Bodywork Session 10: Rear panels and boot
Today we continue CRG163’s rear corner panels, including the boot. (24.08.25)
New woodwork is added to the offside emergency exit step.
New woodwork is tested for fit to the panel between the offside emergency exist and rear panel.
The side profile of one of the new wooden pieces between the offside emergency exit and rear panel which has a purpose curve included to coincide with the vehicle’s body profile.
A lot of care and time was taken to assess and remove the wooden pieces under the offside rear window.
Another angle of the wooden section to be removed from under the offside rear corner window.
The wooden section under the rear window removed with utmost care.
Sion carefully creates a cardboard template in the first instance that will be used to create a wooden template that will be used to create new corner wooden sections.
The best image to date of CRG163’s bodywork restoration progress from when this was commenced on 16 January 2025. It’s been a bad year what with loosing Dad/Taid, however we’re definitely progressing with CRG163’s restoration. Her offside bodywork is so clean and straight from all the work that has been undertaken.
Whilst continuing with our restoration of CRG163 today we have a visit from a very beautiful butterfly.
A quick look at CRG163’s front number plate. A new similar number plate will need to be sourced due to the damage to the number ‘1’.
A very interesting image of paint underneath the rear bumper section showing a mix of colours, most notably the original cream and black from 1970 when CRG163 was new.
Another interesting photo of CRG163’s inner boot lid showing the vehicle’s original cream livery as well as Crosville’s dual purpose livery.
Work commences on the rear boot once removed.
Sion deep in thought with the new woodwork profile for the rear of the vehicle.
The oxidised section of the rear boot lid is removed in preparation for its replacement.
The oxidised section of the boot lid removed.
Holding up the recreated Crosville front panel from 2004 for the last time, which recreated the original Crosville NBC panel from 1972. CRG163 looked amazing in the NATIONAL white but will look even more amazing in the original cream and black coaching livery from 1970 when the vehicle was new.
CRG163’s nearside rear today with boot removed.
CRG163’s nearside rear. Whilst panels and boot have been removed the vehicle looks really clean as the rebuild of this section commences.