Your classic is probably worth more to you than its value on paper, which makes choosing who restores it one of the more important decisions you’ll make as an owner. A restoration is a long relationship, not a one-off transaction, so it pays to choose carefully. Here’s what we’d suggest looking for.
See their work in the metal. Photos are a start, but ask to see cars they’ve restored, ideally in person. The quality of bodywork and paint is hard to fake when you’re standing next to it.
Make sure they do the work themselves. Some outfits subcontract the difficult parts. There’s nothing wrong with specialists, but you want to know who’s actually doing the work on your car and where it’ll be.
Ask how they communicate. A good restorer keeps you in the loop, shows you what they’ve found, and talks to you before making decisions that affect cost. If you’re being kept at arm’s length during the quote, that won’t improve once they’ve got your car.
Look for honesty over the hard sell. A restorer worth trusting will tell you when a sympathetic recommission makes more sense than a full restoration, or when a car isn’t worth what you’d spend on it. Straight talk up front is a good sign.
Check they can look after the car afterwards. Restoration is one thing; keeping a classic running is another. A workshop that also offers servicing, MOT and storage can support the car for the long haul.
That last point is part of why people come to us — we’re not only a restoration shop. As a full bodyshop and workshop in Bidford-on-Avon, we handle restoration, bodywork, servicing, MOT and storage under one roof, so your car is looked after long after the restoration is finished.
If you’re weighing up who to trust with a project, come and see us. We’re happy to show you our work and talk it through, no pressure.