MORLEY’S FIVE STAR WORKSHOP
Where are all the courses?
One of the things most restorers don’t have is the ability to perform some of the most difficult (and expensive) tasks associated with getting a ‘roughie’ back on the road. You know the drill – you buy a nice little resto for $2k, spend $3k on it getting the paint and panel sorted, you do the rest yourself, and it ends up being worth $3k. Maybe less. Yeah, I know the resto thing is all about getting your hands dirty and being proud of what you’ve achieved, and to hell with the cost – within reason!
Take my Renault 10s (yeah, I have two – and a nice 16TS as well). The 10s (like a lot of the older Renaults) have a tendency to seize up the brakes if not regularly used. For a reasonably talented tinkerer, that’s no problem. I’ve had the master cylinder rebuilt by Power Brakes, and it’s now better than new with a stainless-steel sleeve in the bore. I’ve taken all four brake calipers off (and popped the wheels back on for easy movement around the workshop) and purchased all the rubbers and O-rings needed to rebuild all of them (yes, Renault 10s have four-wheel-disc brakes!).
Now comes the problem – well, two actually, and I suspect a lot of restorers have the same problem. The car has had a hit up the rear and needs a renovated rear end. A fellow Renaultphile (Thanks Rob) has given me a used rear panel. With no panel beating skills, the best quote I’ve got to get it on the car (with undercoat) so far is $1400. Not a lot, but saving up is required.
Next comes the interior – as you would expect, the seats are destroyed. The best quote I’ve got so far (for vinyl upholstery) is around $2k. Obviously, more saving up to do.
Upholstery and panel/ paint are the two major expenses for the average restorer, I reckon. Years ago TAFE used to run
