Classics, pre-1980
British roadsters and classics
Morgan, MG MGB and MGB GT, Triumph Spitfire, TR4, TR5 and TR6, Jaguar, Mini, Citroën 2CV, VW Beetle, Fiat Barchetta, Mercedes.
Our ground
The cars we restore
The cars we favour: the ones we know well, where parts can still be found and where the work can be quoted honestly.
Youngtimers, eighties and nineties
Modern roadsters and coupés
BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5, Mercedes SLK, Audi TT.
Make by make
What we can do, and why
Morgan
Ash frame, simple mechanicals, Lucas electrics. The kind of car where experience of the model counts for more than tooling.
MG MGB and MGB GT
The most common of the British cars, and the one where parts are still easy to find. SU carburettors, brakes, looms: the typical job can be quoted without nasty surprises.
Triumph Spitfire, TR4, TR5, TR6
Lucas injection on the TR5 and TR6, carburettors on the rest. Cooling and electrical earths are the first two things we look at.
Mini
A-series engine, gearbox in the sump. Compact to strip, demanding to set up. We have one in the workshop at the moment.
Jaguar
XK straight six and V12. Fine engineering, critical cooling, and electrics that need doing from end to end on most examples.
Citroën 2CV
The simplest twin to look after, provided the clearances are respected. Valves, carburettor, driveshafts and brakes: that is what every visit covers.
VW Beetle
Air-cooled flat four. Valve clearances and cooling tin sealing, everything follows from those. Parts available, running costs under control.
Fiat Barchetta
Timing belt to watch closely, temperamental electrics. An endearing roadster that needs serious care.
Classic Mercedes
W123, W114, W115 and SL. The toughest on this list, and the ones that stand up best to everyday use. We have one for sale.
BMW Z3
Straight six or four cylinder. The rear axle and the bushes are what to check; the mechanicals hold up without trouble.
Mazda MX-5
The most reliable youngtimer of the lot. Sill corrosion and dampers are the only real issues.
Mercedes SLK
Folding hard top to maintain, robust mechanicals. The roof mechanism accounts for half the work.
Audi TT
First generation, 1.8 turbo. Timing belt, turbo and coil packs: three things to keep on top of, a sound car thereafter.
A model that is not on the list? Write to us and we will tell you straight whether it is a job for us or for someone else. We would rather turn a job down than do it by halves.
A classic sitting in a garage somewhere?
Tell us the model, the year and what is wrong with it. We reply within 48 hours.