RESTORATION 1995-97 IN USA AND 1997 TO CURRENT IN NZ

US 1995-1997 and NZ 1997 to present

Immediately after I purchased it, I trailered it to Brauch Automotive in Connecticut for restoration. He rebuilt the chassis which had suffered rust sitting in the weeds as well as other major mechanical work. His stack of invoices are over $12,700 He sent the transmission out to be rebuilt, proposing that for $100 extra it could be built to ¼ race spec with a lock-up transmission. This proved to be a bad idea and the transmission has never worked right (more on this below). Brauch worked on the engine (see photo) but did not rebuild it. Later I had the engine rebuilt in New Zealand. 

The 411 was then sent to American Dry Stripping in Bridgeport CT (https://www.americandrystripping.com/) a panel stripping company that used walnut shell blasting to remove all paint ($795)and it was then taken in 1996 to Automotive Restorations Inc in Stratford CT (http://www.automotiverestorations.com/ari/home/) who used an English wheel to properly shape aluminium and replace all galvanic corrosion in the body with new metal (US$3,317).

After that, it was delivered to a classic car paint shop in New Bedford MA where Joe Carvahlo began the preparation for paint. The photo shows it in primer, ready for guide coat paint and long-block sanding. $3,500

However, by June 1997, we had run out of time. I was moving to New Zealand before he got to do the final three weeks of long block sanding and top coat.  So I had him apply a top coat (brown) to protect it.  The top coat was applied for protection, not looks, and is intended as a sacrificial layer to be removed in long-blocking. Before it was packed in the container, I sent it to Benefit Auto Services in Pawtucket Rhode Island and had a Webasto electric sunroof installed along with a new headliner. $1,395. The car was then put in a container and shipped to New Zealand. On arrival, the car was delivered to the first restoration shop who promptly shorted out the sunroof electronics when they put a very powerful battery booster to start the car. Welcome to NZ.

I then began the process of getting the car ready for the road. I found a top upholsterer who removed all the worn blue leather and did a custom reupholstering of the interior.

This was intended as a long-term keeper for me, so the carpeting was done with hand-made Persian carpet and leather trim. The seats were done in three-tone finish with leather protective seat covers as well. The door panels were done in cow leather and pigskin, but as can be seen, subsequent water damage needs to be addressed on the door panels. The upholstery was done by one of Auckland’s top upholsterers. NZ$6,000 (US$4,200)

It was then sent to one of the top Chrysler hot-rod shops to find out why the engine was not performing right, and to prepare the car to pass the very tough VIN inspection required of all cars imported into NZ. The shop opened up the engine and proposed a complete rebuild. New bearing, rings, gaskets, cam followers, timing chain, rebored and surface blocked plus other mechanical work with a total bill of N$8,750 (US$6,125).

Unfortunately, the car did not then pass VIN. It required new tyres (done), low-volume certification for seatbelts to comply with NZ standards, work on the brake pipes, the battery to be secured, and the chassis to be inspected by a certified engineer. Accordingly the car was then towed to a panel beater for the engineer to inspect, whereupon the whole process turned to custard.

The engineer demanded (at $60 per hour) that the undercoating be water-blasted off so he could verify the chassis that had been welded in the USA was not corroded. He then proposed that he have the panel beater cut open the bottom of the chassis so he could inspect inside. At this point I realised this was a revenue-earning exercise for him as he submitted regular weekly bills for visits, while no work was actually being done by the panel beater.

However, before I could deal with it (I was building a house at the time), the panel beater rang with the bad news that a customer had lost control of her car and instead of backing out using the brake, put her car in drive and pressed on the accelerator to try to stop it. The panel beater was grateful that my car saved his life as he dove behind it as it stopped the out-of-control car. 

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The lady’s insurance finally agreed to send it to Alan Bowden of Classicar Restorations who had previously done another Bristol 411 and had the best reputation in Auckland. I instructed Alan to straighten out the damage, but not paint it, as the car would still require a three-week long-blocking before painting, as well as sorting garage rash incurred at the various shops since it had arrived in NZ. He did an excellent job for which the insurance paid a great deal of money.

Unfortunately, the newly chromed bumper ($900 of chrome work done in 1995) was damaged during the repair, and it will need to be redone.

In addition to the panel beating, I had Bowden’s shop repair the petrol tank which had developed a leak. He rebuilt a new sump and otherwise reconditioned it.

I then brought the car home, put it in the garage, and over the years collected items for it… Hankook tyres ($600), replacement hubcaps and badges, hi-torque starter, a polished Holley Street Avenger 670 carb set up by Bates Performance ($525), a custom tuner in America, MSD Spark system and matching electronic distributor (can’t find receipts). 

Giving up on the transmission, when I was shipping a container from California, I bought a used A727 transmission ($400) that was checked out by West Auckland Engine Reconditioners (http://www.waer.co.nz/),. I have not installed it, but will put it in the boot with the car. I also bought a new Weiand 8008 intake manifold (https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/wnd-8008/overview/) that has not yet been installed but comes in the boot.