The Camaro Club (UK)

I'm seriously thinking of going back into business running my own bodyshop again. I'm currently looking at getting some suitable premises & costing things out. In the past I've had numerous magazine articles on stuff that I've done & can pretty much cover all aspects of body repairs & restorations. I will undertake anything from minor repairs/ repair panel manufacturing/fitting to full on show winners. If you need to have anything done, give me a shout & I'll try to help.

For those that might not have seen it, here's a link to my '69 restoration showing what I can do

http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com/phpB ... f=11&t=151


http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com/phpB ... ed&start=0

cheers....Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

It would be good to see you back in the body trade ,have watched and enjoyed posts on the resurrection of your '69 and the result speaks for the quality of the work.
Without a doubt I don't think there can be many people under the age of 40 who have a full well rounded knowledge of all round restoration and the special skills needed. They are just not trained anymore.
You can probably find a young painter with good skills ,possibly panel beaters too but things like lead loading and specialist repair welding are only known to proper old skool craft trained guys and I suspect they will continue to get harder to find as time passes.
I think your reputation would bring people to you ,and you would be sure to pick up some work from the club...probably some of my Firebird. [ I only taught myself to weld and paint because I couldn't afford what the good places charge ,but I know the gap between an average job and the quality work of a real expert is worth paying for.]
Hate to say anything negative , but with the economy in it's present state it could be a hard time to start a new venture...
Wish you every success if you go for it , give us the heads-up if you do.

Good luck if you decide to go for it. As Firebird 68 says, proper craftmen with old school skills are getting rarer, but's a tough time to start a business...

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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys, appreciated. Sure, I know it's a bad time to be setting up in business, but I've already got enough work lined up for the next 4-5 months already, if I can find suitable premises, so that's encouraging. Prior to selling my last business, I had a waiting list of 18 months for work to come in, with a constant 6 or 7 full on, total restorations in progress, plus day to day stuff. At one point, many years ago I was respraying 45 plus cars a week I'm not looking to be as big as I was before, I'm just looking to keep it a one man business & make sure that quality comes first.

cheers.....Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Dear Nige
Sounds like a plan!
where are you looking?
I only ask because I might know or somewhere in Suffolk/Essex- and as a real change of life long shot How about the Highlands of Scotland- I have a cracking barn and a 4 bed farmhouse that might be available later in year?

I wonder if I shouldn't get you to quote a restore job on "Daisy" my Nos matching V8 CJ7?

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Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

Hi nige it would be god to see another bodyshop doing quality work
as i own a bodyshop myself ive lost count of the amount of people
bringing there pride and joy to me saying they cant find a decent shop
to do their classic americans,it seems that there are so many places that
rip peoople of with their american cars and some of the work i have seen
is terrible and its ment to be of a good standard,there arnt many of us
left with high standards.good luck hope it goes well.

If I had the cash to fulfil my pipe dream of a complete rebuild, I'd happily hand you the keys and write the cheque.
But sadly, I'm in no position to do that. And believe me, the paint on the IROC needs it!

Go for it Nige! and good luck

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'68 Camaro

Nige,

Good luck with it. I know times are hard but quality will always shine through.

Wow, great to hear Nige! there are some yank tanks out there with little smiles on their rusty faces Is health a worry at all? paint fumes / chemicals / dust etc?
Be great to have a set of properyl skilled hands back inthe industry, good on ya mate, let us know how you progress

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