Original or not?

[mk1]

A few night ago I was fitting the moustache & ends to my latest project. This was amazingly un rusty when I got it & only received a floor, one inner wing, two outer wings, & inner & outer A Panels. The front panel is the original one.

When I was fitting the ends I discovered that the original factory holes in the front panel were wonky on one side, not just a bit, but by about 3/8" over it's length. As these are original factory holes in the original factory front panel, this one moustache end must have been wonky from new.

What I am wondering is, if this was your car what would you do? Would you fit the moustache end as is or "correct" it to make it fit correctly?

I have already made my decision & am happy with it, but I would be interested to hear other peoples views on my dilemma.

[Polarsilver]

Had similar issue in that my Shell was a Dealer supplied Parts Department new Mk1 Shell from way back .. with no body panels ever changed ..when fitting the Moustache Ends i had a selection of original used & OE nos Ends ..on one side of car the "ends" fitted & followed the alignment of the front panel surface .. yet the other side tended to want the moustache "end" to Curl Up and not follow the front panel painted surface .. my end solution was to chose a used "End Bit "that nearly followed the front panel shape but it was not ideal.. However your past advise to use pan head bolts with the head modified to fit in the Moustache End inner channel was very good advice and using the small bolts helped pull the Moustache End inwards that bit closer .

[MiNiKiN]

It would get me into a real struggle between my OCD and my faible for original build features

[steve1071]

Leave it wonky. It's a nice talking point and proof they were made by humans.....

[GraemeC]

Leave it and lurk in the background and chuckle when people criticise how the 'restorer' has not done it as good as the original manufacturer's work

[mini_surfari]

Personally, I'd straighten it up, as it would annoy me just as much as if I had bought it new

[Aginley]

Would need a picture to decide

[iain1967s]

If it was original factory paint I would leave it be.

But I would fix it when repainting.

[morris-miner]

I’m worth steve1071 on this one boss.

[mk1]

Thanks for the comments.

If anyone is interested, I left it as it was. Wonky, but as it came out of the factory.