Trusted Body Shop in Hartford Area

I was wondering if anyone knows of a trusted body shop in the Hartford area. My '85 308 has a few spots that need to be touched up. There are a few rock chips and a couple of small rust bubbles that need to be repaired. I was hoping someone out there might have a shop that they had a good experience with (I am a perfectionist and not easily satisfied).

 

Did you try Continental Auto Body in Portland, CT? I haven't used them but have seen cars they have restored ... and they're amazing.

 

I haven't. What kind of restoration jobs have you seen done that came out of there? I might have to stop by one day with the car and see what they think and if I get a good feeling.

 

They do cars from vintage ferraris to oscas to whatever else you can name. They handle all of David Lettermans Ferraris as well as several of Luigi Chinettis. Discovery HD has recently started a tv show called chasing classic cars profiling the owner in his day to day activity. As someone who grew up in the area and worked there for several years doing odd and end jobs around the shop I can say they are a very well known and trusted business. I never saw an issue there that was not taken care of professionally and quickly. Check out the website, theres a link to a few of the cars they've restored as well as a couple of magazines they've had cars in. Swing by one day, check out the showroom and talk with Peter. You'll get a good feeling.

www.f40.com

 

Joe you do realize you were there the other day -not sure if you showed the work to Peter

 

Yeh, I talked to Peter about what needs to get done. He mentioned they could do the work, but would need to leave it for a while (he said it could get "lost in the shop" for a couple of months). I also walked over and wandered through the shop and talked with Wayne for a bit. I was impressed with the quality of work. I will probably go back and talk to them later in the year as the driving season winds down.

I was waxing the car today and cam across another small rust bubble. That is definitely the problem with a 23 year old northeast car. They will have a lot of work to do for me... I see it now $$$

 

If these are appearing along the lower edge of the door (as I have on mine), I suspect some moisture is getting trapped between the outer door skin and the bottom 'well' of the door. You can see this if you've ever removed the leather door panel and peered inside - this area is prone to rust, and its repair seems pretty common for 308s. Some of the well-known Ferrari parts suppliers sell lower door panel 'skins' just for this purpose. If I provide a bodyshop a pair of replacement lower door 'skins', and the repair is confined to both lower doors, that shouldn't be a large amount of time/money to do the job.

 

Heck, it's a problem on a 9 yr old car too...I've got a bubble in the C-pillar. Common 355 problem where water can sneak in and work it's magic. It used to bother me but I barely notice it now...may have it fixed next winter, certainly not during driving season!