After a great drive this morning, when I got back from my drive, there was someone blocking my driveway who was mowing the grass. I had to stop the car, get out, and wave him down (was on a riding mower with earphones on). When I turn around, the Ace was rolling backwards and hit a concrete wall by the drive. Caught the door which I had left ajar and wrapped it around into the fender. Pretty much ruined my day. Literally all I had to do was park it back in the garage. I don't know it it slipped out of gear or what. Anyway, does anyone know where I might get a left side door, or will it have to be made from scratch? Any recommendation on a restoration shop in the Eastern US, preferably Virginia?
I expect your original can be repaired - Closest to you is probably Gassman Automotive (184 N Bayard Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980; Ph: (540) 949-8764) - they have a 56 AC Ace Bristol in there now and have done a Greyhound. Mine (BEX 298) is with Richard Mullin in PA (2485 Yellow Springs Rd, Malvern, PA 19355; Ph: (484) 318-7198) - I think Mullin's coachwork is the best and other shops send to him - not sure about Gassman's coachwork but was impressed by the Greyhound at Simeone Foundation retrospective.
Thanks for the leads. I've heard different things on Gassman, but they are close to me. Will check with Mullin also - not sure this door can be repaired!
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Ace%20Crunched/Ace5.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Ace%20Crunched/Ace3.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Ace%20Crunched/Ace2.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Ace%20Crunched/Ace1.jpg)
heavy sigh.....
Oh my. That is gut wrenching. Good luck with the repairs. I've heard good things about Mullin Restoration.
Thanks Cargirl. Yes, very disheartening, but could have been worse - didn't roll into the street, other cars, or people. Always look for the silver lining!
Have just emailed Mullin to see if he can take this on!
I'm actually seeing him in 20 minutes - I'll talk to him about it - luckily my doors are off (as is the skin) so there's plenty of pattern available to him..
I just talked with him also - he has a 1 year backlog before he could even take the car in :-(. I hate to have the car just sit for that long, but I want it back the way it was, so may have no choice. Don't want to have some other shop learn on my car....
If anyone else has any suggestion please let me know.
Commiserations on your mishap.I have an Ace door jig & can make you a new door frame. Unfortunately it'll be at least two months before I would have any time to get it done though. Anyway, I'm happy to help out if you can't find a more timely local option.
Regards Luke.
Try Jack Farland in Denver CO. Farland Restorations. He has experience restoring ACs'. I know its far but he is very good and might be able to get you in.
Also sent a text to a guy that has spare parts in Texas to see if he has a door. Will let you know.
Peter
ACcidents do happen, One has to look on the positive side, no other person or vehicle involved.
A word of caution, as each Ace is hand built, often using different jigs and by various craftsmen, no two doors are the same. ( not even mirror image on the same Ace ).
Who ever takes on the repair will need the car and the door, doubt you could get a door supplied without the car being present during its construction. Hopefully you can salvage the original door.
Good Luck with the repair to the door, wing and scuttle, hope the Ace is back on the road within the next few months.
Chin Up..[;)]
Keith
.
The guys at the Panel Shop at Automotive Restorations in Stratford, CT can surely make a new door for you. They're not as close as you'd like but their work is world class and the new door will be perfect.
Thanks to everyone for the input (and condolences). It could be worse, and anything can be fixed. I'll check some of the recommendations, appreciate them all. I agree, whoever does the work will need the car, so will have to figure something out! Will keep the group updated. If we didn't use our cars, nothing would ever happen to them - but what fun would that be???
Dropped the car off today at Mullin's for him to take a look and come up with an estimate. Some amazing cars in his shop, looks like he does fantastic work - no wonder there is such a backlog. And a really nice gentleman on top of it all!
Ian, got a look at your bare chassis - looks great!
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Mullin2.jpg)[/URL]
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/Mullin1.jpg)[/URL]
.
Pete
As you have left AEX127 with Ian Mullins for quotation, Good workshop full of classics indicates the quality of their workmanship.
Hopefully repair and repatriation is within the next 6 / weeks.
One observation on looking at interior picture of AEX127 your hand brake comes up a long way. When I set up my rear brakes on BEX333 the hand brake only needs three clicks on the ratchet, Is it possible that your hand brake ratchet and pawl is worn and released as you got out to speak to the gardener [?]
Hope your back on the road to enjoy the later half of summer.[;)]
Keith.
Keith, you are correct - I need to adjust the handbrake - and you may be correct on the incident! And unfortunately, it's going to be 12 almost a year before he can actually do the work. :-( There may be shops that could do it sooner, but I want the car back the way it was, and don't really want someplace that has never worked on ACs learning on my car! He has the jigs to make the door from work he is already doing, and his metalwork is top-notch.
I guess I could drive it with the drivers door off if I feel adventurous...Heavy sigh....
Anyone with basic fiberglass skills could make a temporary door that would not affect your Ace's drivability in any way.
I agree that it deserves the best repair possible, but now you are in line, I would think about continuing to drive it while you wait.
Also the chances of further mishap would be much less at home than in such a semi-public setting.
.
Peter
If you are in line and it's going to be 10 months or more before Mullins can carry out the repair, surely you will store AEX127 at home
and deliver it back at the appropriate time .
In the meantime whilst it is secure at home the odd jobs like investigating the hand brake and any small jobs can be carried out at your leisure.
Definitely agree it's best to have repairs carried out only by those you have vetted and are totally comfortable with.
