Bodywork Restoration.

Soon after getting the taxi I took it for it's inspection, and it sailed through.
Mind you, it was quite the attraction at the local Chevrolet dealer who inspected it as they'd not seen one before (surprise, surprise).
I called up a few Brits to come out, and see it whilst it was there, and there were a few pictures being took of it on the day.
The next morning, I was up at the crack of dawn sorting it the new number plates for it.
However, it took longer to get the blasted rear one onto the vehicle than it took to go get the darn things as there's not a great deal of space to get fingers in to hold the plastic screw nuts behind the number plate holder, and sod knows how that thing comes off.
Thankfully, thats not something that has to be placed on the vehicle that often.

No sooner than I'd got the taxi I had to start looking to get some rust damage repaired on it.
It seems the typical places for these to rust is the base of the doors, and the rear quarter panels.
The passenger side rear quarter panel certainly needed some major work on it, and the driver's door base needed work, but the far worst part was under the passenger side reverse lamp as there was a rust hole forming quite well there.

I took it to a few local restoration places who barely looked at the taxi, but were happy to give me a rather large, but flimsy quote.
They worried me as none seemed to look further than the ends of their noses at it.

Finally I went to a custom car company whom I was told were pretty expensive, but I took it regardless.
Rick at Hotrod Express over at Blue Springs, Missouri was hionest, and said they'd never seen anything like it, but he went over it, and researched some before coming back with a quote.
I was very happy dealing with these people, and ended up leaving the taxi there for three weeks whilst my wife, and I went on holiday.

After getting back I popped into see the progress, and it was all done.
Rick wouldn't let me have it back until they'd cleaned it up of the paint dust etc, so a few days later I collected it.
They done a bloody great job on the taxi, and the price was actually cheaper than all the rest had quoted.
It still needs a few bits doing, but those will get done as time, and monies permit.

The worst thing they had to repair was the reverse light panel as that had to all be cut out to about half way through the boot base.
They then had to fabricate the lot, but they done a great job.

I'd highly recommend them as they totally take care of you, and the vehicle.

Take a look at their website for some great looking vehicles they've worked on:

http://www.hotrod-express.com/

Thanks for looking again, and I'll be posting more about the fun of owning such a notable vehicle.