Saw this one in Sweden this year. I liked it very much.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1387829266

I did spend several hours on bodywork last night. Will be hitting it hard over the next week in between holiday stuff. I have a couple days off that I had to burn by year end. Still plan on it going to paint by March.

Put in several hours the last couple of days in between Christmas stuff. Got several parts through 80 grit and a very light coat of poof-can primer to close it up. Working on rear fenders now, then a bit of touch-up work needed on doors. They are both 80% done. Should be ready to prime and start dealing with the little imperfections in a week or two. Going to have to get some professional help then. I've gone as far as my non-existent skills have taken me. This is the first time I've ever done any sort of bodywork.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388033971
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388033971
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388033971
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388033971
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388033971

Um, looking like a EPIC first bodywork attempt.

Looks pretty damn good to me, experienced or not.

I was thinking the same thing.

ditto. Great job man. Keep it going

Got the rear fenders done. As they were the most hacked up they were the most work. Again, a very light coat of primer just to seal them up. They still need work. It becomes obvious with the primer guide coat. Just have the rear valence and passenger part behind the door and the two doors to finish. All are close. Should easily finish roughing them out by New Years day.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388120076
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388120076
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388120076
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388120076

More done tonight.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388208181

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388208181

Started on the worst door. I've been told that blocking something that size is very difficult. I took that as a challenge. I wish I had a longer long board. Mine's only about 15".

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388208181

A couple of tips:

Let the sandpaper do the work. You shouldn't have to force it, or bear down on it. If you find yourself having to press down, either change the sandpaper or move to a coarser grit. Sandpaper is cheap compared to your time.

If it's getting clogged up, you're going too fast or the primer isn't completely dry/cured. Chances are, you're pushing too hard. Once again, coarser grit.

I have been using 80 grit 3M gold premium paper. What I have been doing was hit it to find the high spots, work those a bit with the DA with 80, then back to the board, rinse and repeat. I do change paper often and have never seen any clogging issues.

I have been having plenty time to cure. I would just rotate spots or parts, working around 5 areas or so in rotation. That's getting tougher to do because I'm actually running out of areas needing work! There is a light at the end of this tunnel and I can see it.

Smoothed the firewall tonight.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388292876

Got one door done.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388292876

Only one door left and it's close to being done - maybe an hour or two left on it. Then I need to start doing some touch-up on all of the parts of the car. I will have everything done that I can do by 1/1/14.

Smoothed the firewall tonight.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388292918

Got one door done.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388292918

Only one door left and it's close to being done - maybe an hour or two left on it. Then I need to start doing some touch-up on all of the parts of the car. I will have everything done that I can do by 1/1/14.

Bear in mind that I'm just putting a light coat of primer over the finished parts so it looks blotchy. At $20 a poof can for automotive self-etching primer I'm going to wait until I can spray it with a gun to get full coverage. It's too expensive to do it this way.

Santa and his Volvo obviously had the intended effect of getting this Saab back on track.

I'm pleased to see this, Mr. Stein. Not pleased enough - at this point - to overcome the disappointment of the loss of the truck.

Nothing photo-worthy but I logged 5 hours yesterday and 12 today just filling pinholes and scratches, build priming and sanding to 320 grit. Got one door and three fenders completely done and put away. I have all day tomorrow in the shop so I should be done with major components. I don't have a firm date for paint yet. Waiting on the painter's schedule. Tentatively the last weekend of January.

Confirmed today that the car goes for paint on 1/24 so I have a hard deadline!

What color?

Looking awesome -- can't wait to see it finished!

Mustang Grabber Blue

:drool:

I was jokingly going to suggest laguna seca blue like jeff's car. But that'll do.