NUT AND BOLT RESTOS

Jon Faine’s column made a very good point about so-called ‘nut and bolt’ restorations. Many cars thus described have asking prices that suggest something rather less involved was done, often a competent respray, and cosmetics done on only those parts easily visible. However genuine nut and bolt restorations do exist: I had my Ford Falcon Cobra restored by an award-winning specialist who encouraged unannounced visits at every stage of the process; nothing was hidden.

The car was disassembled to a bare shell, and in the clinically clean bay were shelves of carefully labelled tubs of every piece of trim, every nut, bolt, screw and clip, all refinished to factor y standards, whether variously anodised or painted black or body colour etc. I saw the rebuilt window winder mechanisms installed before the door cards hid them forever, all parts plated to as-new finish, the door cavities wax sprayed. Every part of the drivetrain was completely disassembled, cleaned, machined, refinished, repainted and reassembled with the correct parts. Even the factor y wiring loom connectors and under-dash sound deadening were used. Every stage was photographed. Of course the huge cost of doing this means that genuine nut and bolt restos are far less common than many that claim to be.

Nick Haskell Adelaide

“I SAW THE REBUILT WINDOW WINDER MECHANISMS INSTALLED BEFORE THE DOOR CARDS HID THEM FOREVER”

ED: We’d love to feature your Cobra Nick.