Frequently asked questions
Prices and quotes.
No two cars are alike. Every price is quoted, after examination. Here is what makes it vary.
What makes the price.
How much does it cost to restore a Porsche 911?
The price is quoted after the car has been examined. It depends first on the condition of the body: an early 911 can hide corrosion in the sills, the floors or the windscreen surround, and metalwork weighs heavily in the total. Then come the condition of the engine and gearbox, the level of originality sought, the availability of parts, and the colour and interior chosen.
Two 911s of the same year can therefore need entirely different work. One project, step by step: restoring a Porsche 964.
What does a Mercedes Pagoda restoration cost?
It is quoted, as for any restoration. On a 230 SL, 250 SL or 280 SL, the items that move the price are well known: corrosion in the sills, floors and jacking points, the condition of the hardtop and soft top, the chrome, the interior and the mechanics. The availability of parts, new or remanufactured, matters too.
Further reading: restoring a Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda.
How much is a Ferrari service?
The price depends on the model and on the operation set out in the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. An annual service is not a major service: on some models, the latter includes replacing the cambelts and requires the engine to come out. The quote lists every operation and every part before the work.
Why does the cost of a restoration vary so much?
Because much of the work only shows itself once the car is stripped. A body that is sound under the paint, or one that has already been repaired several times, changes the scale of the metalwork. The target matters too: a restoration faithful to the original, down to the detail, does not take the same hours as putting a car back into usable order. And a part that cannot be found sometimes has to be made.
Craft by craft.
How much does it cost to retrim a leather interior?
It is quoted according to the extent of the work and the materials. A pair of seats, a complete interior with headlining, carpets and door cards, or a trimmed dashboard do not take the same hours. The leather itself varies, as do period cloths, stitching and piping. All upholstery is done in the workshop.
On choosing materials: recovering an original leather interior.
How much does a full respray of a classic car cost?
It is quoted after the bodywork has been examined. The cost lies mainly in the preparation rather than the paint itself: stripping, treating corrosion, repairing the metal, primers and sanding. The colour counts too, since a rare original colour or a metallic needs careful matching. The examination also tells whether the car must be fully dismantled.
How much does a bespoke build cost?
It is quoted once the project has been defined with you. The price depends on the donor car, the mechanical choices, the body, the interior and the level of finish. Every build is unique: the quote is built item by item from your brief. See bespoke builds.
Are original parts more expensive?
It depends on the part and its availability. A part may exist new from the manufacturer, in equivalent quality, used or reconditioned; a part no longer made sometimes has to be remade. The quote always states where each part comes from, so that you choose with full knowledge.
The quote.
How does a quote work, from the first photo to the invoice?
In three stages. You send photos and videos through the quote request, we ask our questions and a first opinion reaches you. The car is then examined at the workshop, and the detailed, item-by-item quote is confirmed.
Work begins with your approval. At the end, a detailed invoice lists every operation and every part.
Can the quote change once the car is stripped?
Yes, if stripping reveals what the examination could not see: hidden corrosion, an old repair, a part more worn than expected. You are then shown the findings, with photos, and the corresponding quote. No additional work is carried out without your approval.
What does the invoice show?
Every operation and every part, in detail. Kept with the car, the invoice documents its servicing and the work done, which matters when selling as much as for insurance.
Payment.
Is a deposit required?
When a deposit is planned, it is agreed with you and shown on the quote. You can pay it online, using the quote number.
Can I pay an invoice online?
Yes, on the pay online page, with the quote or invoice number and the amount shown on it. Payment is secured by Stripe; no bank details pass through this site. The page is only for paying an invoice or a deposit agreed with the workshop; for any other payment, please contact the workshop.
Prices and quotes.
No two cars are alike. Every price is quoted, after examination. Here is what makes it vary.