Restoring Body of Valuable Historic Vehicles: An Innovative Approach by the Use of Thermal Spray Techniques

The restoration of a valuable historic vehicle is a complex operation; indeed, the vehicle value is directly connected to the degree of authenticity of the restoration. Corrosion has been observed to reduce the thickness of metal sheets from the original 0.03 in. (0.8 mm) to only 0.015 in. (0.4 mm) or even less. In such cases, traditional restoration methods could lead to further deterioration of the metal body. In this article, the authors describe an innovative thermal spray method for restoring metal sheets to their original thickness. This method permits restoration of the original body, preserving the degree of authenticity of the vehicle. The method has been patented by Ferrari SpA.