Restorations

Restorations We offer Aston Martin owners, restorers, enthusiasts and collectors a full restoration and rebuild service coupled with a personal approach. Our team of factory-trained skilled craftsmen can restore your Aston Martin to its former glory or even ‘better than new’, made possible by harnessing today’s improved components and manufacturing processes and more modern materials. What’s more, our years of experience mean we know inherent areas of unreliability ‘by model’ and can advise and make recommendations as to how best to resolve any problems.  At all times you will be kept informed about how the restoration is proceeding and we manage the whole project for you. 

Restoration, collection and drop-off of your car and private consultations about the project can be carried out at our Aston Service London site in West London, but in some cases we may advise that the restoration is better undertaken and managed at our sister company, Desmond J. Smail, in Olney, Buckinghamshire. Your car will be secure at all times. We have a well established broader network of very specialist Aston Martin suppliers for particular parts of the job ensuring the best possible restoration.

The Restoration

Planning the Restoration and Assessing and Programming the Job

Restorations can be a lengthy and expensive process and must be managed with skill and expertise. Best results are achieved by good communication between owner and restorer to ensure the required levels of restoration are met without exceeding specific budgets.

Stripping Body and Chassis

This part of the restoration process provides you with an honest, detailed and realistic condition assessment of your vehicle and is geared to achieve a good base from which the overhaul and remanufacture can commence. This can include taking the chassis back to shot-blasted bare metal allowing our technicians to further assess the underlying panels for damage or corrosion, while taking into account the provenance and the originality of the car and any past damage that may place constraints on the complexity of the reconstruction.  

Reconstruction

The reconstruction stage of the restoration provides structural integrity for your car. Panel work is undertaken (by hand) and panels either repaired or replaced. The chassis can be powder-coated to protect against corrosion and time-related deterioration. The engine and transmission are overhauled and mechanical and electrical systems restored.  All work is carried out using the correct tools and parts. The bodywork is pre-fitted and then repainted at this time, prior to assembly.

Assembly

The assembly of all car components and systems, fitted and finished correctly, in the right order. Regarding trim, we can repair, re-trim or offer upgrade options for interior leather and stitching. We can also match almost any colour, grade or finish of interior leather.

Test and Finish

At Aston Service London we ideally, and preferably, like to undertake a reasonable commissioning and test period to allow the necessary bedding-in of systems to ensure correct functioning before handing the car back to the owner. This stage includes alignment checks, final road test, cleaning and polishing.

Handover and History File

Final inspection and handover. We ensure that you have documentation of every detail of the restoration, which adds to your car’s history and gives you the comfort that your Aston Martin restoration is truly authentic.  All our work is guaranteed.

Extras for Style, Safety, Driveability and Comfort

A restoration project offers an ideal opportunity to make various enhancements to your particular model and specific upgrades can also be added during the process (see Parts, Accessories and Upgrades).  Examples include:

For Style and Comfort – An air conditioning system can be added or in-car entertainment systems without ruining the original appearance of the interior; alternative hood materials may be added to Convertible and Volante models; seating can be made more comfortable for a better driving position; sound and heat insulation can be vastly improved; and electronic ignition can be fitted.

For Safety – Headrests, heated front windscreens for DB4, DB5 and DB6 models, up-rated brake systems and inertia and rear safety belts (some compulsory) can be fitted. All components and materials are fully road legal.

For the Driving Experience, Modern Road Conditions and Traffic – Power steering, modified suspension, alternative dampers, modern tyres, unleaded fuel conversions, and up-rated alternators can be included. Engine capacity can be increased for performance and top end power together with other enhancements.

Achieving Value for Money

An Aston Martin will have its own intrinsic value to its owner, but we are available to offer sensible advice about which models are likely to have an appreciating value and this may affect the level of restoration undertaken.