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My Granada Mk1 and an 'RO Performance' Restoration - angry and disappointed, money lost

A sad story about an apparently reputable car restoration outfit who put fillers and paint over rust on my Granada. Not once but multiple times - why? I suppose the answer is that there is more profit in doing it this way. And for a while it looks alright but gradually over a couple of years the faults start to appear more and more rapidly. The odd few bits are to be expected but it's every panel!

#64 Spare wheel well cut out

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March 01, 2026

First stage of removal. The rest will need to be cut from underneath to preserve the flanges.

I have a new panel from Ex-pressed Steel Panels in Yorkshire.

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#1 - Issues

July 13, 2025

Ford Granada Mk1 2.0 L This is about my Ford Granada Mk1 which was restored by a local company. Sadly just over two years later the bubbles and blisters under the paint are appearing almost daily. The car was kept in a Carcoon so was dry over winter and hadn't yet even been on the road. And this was with 20k+ spent. They did offer to help fix things but in the end I had lost confidence in any repair meeting what I expect. Reasonable looking paintwork with a few blemishes isn't much to ask. I decided to TakeControl of the situation and do a proper paint job myself where body filler is not used over rust without any attempt to cut-out rust or to clean up any pitting. From a distance it didn't look too bad but closer inspection showed bubbles and blisters forming on almost every panel. If it had been a few bits and pieces that could be fixed I'd be OK about it. Rob Ottewill's company RO Performance has now closed for good. Robert Ottewill, 81 Lowercrof...

#11 I think I may have to get the welder out

July 27, 2025

Used the needle scaler on the chassis leg and inside the wheel house. Bit of welding needed so fuel tank removed for access and safety. Underneath the chassis needs work too. The beam that carries the diff looks to be ok on this side of the car. 🤞

#23 Rear Chassis Rail RH side - part 2

August 24, 2025

New section welded inside the chassis rail, due to some piecemeal repairs to stop anything moving or twisting this was quite hard as the metal thickness varied. I just had to make sure that I didn't blow holes or not get any penetration - this was more important than scabby looking welds. The important join between the body and boot floor part of the rail now has a continuous piece of new 18s gauge steel. 😊 There is also another section 18s gauge underneath where the large hole was so this hole has new steel both above and below. Acid protected and painted with Hammerite. Once the metal over the rail has been replaced I can repaint it with Rustoleum which matches that factory colour almost perfectly - unlike the new paint. Next job is to plate the side of the chassis rail and re-join it to the wheelhouse section. I can then thoroughly seal and paint everything. It's great how solid things sound now when tapped with the hammer.