Crashed my classic, and the repairer can't be arsed, apparently.

[Bren]

FTFY

I wonder if she would?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Unlikely

[rovamota]

Thanks for the encouragement, and offers, guys. I'll see how it goes, but boosted by the arrival of a new wing from Greece, I set about removing the damaged panels today. It's just a matter of methodically cutting away pieces at a time so that you can see what can be saved at what can't.

 

 

The lower rear front (it was bent over along where the top row of holes are) panel has straightened out quite well so that can stay, so it's just a matter of slapping some black Hammerite on there and getting the front panel to go on, then it can all be welded back together.

 

[rovamota]

The spoils...

 

 

 

Just needs cleaning up, but all is well here.

 

 

 

[MarvinsMom]

i feel i must explain, i like these pictures above co it means that there is progress to putting this bright yellow lovely back together, that is what i like!

 

there are not enough wedges left in this world, and the thought of this one going to meet its maker makes me sad.

 

i've been lucky enough to see this a couple of times at the NEC and it is a really lovely car!!

[anonymous user]

It's looking better already, nice to see the damage hadn't extended too far. A pain in the arse to have to fix it, but it could have been so much worse.

[Lacquer Peel]

Great stuff, it doesn't look too bad under the crumpled panels.

[lisbon_road]

Good to see the progress.

 

Greece? Please explain

[ruffgeezer]

Well with the exchange rate you must get over there these days, I'm surprised you can't get a whole car sent over here for a packet of Frazzles and a Panda Pop.

[rovamota]

New wings are notoriously difficult to get hold of and the only place that had a wing available is an old MG Rover dealer in Athens. It cost £220 all in and took a week to get here. It's also in excellent condition.

[Albert Ross]

Here's the recovery plan for Greece's economy. They sell us all their NOS car parts.

[Asimo]

Is that colour the original?

I have always liked yellow cars, and Princesses, but I can't recall ever seeing a yellow one. On this iPad the yellow looks like that lemon yellow that Marina T/Cs came in rather than Dolomite Sprint yellow.

 

Anyhow, good luck with the rebuild; may your wire not snag nor your gas run out.

[Essex V6]

Marina TC' s were more of a Lime green as I recall. I reckon it is an original colour as pretty sure I remember it also being seen on All Aggros of the same vintage

[danthecapriman]

Just read this thread, I'd be in tears if that happened to one of my cars! Looks like it's really coming along though. The structural bits look surprisingly straight still.

The new wing wasn't bad at £220 either. I paid £600 for a pair of mk2 Capri (genuine Ford) wings!

 

I'm sure I've seen this out and about too, I live near Portsmouth and I'm sure I've seen it in the south coast area. It's a lovely car and looks great in yellow. Well worth saving it.

[rovamota]

Yes, you may well have seen this car out and about on the south coast as I use it regularly. It's not a garage ornament!

 

The colour is Snapdragon yellow and was available on all Austin Morris cars except the Princess, so in June 1980 a short run was produced (when this car was built)  in Snapdragon after much hassle from BL dealers asking for the wedge in this yellow, though this car wasn't registered until September 1981. 

 

This colour does appear on the Princess parts microfiche but never appeared on showroom colour charts for the Princess and this is believed to be the only surviving Snapdragon yellow Princess left from that production run.

 

Here it is down at Hythe marina earlier this year.

 

[purplebargeken]

Gorgeous looking car and will be again. Keep at it!

[406V6]

Lovely car. Sorry to see it smashed. You've got a new wing - what about a new bonnet ?

[rovamota]

I have a bonnet. Kept it from a wedge I scrapped 10 years ago. I knew it would come in handy eventually! If only I'd kept the front panel I had, but it took up so much space and was so awkward to store I sold it. Need the bloody thing now.

[andy18s]

New wings are notoriously difficult to get hold of and the only place that had a wing available is an old MG Rover dealer in Athens. It cost £220 all in and took a week to get here. It's also in excellent condition.

Sure puts the UK "delivery services" to shame...

[Albert Ross]

So you still haven't sourced a front panel? Will Ambastardor parts (or small parts of thereof) fit at all or is it specific?

[rovamota]

Annoyingly an Ambassador front panel is dead easy to get hold of but it's completely different from a Princess. DZB1314 if anyone has one...

[KruJoe]

V.Angyl, how about this front end we rescued?

 

 

Does it still exist?

Is the panel serviceable?

Would you let our man have it?

[Albert Ross]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUSTIN-PRINCESS-18-22-AUSTIN-AMBASSADOR-WEDGE-ETC-NEW-ORIGINAL-BONNET-SLAM-PANEL-/121693451410?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&fits=Car+Make%3AAustin&hash=item1c557eb492

[rovamota]

Thanks for that but I already have one of those (actually, about four, I think!) That is a lot of money, though.

[Anglevan]

Have you tried expressed panels in Keighley. He used to buy lots of dealer stock. Had a barn full. Was actively selling lots of em on ebay a couple of years back. Might be worth a call.

[rovamota]

I think I'll try them, thanks.

[vulgalour]

That orange front end went to Germany.

[rovamota]

A 360 mile round trip to collect all the parts required to get my wedge back on the road again is a massive boost, particularly now I have the lower front panel as well as a new front bumper and other parts as new. 

 

Okay, it needs shotblasting and priming but it's a huge step forward.

 

Meanwhile, the insurance co. twiddles its thumbs...

 

 

[rovamota]

Mind you, this makes me feel less upset about mine...

 

Happened today, apparently.

 

[purplebargeken]

T Cut and gaffer tape. Sorted.