This means we will now handle the body and paint side of restoration, a process we’d previously had done offsite. This move will give us total control over the pace and quality of restorations, as well as allow us to handle more vehicles at a time.

We’re working on four big restorations right now, two are XKEs (E-Types for you ex-pats), both convertibles from 1963 – one came to us off the Web and the other from an owner who’s been a customer of ours for many years. He came to us after a collision, an accident that required repairs to the front of the car. After the initial repairs had begun it became apparent that the whole body and paintwork would have to be restored.

One of the cars has been two and one-half years of patient and steady work. But now we’ve arrived at that gratifying point where all that remains to be done is finishing the interior and electrical system.