Bodywork Session 3 - Day 1 - Soon we will be eight!

Day one of our third session on CRG163’s bodywork.

Today we commence our third session on CRG163’s bodywork.  Our aim today was to measure new panels and mark out new lighting apertures that will sit above the vehicle’s front wheel arches on both sides.  Once the new panels have been cut to size as well as creating the new smaller lighting apertures from when CRG163 was new in 1970 we will again have eight panel lighting apertures, four on each side.  Soon we will be eight!

CRG163’s longer style fleet panel above the front offside wheel arch is removed and can be seen against the new replacement panel being measured.  The third original waist panel from the vehicle’s offside, containing the original lighting apertures is used as a template on top of the new panel to create the new aperture needed in the new panel. 

The new lighting apertures has been measured and marked in preparation for cutting.  The same process will also be completed for CRG163’s nearside front waist panel before the day is out.  Once both are completed they will be sent for precision cutting.

CRG163’s nearside front waist panel is removed to make way for the new replacement panel and smaller lighting apertures once measured.

A closer look at the front nearside waist panel being removed.

Now that the front nearside waist panel has been removed, time to inspect the woodwork for replacement.

Another angle of CRG163’s nearside front waist panel removed as well as other pieces.  CRG163’s metal fleet plate has also been removed for ease of painting once we reach this stage in the vehicle’s restoration.

CRG163’s original third offside waist panel is being used as a template to create a new front nearside waist panel.  Exciting to see four smaller waist panels once again on CRG163, not seen since 1970/1971.