Mercedes Restoration

A bare shell restoration is of course a time-consuming and expensive undertaking when done properly, and there are many, many examples of older Mercedes cars that have been subjected to poor quality restorations in the past. We consider ourselves to be exceptional in the standards that we offer.

We do not patch a plate over a hole in the floor, we cut out all rust and either manufacture a repair panel in house or install a complete replacement panel as necessary. We use modern protective materials to ensure such repairs will last considerably longer than the original. We use a chrome plating company that employs triple-plating technique which gives outstanding, show quality results. We can re-trim with the correct period materials and have any wood components restored to better than new.

We offer pre-purchase inspections of cars for potential restoration at £400 + VAT, this includes both mechanical & bodywork. We strongly recommend such inspections as they frequently reveal the need for further investigation before proceeding. We ask that inspections are preferably carried out at our facility in Richmond, Surrey to enable us full access underneath the vehicle. All inspections are personally overseen by Colin Ferns, hence the recommendation in investing in transporting the vehicle to us. IN extreme situations, Colin will come out to the car, but the cost will be considerably more. The cost of a post purchase inspection is the same, but will generally result in more costly issues being identified.

We do offer some upgrades or modifications. For example we can modify your manual 4 speed pagoda to a 5 speed manual using a gearbox from a BMW. This gives an overdrive 5th gear and dramatically improves the driving experience at modern motorway speeds and distances by lowering the engine rpm. It reduces noise, improves fuel consumption and reduces engine wear. We also commonly fit electronic ignition systems to replace the old contact breaker system.

If you’re considering restoration, Colin will usually have a lengthy conversation with you to understand your expectations & objectives, and explain the process and likely costs involved. If you are looking to restore a car to make money, expect to be disappointed. It is VERY rare that the value of the finished car will exceed the cost of restoration. This is because we only restore to the very highest standards and the required investment generally reflects that. To illustrate this, just a body restoration on a Mercedes Pagoda can be anything from £20k – £80k depending on how bad it is, without any interior, chrome or mechanical work. It takes 800 hours to assemble a Pagoda from scratch, so 800 hours at £95 per hour is £76k

Over the years we have built relationships with specialist suppliers from all over the world and are often able to source parts that are no longer available through the regular supply chain. We also have our own inventory of rare Mercedes parts for older cars.