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Any automobile that has survived 30, 40 or more years needs maintenance at some stage, whether with regard to the technology, body and paintwork or the interior, or if complete restoration is required.
Specialists can be found for all of these tasks, some good, some not so good. Two practical criteria should be fulfilled when selecting the right person:
- Who is well-known in the scene and enjoys an excellent reputation?
- Who can offer a practical demonstration of his skills?
We achieve work of the highest quality in every area, a fact for which we are well known.
Excellent craftsmanship, use of the latest technology and co-operation with selected specialists in this sector are the guarantee of top quality.
Let's trace the restoration of a Porsche 356 Speedster in a few steps.
Purchase of a usable restoration object with a body that was poorly repaired years ago (damage at front left has been roughly covered with filling compound) and never finished.
Dismantling of the vehicle into individual components and preparation for fine blasting.
The blasted and reactively primed body is mounted on the dressing bench, reinforced and the deformed sheet components cut off.
The body is measured (it has been rammed in by several centimetres on the left) -
and reshaped.
All corroded sections are cut out.
Sheet panels are manufactured true to the originals using special machines (such as Eckold, specially-manufactured pressing moulds), wooden mallet and sand bag, and butt welded employing the WIG welding process.
Commercially-available parts (such as reserve wheel well and front mask) are reworked, adapted and welded on true to the original.
Attachments are carefully fitted, gaps between panels are soldered in the same manner as by the manufacturer and the entire body is smoothened.
The upper bodywork is prepared for painting, primed and finely sanded.
All cavities and folds are treated in advance with rust converting primer with a high creep capability, rust primer is applied, seams are sealed, a finishing paint coat is applied and areas susceptible to stone cratering are treated with stoneguard protection.
Finishing paint is applied in several layers, and a smooth surface is achieved through intermediate sanding. On completion, the entire paint finish is finely sanded and polished. An excellent result is achieved.
The original components have been intensively overhauled in the meantime and are now mounted together with the new parts. The vehicle starts to take shape again.
Engine, transmission gears, steering gears, axles, etc. have been completely overhauled as original components and reinstalled.
The interior has been finished true to the original by the saddler. Only minor changes were permitted (leather instead of imitation leather and carpet instead of rubber matting).
The restoration is complete. The appearance is perfect.
However, not only the visual appearance is decisive. Durability is governed by the quality of non-visible working steps, a fact that is all too often overlooked.
This Speedster is ready for at least another 48 years of active life.
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