Breaking Point

[OpelJim]

I was actually supporting your efforts and work just explaining how involved a restoration project is

Glad to hear you are busy We had 7 Opels in and out so far this year so that is good for us too

Between TN and CA we should help many Opel owners
Keep the cars rolling

Jim

The color is Rallye gold, which is the factory color. Jim, sounds like a big advertisement???? But there is a lot to restoring cars, I just do the work and it shows later, thats how I am staying so busy with the Opels. I actually have a shop full and trying to get a couple done at a time. Dave will be pleased with the car, as it is very straight. I will cut and buff on it soon, and lay out the rallye scheme with side stripe. I am actually more into the GTs and Kadetts, but this has been an interesting change

Keith

[hrcollinsjr]

The color is Rallye gold, which is the factory color.Keith

I've always had a dislike for Rallye Gold. All I've ever seen were faded shades of the original. I may take a liking to this color after all.

Harold

[blancojp]

Got to throw my 2 cents in. Looks like very through and professional work to me.

As some of you know Usa Opel/Opels Forever restores Opels

We work just the same as "blancojp"

That is how we roll out here
JMTCW

Jim

I don't believe this to be an accurate statement!

[opelspyder]

I thought that was funny, I never say I do stuff like anyone. Of course when you feel you are the best, why would you. ha,ha
Keith

[jlthunder]

I like the fact you painted 2 gas caps..as long as you have a spare, you'll never need it....

I noticed that too. Maybe it is a rare "dual tank" Manta

[Phoenix]

I was actually supporting your efforts and work just explaining how involved a restoration project is

Glad to hear you are busy We had 7 Opels in and out so far this year so that is good for us too

Between TN and CA we should help many Opel owners
Keep the cars rolling

Jim

I've thought about this before. So many people are saving them and restoring them. There may come a time where it's hard to find one that is completely rusted out.

[opelspyder]

The two caps was Daves wishes, and it makes great sense. Because they are painted and down low, its easy to drop one and chip it up, so haveing an extra is a good idea already painted.
Keith

[jlthunder]

The two caps was Daves wishes, and it makes great sense. Because they are painted and down low, its easy to drop one and chip it up, so haveing an extra is a good idea already painted.
Keith

Smart move since it will one day roll off of the car when refueling and get chipped. If all fails, he can get a chrome one from a Luxus which has a lock.

[OpelJim]

" 1) Step 1 - remove outer accessories, remove paint and media blast the outer shell. Review the findings with the customer and determine a working estimate. This was done to my Ascona in 8.5 hours without taking the glass off (11.2Hrs with glass off). This would be approx. $ 900.00 including materials.

2) Step 2 - get all body work done and prepare for paint. Again, go over the vehicle with the customer and determine the paint stage. The Ascona is fairly straight and requires about 12Hrs of body work and prep. This would be approx. $ 1,450.00 including materials.

3) Step 3 - Final preparation stage and paint. If the car will be color sanded, the paint work will be slightly different to accomodate the loss of material. Our standard prep is done in 4Hrs and then the body is painted. We will use our standard or level #1 paint job for this quote. This would be approx. $ 2,150.00 including color sand and polish

The shell is now painted and a final review with the customer. Once the customer sees the shell and signs off, we then put the car back together and deliver the vehicle. Final assembly is a flat $ 400.00 charge for small vehicles.

The grand total of the bill is $ 4,900.00 which the customer pays gladly since he was part of and approved every step of the repairs.

Like I said, I can't comment on what you originally agreed and I did not see the car when you started. But a fairly straight car with no rust issues, the $ 4,900.00 figure above is a good guide line for a showroom results. "

We do this process the same as you. That is what I was refering to and our customers approve every step too, also the same as you do.

I don't believe this to be an accurate statement!

[blancojp]

" 1) Step 1 - remove outer accessories, remove paint and media blast the outer shell. Review the findings with the customer and determine a working estimate. This was done to my Ascona in 8.5 hours without taking the glass off (11.2Hrs with glass off). This would be approx. $ 900.00 including materials.

2) Step 2 - get all body work done and prepare for paint. Again, go over the vehicle with the customer and determine the paint stage. The Ascona is fairly straight and requires about 12Hrs of body work and prep. This would be approx. $ 1,450.00 including materials.

3) Step 3 - Final preparation stage and paint. If the car will be color sanded, the paint work will be slightly different to accomodate the loss of material. Our standard prep is done in 4Hrs and then the body is painted. We will use our standard or level #1 paint job for this quote. This would be approx. $ 2,150.00 including color sand and polish

The shell is now painted and a final review with the customer. Once the customer sees the shell and signs off, we then put the car back together and deliver the vehicle. Final assembly is a flat $ 400.00 charge for small vehicles.

The grand total of the bill is $ 4,900.00 which the customer pays gladly since he was part of and approved every step of the repairs.

Like I said, I can't comment on what you originally agreed and I did not see the car when you started. But a fairly straight car with no rust issues, the $ 4,900.00 figure above is a good guide line for a showroom results. "

We do this process the same as you. That is what I was refering to and our customers approve every step too, also the same as you do.

Jim you do Opel work and might use a similar work deliniage procedure with the customer, I grant you that. My shop does not work on Opels however to state you work the same as we do in our shop is by far, an inaccurate statement. Every shop is unique in their ways and we are quite unique in ours.

My shop restores and performs resto mods on classic vehicles.

The only Opels we work on in my shop belong to me.

