30 May 2026|News
The Art of a Premium Accident Repair
Having your cherished Lotus damaged in any way is every Lotus owner’s worst nightmare. After spending time searching for your dream vehicle – model, spec, colour, mileage – the last thing you want is to not be out on the road enjoying it. That’s why when Chris’s beloved Lotus Exige V6 Cup in C182Metallic Lotus Exige Orange had its front wheel arch damaged, he sought the specialist care of Hilton & Moss to repair his car back to a flawless condition.
With over forty years of trusted expertise in accident repairs for performance vehicles and supercars, Hilton & Moss is the UK’s leading independent Lotus specialist based on the Essex-Hertfordshire border. Synonymous with the Lotus brand, Hilton & Moss formerly operated as Castle Lotus, a respected main dealer. Over the past twenty years, they have built an exemplary reputation for excellence in the repair and maintenance of these legendary cars, from general servicing and expert fibreglass repairs to full mechanical rebuilds and upgrades.
Although insurers may attempt to direct Lotus owners to more cost-effective body shops for accident repair work, these often lack the specialised equipment and knowledge for complex Lotus models. Many drivers are unaware that it's their legal right, not the insurer's, to choose where their cars are repaired.
If your vehicle has been damaged in an accident or out on track, Hilton & Mosscan work directly with your insurer to manage the entire claims process, from assessment and valuation to estimate and final approval. Hilton & Moss are experts at ensuring cars are not written off after damage, working closely with insurance companies to confirm values and provide a bespoke repair plan for each vehicle. This ensures that your vehicle is repaired by true marque specialists who understand its individual needs and values.
Operating from a state-of-the-art facility in Bishop’s Stortford, Hilton & Moss share their showroom and cutting-edge accident repair facilities with Peter Hilton’s founding company, Hilton Coachworks, the UK’s largest independent manufacturer-approved accident repair centre.
"Every Lotus that comes through our facilities at Hilton& Moss gets treated as if it's our own. Chris's Exige is a beautiful example of what the Lotus marque is best known for. Lotus owners care deeply about their cars, and so do we, which is why our job isn't just to repair the damage, it's to give the owner their car back exactly as they remember it, or better." – William Garrett, Hilton & Moss General Manager.
As a member of the Lotus Drivers Club, Chris was familiar with Hilton & Moss, having visited the showrooms and facilities during club events. Having contacted Hilton & Moss at the end of 2025, they were able to fully support Chris with the necessary accident repair work covered by his insurance. TheHilton & Mossteamtalked directly with Chris’s insurance provider, removing all the admin and stress that may come with a situation like this, working on his behalf to make sure he would get the best repair possible for his pride and joy.
Once Chris’ Exige V6 Cup was on site at Hilton & Moss, a detailed vehicle inspection could be carried out to assess the repair works needed to bring it back to its pre-accident condition. With the damage not too severe, Hilton & Mosswere able to repair the front clam rather than replace the entire panel. The process consisted of complex fibreglass repair work, strengthening the stress fractures from behind, shaping, repainting, and blending with the existing bodywork, finishing with PPF re-application on the affected area. To begin with, the front clamshell was carefully stripped from the main body of the vehicle.
Lotus bodywork panels are notoriously delicate, so Hilton & Moss’s experienced technicians removed this piece with utmost care, ensuring an absolute attention to detail as the damaged part was removed from the remaining body. Once separate from the vehicle, the paint protection film (PPF) covering the front clamshells’ paintwork was removed so that the fibreglass structural repair work could start. To prepare the clamshell for fibre-glass repairs, the damaged areas were sanded down so the bodywork could be rebuilt. The dedicated accident repair team is trained in repairing fibreglass panels using traditional methods and tooling.
To ensure the structural integrity of the front clamshell had been fully restored after the accident, Hilton & Moss ’ team followed a premium process learnt through years of experience, taking the fibreglass back to the gel coat and adding strength in layers. Once completed and fully hardened, the paint technicians could then begin the cosmetic section of the repair process to visually integrate the new repair into the existing clamshell. To prepare fibreglass bodywork for painting, it must be sanded back to give the primer and paintwork a smooth surface to adhere to. Primer is applied before painting to ensure a perfect finish that will last for years to come.
The car was then taken into one ofHilton & Moss’s six dedicated paint ovens, where it was cleaned, masked and prepared for painting. C182 Metallic Lotus Exige Orange is a Lotus-specific colour requiring an expert three-stage pearl colour process to ensure its vibrant finish is accurately colour-matched to the existing body. A fresh batch of C182 was hand-mixed before being expertly laid onto the repaired clamshell and blended onto the adjacent front wings for a flawless finish, before finishing the paint process with a lacquer coating. Hilton & Moss only use the finest paint and materials to withstand the test of time.
Once repainted, the repair became invisible, but to ensure that the sleek lines of the front clamshell are fully restored, the freshly laid paint goes through a flat and polishing stage. This is the process of removing any micro imperfections from the top level of paint, resulting in a mirror-like finish. After this, the V6 Cup’s black lower accents were also added back onto the front bumper in a satin effect finish as they had left the factory.
Whilst in the care of Hilton & Moss, the Nitron suspension upgrades on Chris’ Exige V6 Cup were inspected, removed, disassembled, serviced, and reinstalled as they were showing signs of deterioration. Nitron Suspension parts require regular servicing, as over time, the ride quality reduces. To keep them performing at their best, it is essential to have them routinely serviced, whether they were fitted at the factory or in the aftermarket. These were reinstalled prior to the front clamshell being refitted, enhancing the performance of Chris’s Lotus for when it was back on the road again.
Almost back to its pre-accident condition, the clamshell was then carefully reunited with the existing undamaged body. Once reattached, the vehicle then entered the care ofHilton & Moss’s detailers, having the paint protection film (PPF) reapplied before a final full vehicle detail and inspection. By meticulously inspecting and working with attention to detail at every stage of the repair, Hilton & Moss provides Lotus drivers with peace of mind about the care their car is receiving whilst in for an accident repair.
"I was devastated when my Exige was damaged, but seeing it back in its vibrant Ex-ige Orange, looking exactly as it was originally, was such a relief. The team at Hilton &Moss clearly love these cars as much as we owners do. You're always nervous handing over something this special, but from the first conversation with William, I knew it was in the right hands. Now you’d never be able to tell anything was ever damaged on it." – Chris Tresadern-Jones.
For support with accident-damaged or track-damaged vehicles, do not hesitate to contact us. Once notified, we can manage the entire insurance process on your behalf from start to finish, giving you peace of mind.
