ANCAP Forester gets the kiss of life

AFTER A SIDE impact of 60-70kph a Subaru Forester could have been a total write-off but, thanks to preferred repairer Callaghans of Taren Point, Sydney, the fourxfour will live another day.

Thanks to a joint project between Callaghans, Subaru and Sydney Automotive Paints and Equipment (SAPE), the Forester will be repaired back to factory specifications for use as a training vehicle for repairers and apprentices.

As can be imagined, the Forester was severely damaged in the name of occupant safety and now Jason Hornby GM of Callaghans and his team of Subaru repair experts have to restore the vehicle.

Labour costs to repair the vehicle are $14,000 but if all the parts were added the cost would be more like $22,000. The time to repair is approximately 2.5 weeks and the whole exrcise has become a cooperative effort with the first part of the job to pull the body back into shape and repair the front and rear doors, the centre pillar, sill and floor pan and tunnel. This after the chassis has been bench pulled and the side of the Forester has been cut off and doors and panel trial fitted.

Once all this is done, Mark Ryan from SAPE will get to work on the high strength and ultra high strength steel with the InvertaSpot GT welding equipment. It will be an interesting transition from a real wreck to repair and Callaghans and SAPE will need all their skills to put this wreck back on the road.