ps.
The Silver E9 on car and classic sold for 95K. I went to see it. Very similar in appearance in the way the restoration was done.
Im no expert but like to understand the techniques involved with restoration.
That CSL. The paint wasnt perfect in the door shuts. Runs etc
Heavy underseal in the arch areas which is no bad thing. But you weren't able to see any previous sheet metal repairs. ie patch panels or complete sections and if they were lap welded or butt welded (Which is a bug bear of mine) The welds always have to be butt welded and ground back so its invisible
These cars will never be perfect. I understand that. They were hand built but when your restoring a car. You are dealing with people who have a huge amount of experience and patience.
But they can be resistant to change. adopting new technology only because they are old school.
Technology is too much and varied to understand which to use and when and they are desgined to have engineered obsolescence. (like washing machines. They can make one that lasts forever but its makes no financial sense to them. So they build in a life expectancy and failure so we have to buy again in 5 years)
Pants and the processes are the same
The Dons. Inka orange car which recently sold. Perfect base to restore, ie rust free.
But due to constraints. He couldnt e coat the car prior to paint and thats the way to go.
There were certain choices made out of his control which meant the restorer used what he knew best. which will fail eventually.
My plan (In my mind) and also limited by my physical strength and lack of ability, time etc but I can dream!!!
Acid or (alkaline bath) so it doesnt leave the car like a tea bag,
Metal work using complete NOS sections where possible.
Re-bath.
Electrophoretic coating the shell. Same as modern cars have, Impervious to oxygen so no rust...ever again.
Then..
2 pack Epoxy Primer to seal the metal from moisture and corrosion permanently.
Do the same to all the box sections and voids the car has.
Then filler.
Block sand.
Polyester Filler
Do that 3 times until its laser straight.
Let it shrink and settle which takes months for all the solvents to escape the primers.
Then epoxy primer.
Then leave it for another year to let it shrink and settle
Seam seal
Then.
Finally. paint process.
2 layers of ground coat.
3 layers of base coat.
6!! layers of clear using a slow hardener so the solvents can escape.
Then cut, buff and polish to glass like perfection.
Ceramic coat the bodywork..including the underneath.
Rust protection, waxes etc to the box sections, sills. Dinitrol.
Re assembly.
I would love to open a restoration shop but the amount of time, money and effort means its a pipe dream but someone out there does it to their best of their ability and knowledge and thats pleasing to know.
Sorry for the ramble.
I love classic cars (I have 14 at the last count and none of which are perfection) but the E9 will be that car eventually.