Any chance Mullins could carry out temporary repair so you can use the car then carry out full repair at planned date?
We have a few Ace Bristol in the UK that are running around Especially on the race track, with one side or a corner in bare Ali
whilst waiting to be booked in 100 % repair and paint.
Good Luck, 10 or 12 months is a Bloody long time to be without your pride and Joy.
Keith
Car will only be at the shop a few weeks right now while he does the estimate and coordinates with the insurance company (this could get interesting...), then I will pick up the car and bring it home until it is actually time for him to begin work on the car - whenever that is! So I can sort out the brakes, and anything else that needs fettling in the meantime. I may see if I can rig up some sort of very temporary door, just to close up the opening. I can't imagine not driving it for that long!
Here are a couple of photos from Keith illustrating the temporary repair theory: (http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q113/nikbj68/image_zps6i4chwjl.jpg) (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/nikbj68/media/image_zps6i4chwjl.jpg.html)
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q113/nikbj68/image_zpsbxieyfja.jpg) (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/nikbj68/media/image_zpsbxieyfja.jpg.html)
...Although possibly not the best example, as the Shepherds' Ace has looked like that for about 6 years now!!!
.
Peter
As Jim suggests, Quick and cheap temp repair make a Fibreglass door in order to continuing to enjoy your Ace whilst awaiting time slot at Mullins. Have you asked Mullins if it is possible to quickly reshape existing door and secure shut [?]
For Fibreglass door Try:-
Contact .. .. Gerry Hawkridge of Hawk Cars Ltd, he could supply a Fibreglass door within a week or two. then airfreight it to you [;)]
Send Gerry pictures, and email.
email: Gerry@hawkcars.co.uk
www.hawkcars.co.uk
tel: 01892 750341
Cheers
Keith
Thanks Keith, I will check both options!
I can make the parts for you and fit them to the car if it is here. I also have a stash of fiberglass door skins that I have built replacement doors for. I have an Ace in the shop right now. www.actoncustom.com
Thanks Mick, the car is in the process of getting an insurance estimate right now, once I get the car back, will look at all options! Thanks for the note.
.
Peter
Preparing BEX333 for gearbox rebuild, fit Over drive, rebuild diff and fit my Quaif LSD in readiness for use end of February 2018.
Having negotiated around and between the doors umpteen times whilst removing the seats and tunnel, made me wonder, Whats the latest on your door repair[?].
Keith
Kieth - AEX127 is at Gassman Automotive here in Virginia, just over an hour away from me. They have made the door, and I was quite impressed with what they did. I am having them do a 'refresh' on most of the car, taking care of all dents/dings/metal separation, etc., as well as getting the shiny bits rechromed before a complete respray. He has some talented guys working for him, and could get to my car much before Mullin would have a chance. He has several other ACs in his shop right now, and knows his way around these cars. Here's some recent pictures I took on my last visit to the shop:
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1896.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1897.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1898.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1899.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1900.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_1901.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_2129.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_2130.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_2132.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/bowmanpj/IMG_2133.jpg)
Starting yesterday all the photos in this thread come up with a block from Photobucket that says "Please update your account to enable 3rd party hosting."
No other threads (e.g. Radiator Grill) are affected.
Anybody else experience this? Know what to do?
Either:
- the photos in other threads aren't on Photobucket
- The poster has paid to be a "Premium Account" holder allowing hosted photo sharing
or- the Forum Police at Photobummer haven't got around to locking the photos of the non-Premium poster, and holding them to ransom for $400 a year!
(Yep, I'm still angry at Botophuckit!!!!!)[:(!]
OK, anyone know an alternative to Photobucket for sharing the pictures? I'm not going to become a 'Premium' member!
.
Peter
Bryan Moseley our Web master is negotiating with RaceCar our server so we can update our Forum and everyone hopefully wil be able to post pictures freely, plus all going well, keep our old threads.[;)]
THANKS to PHOTOBUCKET Thousands of club websites and millions of individuals have been effected , with total loss of shared pictures.
Be Patient and we will find a solution and hopefully PHOTOBUCKET
goes down the pan , as they have totally screwed millions.[V]
I'm hoping to somehow secure all 60 plus pictures on my thread
" Racing History of BEX333 (1958-1964)" which I started 0n the
4th January 2009.
Keith
I can host pictures on my personal webpage in the meantime. Just send me an e-mail through my profile.
I'm now using imgbox as an interim solution:
https://imgbox.com/
OK, I'll upload some pictures to imgbox when I get a chance (traveling now), and let's see how that works!
OK, trying some pics on imgbox:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/aa/6a/BzLliyeh_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/53/21/UGzd4k4H_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/c1/c5/kauIH5SC_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/33/55/8xdxOB08_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ce/c1/y5B6iTVO_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/4a/cc/aIY6FH04_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d3/d4/24Y7X4iO_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/70/01/Cr0INQEx_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/7b/08/RsQKnj4B_o.jpg)
If anyone would like me to repost the 'before' pictures, just let me know.
Those are current? Because the gardener wore earphones?
For the want of a nail!
Yes, these are the current shots of the new door and other work being done.
For those interested, here's a repost of the 'before pictures after my little mishap:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d4/f5/QzNyo3fO_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/38/22/IiqEjnVg_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d5/ab/CgWLc6LF_o.jpg)
(https://images2.imgbox.com/26/91/Ie20XvpM_o.jpg)