Our Workshops

We occupy two adjacent workshop units, one of which has been purpose built for us. Our labour rate is a competitive £48/hour and we are devoted to providing the best possible service to all vintage and classic car owners. Our experience spans several decades and we work on a wide range of cars from early 20th century 21st century classics.

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Classics

Repairs and rebuilds of classic sports and saloon cars...

Mercedes

We have a great deal of expertise in classic Mercedes and we usually have at least three being worked on at any one time.

Vintage and PV

Sports, racing and saloons from the twenties through to late pre war...

Triumphs

We have lost count of how many Triumph TRs we have rebuilt over the last 20 years. We have also rebuilt many Spitfires and GT models...

Workshops

In 2015 we moved to modern purpose built workshops. At any time our experienced staff can be working on up to 20 cars doing jobs from complete rebuilds to repairs and routine seasonal servicing...

Engines

Over the years we have rebuilt hundreds of engines. We have extensive expertise in engines dating from the turn of the century although we draw the line at modern supercars as we do not have the necessary diagnostic equipment for them. If in doubt please ask.

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Classic and Collectors Car Restoration Specialists

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Featured Article - 1972 E-Type Jaguar 4.2 Litre

1972 E-Type Jaguar 4.2 Litre

We are often asked: "How long does a restored car stay looking good?" The answer is: "If it is looked after well, kept in a garage and not driven in the worst of weathers, it will look good and perform well indefinitely.

This Jaguar E Type Series 3 Fixed Head Coupé V12 is a case in point. We restored this car completely to the highest standards between 1987 and 1991. Many years after it was finished, the owner wished to sell it and we found a good home for it. The current owner uses it regularly (including in the rain) and the last three photos in this sequence were taken in September 2006, fifteen years after the restoration was finished. As you can see, it is still looking superb.

We fitted the S.U. carburettors for the new owner to replace the original Strombergs, which are not our favourite carbs, to improve its overall performance. We also uprated the ignition and suspension systems. As a result it drives as well as it looks . . . read more

Please click on any of the pictures below to read about our workshop restorations.

1965 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Litre

Jaguar's E-Type needs no introduction - a true classic sports car. We particularly like the early 4.2 litre cars which are not as fragile as the first 3.8's and much more sporting than the later V12's.

1966 Mercedes 300SE Cabriolet - Type 112

The mid 1960s Type 112 Mercedes is a large car, there's no getting away from it. Into this bodyshell Mercedes fitted their 3 litre fuel injected 6 cylinder engine, an automatic gearbox and the self levelling air suspension from the Type 600 limousine.

1968 Mercedes 280SL Type 113

In 1963, Mercedes replaced the ageing 190SL sportscar (the Gullwing’s little brother) with an all new design into which they installed the 6 cylinder overhead camshaft engine from the saloon car ranges. Fuel injection, disc brakes and power steering made it a luxurious and popular sports car.

1951 MG YA Saloon

MG’s first post-war saloon featured a modified Morris bodyshell on a new stiff box section chassis. It featured independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering (the design of which carried on basically unchanged until the last MGB in 1980) and thus had very good handling and road holding. A very elegant and stylish sporting saloon in the best Britsh tradition.

1972 MGB GT Costello V8

The MGB was Abingdon's most successful sports car ever in terms of numbers sold. The only area where it could have been improved was the 1800 cc engine -and 92bhp was not really enough to rival the Triumph TRs.The MGC tried to solve the problem by putting a 3 litre straight 6 in the front but it was really a bit too heavy and compromised the design.

1936 Rover P2 12hp Saloon

In the 1930s, Rover made solid, well engineered saloons much favoured by the middle and professional classes. This 12hp example has the usual 1500cc 4 cylinder engine mounted in a traditional chassis and carrying a factory 4 door saloon body made from the traditional ash frame construction method.

 

Total Service

Specialists in classic car restoration and servicing of Vintage and Classic cars. Enthusiastic Craftsmanship at very competitive rates.

  • Chassis up or part classic and vintage car restoration
  • Servicing and tuning for most historic collectors vehicles
  • Panel beating and spraying
  • Engine and gearbox rebuilds
  • Rewiring and re-trimming in traditional and modern materials
  • Vintage and post vintage cars purchased and sold
. . . in fact all aspects of car care

1968 Triumph TR5

Triumph continued its development of the popular TR sportscar range over many years from the first sidescreen TR2 of 1953 onwards. The TR4 introduced a wind up window bodyshell to the exiting chassis and 4 cylinder engine then the TR4a which for the first time incorporated independent rear suspension.

