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Paint for the 156 GTA

9K views 99 replies 16 participants last post by  baxter2308 
#1 · (Edited)
Only a week to go now before the GTA goes in for paint with - https://www.alphapaintsltd.co.uk/ - So I thought I'd start a thread to track it through its progress with Paul and the paint shop. It will feel like a very long 4 or 5 weeks but worth it and it will be much cheaper to do it now rather than later. It will be keeping its 846/A Nero Metallico which we hope to bring back to it's former glory. The majority of the paintwork is in really good condition for it's age but the usual GTA rot spots are starting to show themselves, arches, wings and roof as well as the infamous grilles. Here's a few pics at she stands now along with the box of bits to help the resto along the way.

Wish me luck :thumbs:

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Sedan Rim
Tire Automotive tire Auto part Automotive exterior Automotive wheel system
Automotive exterior Bumper Vehicle door Auto part Tire
Tire Automotive tire Auto part
Automotive exterior Bumper Metal
Tire Footwear Automotive wheel system Automotive tire Shoe
 
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#56 ·
Well... It's been a long time coming but the GTA is pretty much done. Just the drivers door hinge to fix and I should be able to go and pick it up. I will post some pics as promised in the next few days hopefully. :thumbs:
 
#62 ·
Photos never really do cars proper justice, I am due to pick it up on Saturday when I'll see it in its flesh. Just glad I can forget about rust for a month or two :biglaugh:
 
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#67 · (Edited)
#69 ·
Some pictures as promised. It's still a bit wet and the pictures don't fully do the job any justice, Paul and his guys have done a great job!

Bear in mind that those grilles are the originals, the new ones I bought didn't fit properly. I had reservations about the pictured skirt as it had been butchered at some point, not so much now. :thumbs:
 

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#70 ·
A few more...
 

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#72 ·
That I am sir. Thanks to you and Pud for the recommendation. People thought I was mad waiting as long as I did, you can't explain to them that people who are very busy are busy for a reason. No-one else near me would touch the GTA for less than £3k and that wasn't for the whole car. Paul's guys did a full respray for way less and managed to refurbish loads of bits, skirts, bumpers, grilles and all 4 wings. They even did the calipers for me which weren't on the list.

...back to Pud in Feb for a service and bunch of other bits and it will nearly be finished. I'm stoked, it's the car I always wanted it to be and we're lucky that the following we have on the Alfa scene is as strong as it is. There's no way it would look as good as it does now without the skilled people who care about these cars :thumbs:
 
#74 ·
looks amazing so need to get my done. amazing difference.. where the wings repaired
Yeah, from what Paul said there was some rot on the inside of the panel which the bumper fastens to and along the outside edge of the wing, that bit is visible in the pics but the rest would have eventually have rotted through from the inside. Scary. Rest of the car was ok thankfully. Yours is blue isn't it?

I know it's a bit of a distance for you but it's well worth giving Paul a ring. Very competitive in terms of money when you see the work they do.

:thumbs:
 
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#75 ·
got a place local thats doing it the issue is me getting time to have it done.. got a really busy 4/6 months where i cant see me geting much done really.. but hes ready when i am.. and i decide whether just to get the half car or whole car done..

already had a price etc just need to clear my diary which i cant do for some time
 
#76 ·
I hear you, especially as we both use our GTAs as daily drivers... not easy fitting this kind of work in :thumbs:
 
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#77 ·
I knew this would happen eventually, but I didn't expect it so soon. On the motorway ealier last week I heard that unnerving sound simiar to a large stone hitting the windscreen. Except it wasn't the windscreen, it was my nearside front wing and a stone has smacked it and taken a spot of paint off, right down to the metal :cry:. Given that the paint is relatively fresh, how does one go about repairing it. :thumbs:
 
#80 ·
I was, it's an awful noise that it makes. I forgot about Chipex, it might work as the chip is about 3-4mm across. :thumbs:
 
#83 ·
That would be nice but Skipton to Newcastle and back is a long way :biglaugh:
 
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#85 ·
Less than a year after my respray and I've been back at Alpha Paints - Custom-Mixed Paints & Refinishing Products, this time due to a bit of bad luck and some stupidity on my part. After a small scrape to the right rear quarter, a nasty stone chip and the old case of wing rot it needed a few bits touching up. Scars from being a daily sadly.

Hopefully picking it back up again this Wednesday (y)
 

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#87 ·
Ta muchly. There are definitely lots of pros to daily-ing a GTA but the downside is that it’s getting expensive. Not necessarily because of general running costs or fuel, but keeping the body sound. For example, I know that the wings will ultimately not survive these salty winters and fibreglass will be inevitable.

Then again, the fact that these cars are not really replaceable anymore is sort of what makes them desirable. There isn’t anything else like them ?

How’s the 147?
 
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