[vikesman101]

I have been restoring cars for some time now as a hobby but over the last few years it grew into more then that. I speak only for myself here, but it kind of stopped being fun for me, and all of my own projects keep getting put on hold. So I closed my door to any outside work for the time being. I make one notable exception, I will still help fellow Opelers out. But the time has come for me to get back to my own projects, I keep helping others get their cars off to car shows and I don't have a single car ready.... This is about to change, I am wrapping up a few loose ends and then back to the Spyder project.... FINALLY
As for the discussion on here, I personally have learned tons from many who regulary post on here. I modeled my Spyder somewhat on Keiths fine work on Dallas Spyder. I also have followed JBs work with great interest. I think maybe there is room for everyone and no matter how our processes differ it seems to me that the end result almost always justifies the means.

Tom

[opelspyder]

My situation is similar to yours Tom, I have no more of my own projects, as I am too busy working on everyone elses. I was going to retire "you could say" last year, but too many big jobs came up this year, and I just cannot pass on the work. I sure am eyeballing a 60 Caravan though, I just know it would be a while before it ever saw me working on it
Keith

[blancojp]

I have been restoring cars for some time now as a hobby but over the last few years it grew into more then that. I speak only for myself here, but it kind of stopped being fun for me, and all of my own projects keep getting put on hold. So I closed my door to any outside work for the time being. I make one notable exception, I will still help fellow Opelers out. But the time has come for me to get back to my own projects, I keep helping others get their cars off to car shows and I don't have a single car ready.... This is about to change, I am wrapping up a few loose ends and then back to the Spyder project.... FINALLY
As for the discussion on here, I personally have learned tons from many who regulary post on here. I modeled my Spyder somewhat on Keiths fine work on Dallas Spyder. I also have followed JBs work with great interest. I think maybe there is room for everyone and no matter how our processes differ it seems to me that the end result almost always justifies the means.

Tom

Tom for me is the other way around, shop comes first and toys second.

I inherited the shop in 1986 and been working with the guys since then to perfect a methodology which is beneficial to our customers. My personal cars are done when there is nothing customer related to do and the convertible shows it. I do not advertize, nor do I promote our activities, however I always have a place full of cars to restore. I do believe there is room for everyone that desires the work, we need as many as possible. I myself would not mind doing a few Opel cars in the future but for now, Opels are my hobby and my shop will continue to be dedicated to other classic automobiles.

I have shown many times what I can do, both you and Keith have done so as well. I believe for the comparison statement to be validated, is for Jim to post a sample of a vehicle he is restoring.

We all have shown the steps taken and the work performed, Jim is now your turn at bat!

[OpelJim]

I am not going to get into a contest with anyone

Usa Opel and Opels Forever have been restoring Opel cars for a combined 38 years

Jim Petzold 26 years Opels Forever, and Usa Opel 12 years (15 years restoring them 12 years in business)
That is all we do, Opels

I thought all you did was Opels too so in that respect we do not do the same work as you do, I agree.

I will work on an album of restorations we did and post them here as soon as if and when I can find time

All the best to all

Jim M

Tom for me is the other way around, shop comes first and toys second.

I inherited the shop in 1986 and been working with the guys since then to perfect a methodology which is beneficial to our customers. My personal cars are done when there is nothing customer related to do and the convertible shows it. I do not advertize, nor do I promote our activities, however I always have a place full of cars to restore. I do believe there is room for everyone that desires the work, we need as many as possible. I myself would not mind doing a few Opel cars in the future but for now, Opels are my hobby and my shop will continue to be dedicated to other classic automobiles.

I have shown many times what I can do, both you and Keith have done so as well. I believe for the comparison statement to be validated, is for Jim to post a sample of a vehicle he is restoring.

We all have shown the steps taken and the work performed, Jim is now your turn at bat!

[opelwasp]

I will work on an album of restorations we did and post them here as soon as if and when I can find time

That would be SWEET, I can't wait to see that.

[OpelJim]

That would be SWEET, I can't wait to see that.

Just found some time so there are a few pics there now
Got many more to upload but have to stop now
Enjoy !!

Jim

[opelspyder]

Getting back to Dave's breaking point, here are some pics of the rest. Phoenix, unfortunetly unless someone else owns a GTE that is yellow in the states, this will not be it. This is going to be just a Rallye with a GTE front spoiler. The car is ready for wetsanding/polishing, and then get assembled. I will put a stripe on it and then the hood and fenders on the top will be blacked out, along with part of the engine bay. Here are pics

[opelspyder]

Here are a couple more

[Phoenix]

I just always want to play devil's advocate.

[David McCollam]

Thanks for all of the comments on the Manta. It's always good to know that there is a level of interest in a project.

In brief, to answer the question about two gas caps-I have seen a multitude of Mantas with the aftermarket Gates gas cap in lieu of the original or something that someone located to keep the inlet covered. Rather than lose one and not have a correct replacement, I opted for a spare. I had 5-6 unpainted NOS gas caps around. No one wants the regular caps, so I figured, why not have a spare. As mentioned, having one ensures you will never need it.

The color is Rallye Gold as Keith indicated. It looks a bit bright in the photos, but I don't know if I have ever seen an original Opel paint job that had little fade. Possible exception, a 13,000 original mile, Signal Yellow Manta from New York. The car was garage kept by the original owner. It had very little fading.

Costs aside, Keith has done a great job. This Manta shell is probably as nice as any out there, including some in original condition. It has a working factory sunroof and should be fully operational and road ready by Christmas. It continues to be an adventure, but I look forward to the end of the story.