Classic car restoration
Classic car restoration in Biel/Bienne: bodywork and paint
Carrosserie K.I. in Biel/Bienne carries out the bodywork and paintwork on classic cars and modern classics: repairing rust, fabricating and welding in panels, straightening surfaces and painting in the original colour. Partial and full restorations are possible. This makes sense when rust is attacking the structure or the paint has weathered. Every step of the work is documented with photos.
- All makes
- Direct billing with insurers
- Courtesy car on request
- Repair rather than replace
- Reply usually within 24 h
- German & French
Process
- 1
Send photos, followed by a viewing and assessment of the vehicle
- 2
Define the scope and stages together
- 3
Dismantling, exposing the rust, fabricating and welding in panels
- 4
Building up the surfaces, priming and painting in the original colour
- 5
Reassembly, inspection and handover with photo documentation
How we go about restoring a classic car body
Every restoration begins with an assessment. We look at the vehicle, check the sills, wheel arches, floor pans, door bottoms and seams, and record the condition with photos. This results in a plan in stages, which we discuss with you. The affected area is then dismantled and the old paint removed until the bare metal is visible. Only now does the true extent become apparent, because old filler and underbody coating often conceal more rust than is suspected from the outside.
Rusted-through metal is cut out and replaced. Where repair panels can no longer be bought, our panel beaters make the parts by hand, shape them to match the original and weld them in. Quality shows in clean seams, consistent panel gaps and surfaces that are straight without thick layers of filler. This is followed by rust protection, primer, primer filler and painting in the original colour. Finally the vehicle is reassembled, and you receive the photo documentation of every step.
Partial or full restoration: what is worthwhile and what determines the price
Not every classic needs a full restoration. It is often enough to repair individual rust spots properly, restore a wing or repaint a weathered section. A partial restoration preserves the original substance and the patina, which many owners deliberately want. A full restoration makes sense when there is rust in many places or the vehicle is being dismantled anyway. We advise you openly on which route suits your vehicle, your aim and your budget.
The price is determined above all by the extent of the rust, the availability of panels, the share of manual work and the scope of the paintwork. Because hidden damage only shows once it has been exposed, the first figure is a guide. With photos sent via the online damage report, you will receive an indicative quote including VAT within 24 hours on working days, and the final price is set after the viewing. If additional work comes to light along the way, we discuss it with you before we continue. Mechanical and electrical work is clarified separately if required.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a classic car restoration cost?
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That can only be said reliably after an assessment. The deciding factors are the extent of the rust, the availability of panels, the share of manual work and the desired scope of the paintwork. Send us photos via the online damage report: you will receive an initial indicative quote including VAT within 24 hours on working days. The final price is set after the viewing, and we plan larger projects in stages.
Can rust on a classic car be removed permanently?
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A rust repair is only lasting if the affected metal is removed completely. Sanding over it and filling merely hides the rust. We cut out the rusted-through areas, fabricate matching repair panels and weld them in. Seams and cavities are then protected. How long the result lasts also depends on how the vehicle is used, stored and cared for.
Do you paint a classic car in its original colour?
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Yes. We determine the colour from the colour code, old documents or a well-preserved area of the vehicle that has been protected from light, for example in the engine bay or under a trim panel. Historic colours are mixed with today’s paint systems and compared on a sample panel. For a partial respray we match the shade to the aged paint on the adjacent panels.
Related services
Car paintwork & spot repair
Colour-matched paintwork, and thanks to spot repair only as much as necessary.
Car detailing & polishing
Polishing the paint, removing fine scratches, sealing and cleaning the interior: for more gloss and a well-kept overall impression.
Accident repair
From minor bodywork damage to full repair after a serious accident, to manufacturer specifications.
No appointment, no waiting.