My neighbour knocks on my door 6.30 this morning and says "somebody vandalised your car". Outside the car standing approx 5 metres from my front door is a mess. Its covered in thick black paint all over, plus some black spray paint on one side plus tones of what looks like contact cement and the paint is bubbling in a few places (I reckon its brake fluid).

The cops came over and we looked inside - some more crap on the carpets and the seats and under the bonnet the entire engine is covered in the same stuff as if a tin of paint exploded in the engine bay.

I usualy have an alarm and an immobiliser with a noticeable blinking light and no one has yet to mess with the car outside my place. This night though I was recharging the batery inside coz it seemed to charge poorly and so the alarm was off the no blinking light. The cops reckon someone (who might walk there all the time) noticed that the car had no alarm on and tried stealing it ( the quarter window was open and the door was brocken into). When they couldnt start it (no battery + an immobiliser) they poped the bonnet open and whn they couldnt find the battery there and start the car they got pissed off and tore up some wiring and used the cement and brake fluid I had in the car to pour over it. Plus they got heaps of that other thick black enamel paint. ****. So once again I come to repair the mini.

The car currently looks really bad with paint pretty much everywhere
Now I've got a full comprehensive with Shannons and they said to take it to a repairer to get a quote - I was just thinking should I take the car to one of the mini mechs out west (coz the engine will prob have to come out to be repainted) who might know the best panel beaters that will deal with minis and will deal with the insurance assesor or should I take it straight to a panel beater (coz most of the work is the paint etc).

And also are they any decent guys closer to me (I'm in Coogee) that have dealt with minis in the past and can do decent work so that I wont have to drag the car all the way to western Sydney. Otherwise who are the better mini panel beaters out west?

My past experiences with panel beaters have been mixed but I want a COOPERATIVE guy that will not only try to screw both me and the insurance comp (or atleast wont try to screw me like a certain painter did awhile ago) and will do a comprehensive job.

I have ultimate faith in Rocky Canto from Canto Smash Repairs in Wetherill park.

Rocky and I go back many many years at various levels of mini motor sport and despite an apparent glib attitude, he is straight as they come.

Now he is not eastern suburbs but its only a tilt tray away and he knows and understands Minis.

He will repair as needed - not an insurance job but a profit margin.
Ring him - its in www.whitepages.com.au

Bloody sad hearing this Mike.
Be careful if you leave it parked there in a trashed state- people may think it's abandoned or whatever and trash it further...
I'd get it off the street or rent a garage or whatever.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Sorry to hear of your woes.

Try

GFH Smash Repairs
22 Isabella St
Bondi Juntion
9369 3533

They have a roundie at the moment and do good work.

Drop us a line when your nearby. I live up the road

Bad luck Mike, mob of assholes eh! some people have just got no respect for other peoples property. Dont know any local crash repairs mate, sorry.
Hey blokeinamoke, are you the guy i thumbsed up in the spot at randwick the other night( i was in a blue roundy)

Nope. My moke is stripped and in bits. It probably isnt going anywhere for 6 months.

If you see a blue XJ-S give that'll be me.

I should probably change my signon to Blokeweldingamoke

ha ha! will watch out for ya!

Thats bloody awful mike! People who do that kind sh*t need their heads smashed in with a brick.. Sorry I can't recommend any panel beaters round here either..

what the f**k is with people and hurting your car Mike?

i am sick of these rude obnoxious bastards who dont have respect for other people and their property

chin up and
good luck with the repair!

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So you guys reckon there's any point taking it to a mini mechaning (say Greig or Ivan) and lettting them organise the panel beaters etc as well as anything else thats needed?

Mate that is awful. really and truly. your mini was a really good example!

Mate i think you not need to bother taking to a mini specialist.

PERSONALLY i would take it to Gladesville smash (just off Vic road) i have
seen such high quality work come out of that place and the boss is a
dead set perfectionist. something hard to find. take your car there

kick the C**ts in the head


Canto Smash rapiars are bloody good but dont know of any around there

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ausmini member #10
(22:42:45) 5 years later..........

Yea its pretty bad - I'm still kinda passive agressive about it but have been randomly snapping at people and creeping to spy out of the window all night.

Now the wiring loom has been damaged too and the extractors would atleast have to come off to get rid off all the paint - do you guys reckon the panel b's can do all that themselves or will they be sending it to a mechanic anyway?

re the wiring, the PB can get a sparky in if needed.
The paint will BURN off the extractors, or just wipe some paint stripper on then rinse.. it won't be cured hard yet.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I mean take the extractors off to take the paint off the back of the engine and off the firewall - its scarry how much paint there's down there atm. The engine might have to come out.