Project Status & Gallery

I’ve pulled all the panels off the chassis and stripped everything completely down. Due to the deep pitting from the surface rust this one is going to have the cab and all panels chemically dipped. The rest will be blasted clean. I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure I have all the necessary info to replicate the sign writing on the drivers door when the time comes.

Lots of progress on the bedford. It’s been completely stripped down to a bare shell. The hanging panels and cab have been chemically dipped and all the smaller parts media blasted. As always there’s more rust than expected but that’s being repaired and all panels put in to epoxy primer. Lots of the smaller parts are already in colour.

Lots of repair work being carried out. New floor in the cab plus a lot of other smaller rust repairs. Steering wheel repaired and panels having filler work before more primer.

After all the primer had been blocked out it was time for the best bit. painting colour!

There’s always more small parts to paint, or replate, or fix in some way. The panels and cab were all sanded lightly to remove dust and dirt nibs before being polished. I used 1500 on a DA sander, then 3000 before polishing. This is much less involved than my usual process but suits this truck well I think.

Cleaning, painting and fitting parts continues. The chassis was very rusted and dirty and because of its size was very difficult to transport and sandblast. So we arranged for a mobile blaster to come and do the job. Lots of careful preparation to ensure no media ingress to where it wasn’t wanted but to also minimise disassembly, we’re only doing cosmetics remember. Then the cab could be bolted back onto the chassis, a big moment! and assembly continued.

Front bumper bar straightened and repainted, Original bonnet lettering cleaned up, polished and refitted, new roof lining made up and fitted, a tray painted and mounted, then the finishing touches. Very pleased with the way the redone lettering turned out. Pretty much a perfect match to the original colours and style. The truck looks fantastic and it’s off home for the owner to finish some mechanical work and get it ready for the road for the first time in many years.