Hamsterley Mill Garage - Classic Cars

'Restoration'

The majority of our business is in the restoration and repair of Classic Cars and it is the area we are most proud of, not only because of the standard of workmanship but because we offer excellent value for money. We are always receptive to customers' requirements and we are happy to give the best advice we can. We have experience of well over 100 different makes and models, some in more detail than others but all of them appreciated and most of them enjoyable.

When did you last see (or over see) an Ogle 1000 or a Hudson Terraplane? How about a Sunbeam Talbot 90 getting a new headlining? or seen the construction of an Alvis TA14 door? or drooled over a BMW 3.0 CSi?
Well you may just come across these and many other rare sights in our workshop, as well as a host of MG's, Triumph's, etc. In fact anything from Alfa to Wolseley.

What's more we don't discriminate by make, we take as much care and put the same effort into a Morris Minor as we do an Aston Martin, and we don't charge more just because the car has an upmarket badge.
Below is a selection of past and present restorations to show the type of work that has gained us such an enviable reputation here in the North East.

Aston Martin DBS Can you believe it! This is what we found after unsrewing the stainless cover sill. The previous bodger had left off the outer sill completely and glued the lower edges together. The work required to remedy this was no different to doing an MGB. Though the parts were more expensive and the alloy wings require specialised welding.
Jaguar 340 Sold by us last year, we were commissioned to bring it back to it's best without an open cheque book. The priority was to cut out rust. The trim panels were kept and Re-boarded but the head- lining couldn't be saved. All the wood was stripped and re-lacquered and new carpets fitted.
Mercedes 250SL Owned by the Principal of the Mercedes dealership, Original panels were never going to be a problem. All the new panel work shown at the rear end is matched at the front. The opening panels, though aluminium and rot free, required 3 days work on each one to get the perfect surface for painting.
Austin Cambridge When a wing costs as much as the car you have to have the skill to repair them. Often rust is localised and repair is the best option even on more prestige marques. Repairing the structure or panels may not get noticed but it is always a good investment if you intend to keep the car. As in most things, don't try to skimp on quality, wait until you can afford it.
MG's and sprites. Now we've seen it all! This Austin Healey Sprite came to us with a piece of garage door in place of the boot floor. Another one had so many layers of floor we wondered if it should have had a lift fitted. Sometimes you have to be extreme in what you cut out. Easy when you can get all the bits like these.