We specialise in auto restorations of all European and British vehicles. Classic car restoration is in our blood, with a proud history in both restomod and nut and bolt classic car and vintage car restoration, including Range Rover Classic restoration, classic Mini restoration, Jaguar restoration and many more. We have a proud history with all manner of European and British classic vehicles, with clients from across New Zealand trusting us to care for and restore their classic and vintage cars like we would our own.
A restoration can be the whole car or part of it, from a ground-up nut-and-bolt rebuild, to a mechanical restoration or an interior retrimmed like it just left the factory. Whatever the scope, the method is the same.
Panels, chassis, engine, gearbox, brakes, wiring and trim go to the team that specialises in them, and every component is graded along the way: kept, refurbished, replaced or recreated.
Original parts are saved wherever they can be. Where they cannot, they are remade rather than approximated with panels hand-formed in steel or aluminium, timber frames rebuilt to the original pattern, components scanned and machined to spec. The quality lies in the details, not just what you can see in the final photographs.
We specialise in all British and European classics, and after forty years there are few we haven’t had in the workshop, including:
Not everything that comes through is British or European. We have also restored a New Zealand-built Taipan and a rare Toyota Celica GT that came fourth in the Masters Class at the Ellerslie Concours d’Elegance. If your car isn’t on the list, it doesn’t mean we can’t help.
Not every restoration is a ground-up rebuild.
A full or nut-and-bolt restoration takes the car back to bare metal and rebuilds it from there. A partial restoration concentrates on the parts that need it like the body, engine bay or interior.
You don’t need to decide up front. Every restoration starts with a question: what do you want from the car? A reliable weekend driver is a different brief from a concours entry, and it changes what the car needs.
Our team will undertake a bumper-to-bumper initial assessment, giving you a pre-strip view of the vehicle’s condition. It’s where desire meets necessity, and it’s this information that forms the basis of the build plan and phasing.
Not every car should be restored. Some are worth more as they are with original paint, original trim and the wear of sixty years of use. A restoration would remove the one thing that makes them rare. A car is only original once.
Preservation is the other answer: conserving and correcting what is there, recommissioning what has stopped working, and leaving alone what should be left alone. Which one your car needs is a judgement worth making before any work starts. We will tell you what we think, including when the answer is to do less.
Very professional approach to car restoration. Excellent point of care communication. Understood mechanics and bodywork challenges for an old Alfa. Treated the car very respectfully.
Lindsay Gray
Original parts are always the first choice. We draw on an international network of suppliers built up over four decades, and we will keep looking rather than fit something that will do.
Where a part is genuinely no longer available, we make it. Components are measured or scanned from an original, drawn in CAD and machined, 3D printed or hand-formed to spec, so a missing bracket never decides how far a restoration goes.
Every stage of your restoration is documented in our workshop app through photos, notes and video as the work happens. You can see what was found and what was done, and engage with each step of the process, whether you are across town or overseas. The record stays with the car.
Every restoration begins with a conversation, not a spec sheet. What the car is, what you want from it, and how far you want to take it.
How long does a restoration take?
It depends entirely on the car and the scope. A partial restoration can be a matter of months; a full nut-and-bolt restoration can span years. We take on a small number of restorations each year so each one gets the workshop time it needs. Alternatively, we can pace the work to match your ideal weekly budget.
What does a restoration cost?
Every car is different, so there is no list price. After the initial assessment we can provide an indicative estimate against a phased plan, so you can see what each stage is likely to cost. That way you can plan the approach that works best for you.
Can you restore a car that has been off the road for decades?
Yes. Cars that have been stored for years are some of the most common restorations we take on. The first step is an honest assessment of what is there, which is worth doing before any decisions are made.
Do you work on cars from outside Auckland?
Yes. We restore cars for owners throughout New Zealand and overseas, and the workshop app means you can follow the work wherever you are. Transport can be arranged.
We take on a small number of restorations each year. If you have a car in mind, come and see what we do first hand.