Restorations by the company have celebrated success at the prestigious Concours d’ Elegance at Pebble Beach in California, Amelia Island, Florida, as well as on home soil at the Ellerslie Classic Car Show, where they have scooped top awards and first in class titles, a testament to the company’s skills.
Started 50 years ago by a small group of enthusiasts wanting a high level of workmanship on their own vehicles, it soon became clear that others wanted the same. From their passion, a business was formed and continued to grow to meet the needs of customers from NZ and abroad.
CHANGING FACE OF CLASSIC OWNERSHIP
In 1973 when Auto Restorations was established, a 1920/30s vehicle was considered a classic at 40–50 years old. Many marques were appreciating in value, and this made it worth the investment to have them restored. This is where the company got its start with top-end vehicles from manufacturers from around the globe making the mainstay of work for restoration, such as the classic Bentleys, Bugattis, Ferraris, and Cadillacs, to name a few.
Today, a 40–50-year-old classic is experiencing the same appreciation and investment, with cars from the 1970/80s, coming
