Daimler 2½ litre V-8 “Cresta” prototype DN250 history of the project part 3 repairing the rusted bodyshell and remodelling it – July 2007 to August 2008
	12 July 2007 Major change of plan. WT Bell’s sold their bodyshop so I looked around. At a car show at Stafford Castle I had talked to the owners of a restored Cresta, whose car had been restored at Jules at Coven near Wolverhampton. So, to the Yellow Pages. Rod Gautier and his son David run Jules Bodycraft at Brewood Road, Coven, a mere 10 miles from home. Their workshops had several splendid classic cars in restoration, so the decision to more to them was easy.
	24 July 2007 The first stage of preparing the bodyshell was to finish stripping everything moveable and hand scrape the underseal.
	24 July 2007 I just hope that all the removed bits and pieces are still here.
	30 July 2007 I had entered the Empress in the Coys auction at Blenheim on 14 July, but there was little or no interest in it. What’s wrong with Daimlers? I mean what’s wrong with the public? A man, whom I had met there over a cup of tea, contacted me later though the DLOC, a deal was struck and here he drives off, from a railway station where we met for the hand over.
	2 August 2007 Back at Jules after a visit to the shot blaster. It was in the paint booth for a protective spray to prevent further decay while repair work is done.
	2 August 2007 Luton lacework around the rear screen.
	2 August 2007 Interior seen through the rear screen.
	2 August 2007 Ditto through the driver’s door.
	7 August 2007 The heater box. It is to go to AMA of Nailsworth, who installed air conditioning in Bristol Cars and will see whether they can do the same for me. PS 10/04/09. It is not just government contracts that overrun their budgets. Air-con is out pro tem.
	4 September 2007 Work continues on the bodyshell: to date mainly floor panels, inner sills (new outer sills are on order), A-pillars, door hinge supports and inner bulkhead. This picture shows the temporary bracing holding the body in shape.
	26 September 2007 The first new steps, as opposed to making good rust damage, are to alter the off-side C-pillar to vertical and make a new frame for the quarter light on the rear door. The outer half of the rear o/s wing has also been cut off preparatory to removing the base of the Cresta’s fins. The two Daimler photos show the base of the fins, but my guess (ie my preference) is that on the finished job the top of the wings would have a round section.
	12 November 2007 Metal bashing holidays over these five pictures show key developments in changing the car’s looks. This (photo 1/3) of the C-pillar, actually taken before 26 September shows the o/s C-pillar with the wing cut away but the rear door window frame as original.
	12 November 2007 C-pillar (2/3) shows the rear door frame changed to vertical but, on second thoughts, eliminating the quarter light. The modifications to the A- and C-pillars should result is a stronger bodyshell than the original. The original C-pillar seems to have been simply soldered to the roof panel!
	12 November 2007 C-pillar (3/3). Now both the solid C-pillar and rounded to the rear wing have been made. The rear view will never be the same. The C-pillar is much bigger, or the rear screen smaller, than shown in Daimler’s drawings and photos. This is because I decided to use the centre panel of Vauxhall’s original three piece rear screen instead of trying to find a slightly wrap round one to fit.
	12 November 2007 The Daimler’s drawings and photos show the A-pillar to be vertical and the quarter light as a rectangle. This, A-pillar (photo ½), is first stage of this change, using the existing A-pillar but resetting it vertically.
	12 November 2007 A-pillar (2/2) now with the front door and a new window frame, again the quarter light eliminated, in the interests of simplicity. At the same time the new sills have been fitted. They were made by Coventry Panels and supplied by Erol Friend (Classic Vauxhall Spares) who also supplied my rear screen.
	February 2008 From the sills to the floor. New metal here, made bespoke rather than bought in. This is a view through the rear off-side door.
	April 2008 The what to do with the rear light problem is solved by a London Taxi. I had intended to mount standard Lucas type circular lights (red, amber and white) on a flat panel, as Daimler still did on the Majestic and as still appeared coach built Rolls Royces and Bentleys. I then spotted that the new model back cab has a light cluster which fits like a dream.
	April 2008 Now we can see that it will look like a Daimler, even if actually a Vauxhall. The radiator shell too will fit like a dream, thanks to some very neat panel work round it. According to the Hot Car article (see home page) the Cresta radiator shell copes fine with the Daimler V8, but I will fit a new ally core and a Kenlowe or similar fan.
	August 2008 Most of the new metal/welding work has been finished, apart from the front, which is waiting for the engine so that the new mountings can be made before finishing this stage of the job. Here is the off-side C-pillar (or panel) leaded and awaiting filler.

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