left rear panel

[sportiva]

I was here

[Citroënbender]

My mother had an English saying about making sure you had clean underwear on, in case you got hit by a bus. Hopefully you had followed similar practice.

The panel looks a straightforward repair unless there are multiple iffy repairs preexisting.

[Citroënbender]

Truly, I don't see a need to replace that. Worst case you might cut off the lower section for access, then re-weld it after straightening everything. Otherwise you're disturbing a metre or two of skin panel seams for a dent largely away from the edges.

[John A Pucak]

Hi Sportiva,
I agree with Citroenbender that this an easy fix.
I had a similar accident in the same spot, however my B pillar was pushed in and my sill was damaged.
I thought I had to replace the entire Quarter panel and B pillar and only replaced a small section of panel and the rest was pulled out by a panel beater who knew his stuff.

[Mick A]

Why is this still your daily driver?

Everyone knows how GTV6 prices are on the rise.

I really do suggest you save the car for weekends, and buy a cheap 156 to get around in during the week.

The GTV6 will thank you for it! 

[aggie57]

Why is this still your daily driver?

Everyone knows how GTV6 prices are on the rise.

I really do suggest you save the car for weekends, and buy a cheap 156 to get around in during the week.

The GTV6 will thank you for it! 

This!

[Mick A]

Sorry I wasn't meaning to sound like a prick, the point I'm trying to make and which I'm sure you understand is that shit happens, and like you said the car is exposed to more risk, being driven every day. With the current values and scarcity of parts, I feel a smart move is to obviously still drive these cars and enjoy them, but pick the right moments to do so. Hopefully in a few years it will begin to be like 105 series cars where parts will start being remanufactured and restorations will become easier and more affordable.

[Citroënbender]

I honestly doubt it will fall that way.

My "template" for comment is the Pug 205GTI of which we (Australians) were responsible for destroying or scrapping many easy fixers - like the GTV - values were low longer than was appropriate given the average structural condition of an Australian-owned car (usually very low on the rust factor).

We exhausted the pool of what should have been restored or conserved, as paddock rally thrashers, amateur racers and wannabe transplant recipients that never got across the line. I see a number of parallels with the GTVs.

That said, the Hunter has a few decent people for panel work, so hopefully there's a good, affordable fix.

[GTVeloce]

I was daily driving my GTV until about three years ago as it was cleaned up badly on the way to work. The replacement GTV gets driven regularly but I can't claim it's a daily anymore - thats what the 75 is for!

I say fix it and keep driving it. As much as enjoy the 75 it doesn't give me the same joy as the GTV and I suspect a 156 would be the same. With a few select mods they are a very capable daily and that's what they were made for.

[Paul Gulliver]

"I really do suggest you save the car for weekends"

Geez Mick that's a bit rich coming from you . You "save" your GTV for the weekends and have a look at the front of it. The back to, for that matter  , but I can't find a photo of it.

[poohbah]

Sorry to see and hear about the bingle Sportiva, and hopefully it isn't too much for a decent panelbeater to fix.

I'm with Mick though - I daily drove my GTV for 18 months, but eventually had enough of having to choose between lights, heater and wipers on cold wet nights on the way home from work, my seeming invisibility to other traffic after dark, and people's general refusal to allow a decent gap to accommodate a 40yo brake setup.

So I bought a cheap 156 for daily duties, and give the GTV a good fang on weekends - weather permitting!

[poohbah]

If you do need a panel, there are a couple of people who regularly advertise on Gumtree who may be worth a try.

I haven't seen any Alfetta rear quarters for a while, but there is a business in Thomastown (Melbourne) which regularly seems to be breaking Alfettas (and Fiats).  There is also a guy here in Perth who is constantly selling bits and pieces from Alfettas from his home in Mount Lawley.

[carlo rossi]

it will buff out
seriously not a tough fix
now you can get their insurance to repaint the entire car
probably needs a rotisserie  to do it right
and then re rustproof possibly repairable rightoff
Imagine a 2 pac full flowcoat paint job Im almost jealous
sportiva do you need  a lend of my vespa

[rowan_bris]

If it was someone else's fault why don't you just claim on insurance and let your insurance company sort it out with the person at fault?  I have seen plenty of quarter panels new listed overseas. Ps I would just continue to drive it as much as you want.

[carlo rossi]

Surely the bus is insured ?
And then its their problem
If not there was a coulple in gumtree ill find some