Here's the 1850 HL I expect to be getting.

[Robert 352]

Come on lads, you are being a bit tough on the so-called idle buggers at Speke.

Those tiny rusty speckles which Mike is asking about is rust all right caused because the paint systems used back then were porous. Just as is the chrome on the door handles and bumpers are. You waterproof those older paints and chrome by coating it with polish. That seals the tiny holes and stops the water getting down onto the surface of the metal.

I have started the panel restoration on the Sprint which I have been writing about elsewhere which too has the same tiny rusty speckles all over the car. I will treat that car by stripping the paint back to the bare metal and using a modern epoxy primer which is waterproof and using some modern paint system on top. And polish it when I finish, just to make sure.

I think Jonners has the right idea, give the car a good wash and then wax (polish) it. Concentrate on sorting out the mechanicals such as the hydraulics and drive the car and then decide on how you might rectify the rust speckles. But for that hole in the left hand sill which would have to be repaired to get a Warrant of Fitness down here the body looks, from these thousands of miles away, remarkably sound.

Ship it out here, we will fix it!

Robert

[Bumpa]

The black paint on the sills and rear wing appears to be non-original, so does it hide more rusty areas or filler repairs?

It was my brother-in-law who painted underseal on the sills and rear quarter because of stone chipping. I'm pretty sure the metal underneath is sound. He has owned the car for over 30 years.

Mike

[Bumpa]

I think Jonners has the right idea, give the car a good wash and then wax (polish) it. Concentrate on sorting out the mechanicals such as the hydraulics and drive the car and then decide on how you might rectify the rust speckles. But for that hole in the left hand sill which would have to be repaired to get a Warrant of Fitness down here the body looks, from these thousands of miles away, remarkably sound.

Thanks Robert in NZ. That seems the best way forward. I shall have to fix the rusty area as it will fail our test due to structural damage, as it would the NZ test. Next task is to make arrangements to get it here from Aberdeen where it currently resides. Fortunately my brother-in-law has a Land Rover Defender, so towing a trailer should be no bother. However, he's busy until at least October, so I will have to be patient.

[bazyerma]

I think Jonners has the right idea, give the car a good wash and then wax (polish) it. Concentrate on sorting out the mechanicals such as the hydraulics and drive the car and then decide on how you might rectify the rust speckles. But for that hole in the left hand sill which would have to be repaired to get a Warrant of Fitness down here the body looks, from these thousands of miles away, remarkably sound.

Thanks Robert in NZ. That seems the best way forward. I shall have to fix the rusty area as it will fail our test due to structural damage, as it would the NZ test. Next task is to make arrangements to get it here from Aberdeen where it currently resides. Fortunately my brother-in-law has a Land Rover Defender, so towing a trailer should be no bother. However, he's busy until at least October, so I will have to be patient.

Looks good, I wish mine was free!

[Toledo Man]

Sorry to be opening up the Speke debate again but the factory was closed because they were forever going on strike. Anyway, this particular 1850HL was built in Canley so it seems a bit irrelevant anyway!

Get that resto thread started!

[oily66]

It may be the case that welding has been done close to the paintwork on another car. That can cause very small rust spatters on the paint . Are there are traces of welding spatter on the windows as well ?
Tony.

I once had a car covered in like what you describe and it turned out that the car was parked up somewhere when some fool with an angle grinder started taking a metal fence down further the car park...molten particles flying all over the place lodged into the paint.

[davy67]

Mike, in my current search for a spray painter to paint my Sprint I was told of a guy from Ayrshire area who has a good reputation, does good work and is not overly expensive and he has done a few classics too.
I will speak again to the chap who used him and try to get more info and contact details.
I'm only up the A78 in Greenock if you ever need a hand( or a shoulder to cry on!).

David

[Bumpa]

David, the sprayer's contact details would be much appreciated. Thank you. As I said I don't expect to be able to bring the car to Troon until possibly October but I will keep your offer of advice in mind.

Mike

[Karlos]

Congratulations, looks good and full of potential.