Body repairs and upholstery - Kent

[lennsuey]

Hi everyone.
Could anyone recommend a place to get some body repair work done please in the Kent area. We need to sort out the usual rust appearing on the seams, plus a bit of possible welding at the bottom of the sliding door. We would also like to recover the front and rear seats.

Does anyone have a good recommendation please? I've asked on Facebook, so far i have a few suggestions of names, wondering if any of you people have used any of these:

http://www.langstaffclassics.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (John)

https://www.facebook.com/RipplesRust?fref=ts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Stephen Bryant)

http://www.sussexkampers.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also the Air-cooled Workshop in Ninfield, and Hildenborough Bodyworx were mentioned.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we love our van (don't we all) and want to give it to safe hands to repair it!
Many thanks everyone!
Sue.

[mgbman]

Hi lennsuey, I would recommend Lust for Rust, based at Laddingford near Maidstone. Their website is at

http://www.lustforrust.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Telephone Number: 01622 871963

My van is with them at the moment for some more mechanical work. They have several vans in their workshops in various stages of restoration and they do all types of work on vans and classic vehicles. Clearly they know about vans.

I suggest you contact them first.

[lennsuey]

Thanks for the recommendation mgbman, that's not far from me so i'll go and have a chat!

[mgbman]

Hi lennsuey

I am collecting my van tomorrow afternoon, bright yellow and cream hightop. Took it in on Monday, so quick turnaround. Hope they can help you. As I said, I am well satisfied with Lust for Rust and have other jobs lined up for them after VolksWorld 2013.

[lennsuey]

I shall keep an eye out for your van, we live in Tunbridge Wells too! Ours is a cream Autosleeper hightop!

[lennsuey]

Oh deary me, I really do need my seats recovered now as I've discovered they are wet and have started to go mouldy

Someone must be able to recommend a local company to recover them? Not sure how they do the front seats, do they take them out for me or do I have to do it and send them off?

[Pwag20]

I have friends who own a bay and live in Ashford who have had their seats very beautifully recovered in leather. If you are interested I could ask them who did it??

[lennsuey]

Oh yes please! Very interested, if you wouldn't mind asking them that would be great cheers!

[Pwag20]

Ok. Will do though may not be this week as they're off skiing. If I forget please remind me

[300CE]

Hi Sue, with regards to your seats, you could try giving Cass Brothers in Bromley a call (0208 462 2387) they've been trading for 50 years. Also Ben (Batmangb) is in the process of getting bodywork repairs and a bare metal respray from a company called TD coachworks in Orpington:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=114388" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You could visit both places as they're fairly close to each other to get a quote & give the van a bit of a run out from Tunbridge Wells

[lennsuey]

Ok. Will do though may not be this week as they're off skiing. If I forget please remind me

Ok will do! Thank you!

[lennsuey]

Hi Sue, with regards to your seats, you could try giving Cass Brothers in Bromley a call (0208 462 2387) they've been trading for 50 years. Also Ben (Batmangb) is in the process of getting bodywork repairs and a bare metal respray from a company called TD coachworks in Orpington:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=114388" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You could visit both places as they're fairly close to each other to get a quote & give the van a bit of a run out from Tunbridge Wells

Thanks ever so much for the info, I'll check them out!

[Ralf85]

I've seen recommendations above and I cannot vouch for their work. Be careful. If you want the bodywork done properly, it takes time and money. To do it properly windows and doors need to come off as do all the light fittings all the plastic bits, air deflectors etc. It then needs shot blasting, possibly panels replaced and then needs to be prepared properly for painting otherwise the rust will soon be back and your money will be wasted. It's all in the preparation. The spraying is the easy bit.

It takes several weeks to do properly and will cost £3K plus. There are a lot of people out there who cut corners and you can end up paying a lot for bad workmanship. Whoever you are thinking of using, find out how they do the work and if possible find somebody on the forum who had their van painted over a year ago and see if they are still happy with the work. That's what I did before I had my re-spray 18 months ago. Good luck and don't rush to part company with your hard earned cash.

[300CE]

Good advice from Ralf above Sue

I doubt that your looking on going so far as a bare metal job, but I know Ben has had other work done from them in the past on other vehicles so maybe worth dropping him a PM for clarification on workmanship. May also be worth taking a couple of pics of where your rusty bits are and sending them as a PM to metalmick8y as he's a great source of information regarding bodywork and maybe able to give you an indication as to what what work maybe required.