Aston Martin Mark III Drophead Coupé restoration progress.
This restoration was also featured in this month's ROE Sundays, a monthly email newsletter that anyone is welcome to sign up to. More details can be found on the homepage.
Disassembly
This Aston Martin DB Mark III Drophead had never been disassembled, therefore, high levels of care and attention were applied during the disassembly process.
Our senior fabricator Nigel had to stay composed as he gently released stubborn bolts and screws using either heat or a freeing agent. This tedious process presented ROE with the opportunity to retain all the original parts possible and restore them where appropriate. Notes and photos were also taken during the disassembly to assist the assembly process, providing future light on how things were originally fastened and routed.
Colour
The build sheet showed this Aston Martin DB Mark III to have been originally painted in Peony Red. With this in mind, ROE were delighted to uncover a panel with some of the original colour still present.
The small panels under the rear quarter panels were found covered in a thin layer of tar. The tar was carefully warmed up and removed to reveal both the original colour and a chassis stamping.
This colour can be matched in the future using a reliable and accurate tool known as a spectrophotometer. By using this tool and high-tech software, ROE will be able to mix the exact colour.
Media Blasting
Once the steel body shell and chassis were completely stripped they were sent for media blasting. This process removed any paint, grease, and debris, to reveal the required repairs.
Before blasting, special care was taken to protect any permanent threads and bolts, for example, the handbrake swivel bolt. Any holes in the metal were also covered to prevent the holes from filling up during the blasting.
Following media blasting, the body shell and chassis were moved into ROE's on-site paint booth. A thin layer of epoxy was applied to prevent rusting whilst future fabrication repairs were completed. The outer body panels and various other aluminium parts were also sent for acid dipping at the same time to remove any product.
