Bare metal respray-recommendations please

[SportZagato]

I’m new to Lancia ownership.
I have an S2 Fulvia Sport, it’s a good solid car but the paintwork is not great on close inspection. I’m thinking of a full bare metal doors/bonnet off respray. I’m based in SW London but am prepared to take it anywhere in England or Wales.
Am I right in thinking a Lancia specialist would be better as they know the cars structure.
I want a showroom finish, it is Bianco Saratoga, not my favourite colour but I think originality is best. I think a colour change would devalue it.
I would be grateful for any advise or recommendations.

[Jai Sharma]

I can't provide a specific recommendation but I do agree that someone who knows the cars would be best, both from point of view of knowledge of the cars, expertise in case more work is found to be required, and access to the right bits.

[ColinMarr]

I can recommend R Proietti Limited, who operate from quite small premises off the Caledonian Road, just north of Kings Cross. It is a long established business specialising in Italian cars and is now run by Stef Proietti and his brother Bruno. They do bodywork as well as mechanical things and race preparation, and look after a number of Fulvias and Flavias. Whether or not they would do a bare metal job is worth finding out. See:  http://www.fiat500.cc/store/r-proietti-limited.asp

[SportZagato]

Thank you ColinMarr. I’ll check them out.

[lancialulu]

My local paint shop (https://www.mottsbodyrepair.co.uk/) which has reopened (!) Has painted Lancias and I think has painted a Sport. They do restoration work as well but will not give firm estimates as these things can been quite different under the skin.

I know from personal experience a Sport will need quite a bit done to do it properly even if the car has previously been restored. Bear in mind it is now 50 odd years old and steel cars go rotten in a matter of decades. Nowadays after a good restoration folk keep their cars protected and only drive (mostly) in dry weather. That was not always the case. My Sport was restored by a well known name in the late 80's and I had to do a full restoration in 2005....

When you say doors off, this is important for the sport and hinge wear messes up the delicate body line. Motts can do all this finessing. But also windows out. The rear quarter-lights are a notorious water trap... and bloody difficult to re-fit with the trim and glass (take care of these trims as they are irreplaceable - If anyone has a spare set I would be very interested!!!).

Hope that helps

[SportZagato]

Thanks Lancialulu, I agree the door fit is key especially with the Sport.
My car appears to have been rustproofed from new. I realise going back to bare metal may open a can of worms, I will have to build in a contingency.
Motts standard seems very high looking at their website.
Does anyone have experience with Classic Lancia Restorations (David Ashworth) in Wrexham? He appears to have done a couple of Sports in the past.
I am of course aware of Omicron if anyone has experience of their bodywork, I know people who have had mechanical work done there and are pleased but don’t know anyone who has had bodywork done.

[Richard Fridd]

Tim, is this the glass/ trim?

[DavidLaver]

James Parry, also in Wrexham, will do a lovely job but he juggles his tyre fitting business with his own projects and might not have capacity.  He's done Fulvias, Aprilias, Appias, lots of Augustas but I'm not sure about a Fulvia Sport.  I'd trust him to do anything properly even if it was a first time, and his dad Morris is just up the road and a legend.

[lancialulu]

Tim, is this the glass/ trim?

Sorry Richard those are series1 - would you have a pair of series 2??

[Richard Fridd]

Only s1 I think Tim

[Sliding Pillar]

For the best quality......... https://www.thornleykelham.com/restoration/paintwork/

[SportZagato]

Thornley Kelham look very high end. Have you had work done by them?

[Sliding Pillar]

I haven't had any work done by them personally, but I am regularly at their workshops and have seen the quality of their work from start to finish.

[frankxhv773t]

Wasn't it David Ashworth that did the sills for the Car SOS Fulvia? I got the impression that he is a Fulvia specialist of some renown.

[nthomas1]

Yes, David Ashworth was the chap on Car SOS.  I bought  a number of panels from him and have been very happy with them: outer sills, subframe mounting boxes half inner sill, rear panel, rear valance and rear wheel arch.  In my opinion they were well made and my welder complemented the quality of them.  I've visited David's workshop in Wrexham a few times and found him very friendly and knowledgeable, and he gave me a number of tips that helped with the rebuilding of my Fulvia.