The popularity of the series of videos documenting the build of the Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort made it only too apparent that there’s a desire for more in depth fabrication and engineering content out there, so we thought we’d oblige. The result? ‘The Metalwork Minute’ (and in some cases, a bit), a series of videos detailing the custom fabrication of key sections of Retropower projects, normally starring Stu, our resident ‘Metal Whisperer.’
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Inner Wings
The first in a new series of short, “no-frills” videos intended to give a greater insight into the kind of metalwork, fabrication and engineering tasks we undertake on a weekly basis. No talking, no music, just workshop action! The episode at the head of this page details Stu as he fabricates an inner front wing for a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint we are currently restoring.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Inner Wheel Arch
This time Stu turns his hand to the creation of the 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s passenger side inner rear wheel arch. Expect plenty of one-off fabrication and some metalwork skills seldom seen in this day and age.
[…] Click through to check out ‘The Metalwork Minute,’ our series of videos detailing some of the bespoke metalwork we carry out on a daily basis. Paintwork. Critical to maintaining our meticulous quality levels is the ability to carry out paintwork in-house. Our modern downdraught paint booth combined with processes developed over years of striving for perfection ensures we turn out cars which not only look flawless but stand the test of time. Every job starts with a freshly blasted shell which gets Zinc metal spray treated before undergoing meticulous dry sanding of polyester build material. Once this stage is complete the shells are sealed with epoxy primer prior to wet sanding in the run up to final paint. This complete separation of moisture and porous substrates, combined with the anti-corrosive measures we take will ensure a flawless paint finish for years to come. Build. Away from the dust and debris of the metal and paint shops is the build workshop. Here our cars go from painted bodyshell to completed vehicle. All mechanical and general assembly work is undertaken, including design and build of all fluid systems, wiring harnesses, audio systems, HVAC and interior installations. Surface finishing processes such as chrome plating, anodising and zinc plating are carried out by trusted sub-contractors but everything else occurs under Retropower’s roof. Upholstery. Retropower’s in-house upholstery department completes our unparalleled car building facility. we have extensive ranges of materials available to us as well as experience sourcing rare OE fabrics where necessary. Our design and manufacturing abilities mean anything is possible including totally one-off interiors featuring little or none of the original factory parts. Our upholsterer’s eye for detail means that every Retropower interior has the same level of quality whether a concourse restoration or a bespoke concept car. […]