Newport Pagnell - Part 2

With all the repair and improvement work now completed, next was the slow and laborious job of putting everything back together. Once again anything that was considered to have deteriorated over the life of the car was replaced. This included two new brake servos, brake and clutch master cylinders. Works Service were quite thorough in this respect and even minor faults such as a long-standing oil-weep from the steering column power steering were addressed.

Re-carpeting the boot

The removed dashboard of the car was also prepared and painted at the same time as the bodywork, again to ensure a consistent paint finish throughout. To remove and refit this not an insignificant job, as the DB dashboard is one of the most comprehensively equipped of any hand-wired instrument panel fitted to a car. It is also still a pleasure for the eye to behold after all these years. 

Dashboard removed

Dashboard replaced

Steering wheel back in place

Bit by bit the car was slowly coming together. The distinctive ‘polka-dot’ alloy door and jamb finishers were replaced, as they showed scratches from when the doors were opened following the collision. The headlining was replaced throughout, as it had proved impossible to remove the original without damage. The new lining was an exact match for that originally supplied and the glove-box was also relined at the same time in order that there would not be a colour difference due to age.

 

Door jamb finisher

Door edge finisher

Replacement headlining

Following preparation and re-painting of the bonnet, a new insulating pad was supplied and fitted to the underside.

Final assembly

Eventually the car was finished and in October 2008 we were invited down to Newport Pagnell for the grand unveiling. Aston Martin Works Service had carried out an MOT test and taxed the car following the completion of all the work, so I was able to take it for a test drive around the area. The car looked absolutely stunning and the end result was a credit to all those who worked on her.

They also provided a complete photographic record of all the work carried out. A few minor issues came to light during our visit, all of which were addressed and the car finally came home to Yorkshire in January 2009. It had been away at Aston Martin for a little over a year and a half, but now we were both happy and excited to see it back in Sheffield.

Back home in Yorkshire - 2009

The car briefly returned to Newport Pagnell in October 2009 to replace the upper and lower king-pin assemblies and rebuild the front suspension.  Works Service again carried out the MOT test and the car was returned home in late December.

Aston Martin photographic record CD