The availability of so many quality chassis panels for the Morris Minor enables us to carry out structural repairs and rebuilds to a higher standard than ever before. Where sections of the structure are corroded, the affected panels are completely removed and replaced before being injected with cavity wax and treated externally with a tough underbody protectant, this ensures that the repairs carried out are as good, if not better than the original panels. Initially this often leads to higher costs at M.O.T time but in the long-term it is a far more cost effective method of maintenance for your Minor than a temporary patch-up.

Here are a few structural repairs that have been undertaken By ESM during 2003.

The original door pillar was very weak on this Traveller and as a result the door gap was very poor.

This picture shows the o/s inner wing having been replaced along with the rear section of the inner wing dome and door hinge pillar.

All that remains is for the hinge pillar cover plate to be welded into place and then for the new panels to be treated, including cavity wax injection into the hollow section, thus protecting and preserving the new panels for many years to come.

Whilst cutting out and welding in new panels is the bulk of the work required to rebuild a Minor's structure, without a comprehensive protective treatment process the repairs will not last. That is why ESM like to pay as much attention to the treatment process as to the relacing of the panels themselves.

The underside of all new panels are treated with a protective coating that is tough and durable. The new panels are then lightly coated with a high quality light wax oil. The new or repaired interior sections of floor are stonechiped and painted. This gives a tough textured finish that is extremely hardwaring and matches the original finish. All new box sections are injected with cavity wax, which is atomised under high pressure to coat all surfaces and penetrate into all joints and welds that could otherwise not be reached. that are not seen

With this treatment process, ESM is confident that the work carried out today will last for years, we give a 5 year guarantee on new structural panels fitted.

For the very highest standards of paintwork all parts are fully dismantled before any paintwork is carried out. Any corroded panels are replaced and aligned, any corroded metal is cut out and replace using manufactured U.K.panels where possible. Surface corrosion is sandblasted and any imperfections or dents are removed. The parts are then primed with a rust inhibitor, followed by a high-build primer before being flatted and top-coated in our full low bake spray oven.

Full Restorations are a small part of our business. Our main work is in smaller repairs or replacements of wings, door skins, bumpers etc. We also carry out accident and insurance work on Morris Minors.

The picture shows the new door skin having been aligned together with a new wing and "B" post base. The engine bay has been completely sandblasted and the rest of the body shell is ready to be prepared for primer.

This car has had a full structural rebuild prior to this work being carried out. We will be updating the website as this restoration progresses, so watch this space !

The picture on the right is of an MG TA Body shell primed in high build primer, ready for the next stage of flatting and top coating.

This MG TA was delivered by a customer on a trailer ready for us to respray. We first had to remove the body from the chassis and then removed the wings, petrol tank and doors. The customer had previously dismantled the interior, chrome, hood etc and was planning to refit it when the paintwork had been completed.

The car had lived in South Africa for many years and the owners had used it as an every day car. As we stripped the paint off the panels it revealed some nasty suprises but mainly it was in remarkable condition for its age.

Finished pictures of this car can be seen below.