clearly, a chance to do anything on a restoration this significant is a great opportunity right down to the guy that sweeps the place out at night. Thanks for the enlightening views on gas welding the alloy body panels. The quality of the fabrication on the patch panels looks superb. Thanks to you and the car's owner for the opportunity to look over your shoulders at this fascinating job. I especially liked seeing the lightening holes drilled in the front spring perch.

 

Stunning new GTO photos on www.mototechnique.com . Follow the painting process and see it in colour...... it's the BIZ !!!!! Cheers to all, Kindest regards Kev.

 

Kev.

Great update (think I may have to come and be your aprentice for a few months ), mind if I post a couple of the pics on here?

 

I agree! The panels needing repair and/or replacement on SN 3527...should have been hand beaten panels to replicate as closely as possible...the original Scaglietti artisians body work!

Also, why didn't this car return to the Ferrari factory or at least have Factory involvement for its conservation/restoration? No dissrespect to Mr. O'Rourke! For I myself...had a GTO SN 3589 (Rosebud Racing) in my shop on Long Island, NY back in 1989...and even then the Ferrari Factory was more than willing to assist in ANY GTO restoration? And, although I Owned and Restored Ferrari's and had a master panel beater with prior GTO experience...I still directed my client to contact the Factory directly for their involvement! Unfortunately, our client was only in it for the money! And, as it turned out...SN 3589 was sold to a buyer in Europe? Who then (according to a car magazine article) was restored in a shop somewhere in Switzerland...with some kind of Ferrari Factory assistance? But, I regress!

We all want to show our skills in restoring these wonderfull cars...but, if we are truely Ferrari ENTHUSIAISTS! Then we ALL...as Owners and/or Restorers should seak out the Ferrari Factories assistance...to make certain these Historic cars are returned to there original glory...the way Mr. Ferrari and his crafstman orginally made them! Isn't authenticity the ultimate goal here!

 

Wow Steve this is thought provoking stuff !!! Guess I got side tracked.

What do I do guys' post the new images and offend the purist ..... ( and I promise you these photos are unique and will blow the winter cobwebs out of your Tubis ) your thoughts very much appreciated, can we have a show of hands please ???, Stay low move fast. Kindest regards to all, Kev.

Incidentally the next batch of photos are taken by a professional snapper mate of mine ( ex Sunday Times etc ) whose credits run to Press snapper of the year, Royal snapper of the year, War snapper of the year who told me that photographing this car gave him more of a buzz than snapping 3 Presidents of the USA in the Oval office, 4 Prime ministers in Downing Street all the wars you can remember and of course Madonna and Brittany Spears etc etc etc............... Stand by for some serious photoghraphy Gents.

 

Offend away Kev, anybody who thinks the factory has the skills to help is clearly delusional, if they can’t get me replacement panels or wing mirrors for a 400i what hope a 250 GTO

 

Hi Andrew, Multo Grazie for the first vote !!!

By way of reward I'll send you sneak preview photos first thing Monday, Stand by. Cheers Kev.

 

Telaio: Great photos!. How long has the restoration been going on?.What an amazing project to be involved with.Thank you for sharing.

 

Hi Vintage, we started the project in September 2005 and the car will be at events for all to enjoy late spring , not bad going....cheers Kev.