1970 Triumph TR6

Triumph’s TR6 was the culmination of a series of logical developments of the TR sportscar range from the first TR2 of 1953 onwards. It married a smooth and powerful 6 cylinder 2½ litre engine to a purposeful 2 seater body design. It has always been popular as it is fast enough to be fun whilst being easier on the pocket than more exotic cars such as the E Type Jaguar.

1974 Triumph GT6 Mk 3

Triumph's GT6 resulted from shoehorning the 6 cylinder 2 litre engine from the Triumph 2000 saloon into the Spitfire chassis. A large power bulge was necessary in the bonnet and the car was only offered with a fastback coupe body style, to avoid taking sales away from the open topped TR range.

1974 Hillman Avenger

The Rootes Group introduced the Hillman Avenger in 1970 as their contender in the fiercely competitive small family car sector. It rivalled the Morris Marina, Vauxhall Viva and Ford Escort and generally was reckoned to be more luxurious, exclusive and ‘up market’ than the others.

1954 Alvis TC21 DHC

The Alvis TC21 was a sports tourer in the best thirties tradition. Superb coachwork - a combination of aluminium and steel on an ash frame was mounted on a very substantial chassis. This car arrived with us needing a complete rebuild which necessitated stripping the car right down, refurbishing the chassis to a high standard and then building back up to its former glory.

1953 MG TD Mk2

If you carried out a survey amongst enthusiasts to establish which straightforward classic British sports car they would most like to own, the MG TD would come out high on the list if not at the top. As the T series evolved it became more comfortable and performance improved. Small changes meant that the car got prettier because it maintained that classic British look which everyone enjoys so much.

1960 Triumph TR3A

The Triumph TR3A was the last to have sidescreens instead of wind up windows.

It was also the first of the TRs to have disc brakes.

Aston Martin DB6 Volante

This beautiful car features aluminium bodywork on a steel chassis/body and a power hood. This presents extra challenges for a good paint finish.

Total Service

Specialists in classic car restoration and servicing of Vintage and Classic cars. Enthusiastic Craftsmanship at very competitive rates.

  • Chassis up or part classic and vintage car restoration
  • Servicing and tuning for most historic collectors vehicles
  • Panel beating and spraying
  • Engine and gearbox rebuilds
  • Rewiring and re-trimming in traditional and modern materials
  • Vintage and post vintage cars purchased and sold
. . . in fact all aspects of car care

M.G. TB

The M.G. TB is an iconic sports car of the forties.

 

 

 

MGB GT

The MGB GT is an iconic car of the sixties.

 

 

 


1971 TR6 Chassis

The TR6 has a separate chassis. This photograph shows two which have just been shotblasted.

1959 Frogeye Sprite

These small yet delightful sports cars featured a unitary body/chassis and a 948cc engine. Not a lot of power but very distinctive and great fun to drive.

1932 Harker Special

A unique supercharged 1,100cc engine built in the thirties by a Mr.Harker, a Rolls-Royce engineer. It features two MG Midget blocks and heads mated to a twin crankshaft crankcase based on the Austin 7 design. The two cranks were geared together via a central output shaft.

1968 MGB Roadster

The painted shell after all of the work on the body has been finished.

1976 MGB GT

This car was restored to the customer's exact standards. The paintwork is Rolls-Royce Ebony metallic and the interior is red leather.

1958 Jensen 541

This car featured a tubular steel chassis and a 4 litre Straight Six engine from Austin. On its chassis is mounted one of the earliest glassfibre bodies.

1954 Riley RME

A lengthy and full restoration from the bare chassis up. This 'one family owned from new' car has the twin high cam Riley 1½ litre engine and dark green and black coachwork.

1936 Talbot 105 dhc

This beautiful car was restored over a three year period. This is the very last of the 'pukka' Roesch Talbots, complete with a 3 litre Straight Six engine and a preselector gearbox.

Lotus Esprit

The photograph was take while the Esprit was in our workshops for some service and maintenance work.

Alfa Romeo 1500 Sprint

Taken while the car was undergoing restoration with us. It is now finished and in superb condition.

Aston Martin DB6 Volante

This beautiful car features aluminium bodywork on a steel chassis/body and a power hood.

Alvis Special Speed 20

This famous ex-Brooklands racing car was owned and maintained by us for many years. It has been in the hands of a new owner for a few years now and can be seen out and about competing regularly at various events.

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