By Owen Webb
Meguiar’s Australia

Bodywork - Show or Street
The bodywork of a show car and the quality of finish required are often overlooked when planning and building your project yet they can encompass such a wide range of areas and substrates. Substrates can include anything from steel and aluminium, to fibreglass, carbon fibre, numerous plastics and rubber.

Areas judged are: main body panels, (guards, doors, bonnet, etc), flares, spoilers, full body kits, bumper bars, moulds and glass, for fitment and condition. For maximum points in body, quality body modifications to the existing sheet metal if applicable, will always place you higher than bolt on parts. Quality modifications to the existing shell are often over looked because they are costly and time consuming, meaning that your car is off the road for lengthy periods of time.

The amount of work in file finishing a body for paint is almost endless and not only will cost you substantially but there are still only a small number of professionals prepared or capable of delivering you a file finished body. There is nothing more impressive than a completely file finished metal body, and if your show car has been prepared this way make sure you have photos when displaying the vehicle for the judges to inspect.

There are no problems when a small amount (called a skim) of body filler has been used, however when deep dents, or fibreglass panels joined to metal have been finished with excessive filler, problems are inevitable. Fibreglass or plastic panels expand and have different flexibility to metal. This leads to a scenario where cracks and delamination can occur. This is an area where it may be better to look around for suitable body panels from other cars or make your own body panels or custom flares. Hot rodders and street machiners have been customising and making panels from steel for years. Bolt on kits and panels can still work, but you must take the time to trim them and file edges to ensure they fit perfectly. This can take days depending on the quality of the mould and where the panels come from.

The alignment and fit (or gaps) of any ad-on panels, and straightness of the body have to be absolutely right to score high points in body. If the gaps are not even and flat and there are dents or inconsistencies in the panels a low score in body will be received. Even if there is customising it must be done well and finished in all areas to achieve high points.

Condition and fitment of mouldings, handles, bumper bars, glass and rubbers are also areas that need to be addressed. Even standard cars can improve in these areas with refitting and adjustment. Once again it is imperative to take as much time as necessary to ensure that any of these parts are fitted and installed perfectly so as to maximise your judging points.

Remember paintwork will never hide poor bodywork.

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