Restoration, coachwork and mechanical work on British and European classics for owners who aren’t in New Zealand.
Following your build from overseas
Every car we work on has its own record in our workshop app. Our team adds photos, notes and video as the work happens, so you can see what we found when the car came apart, what we did about it, and where it’s up to today.
It’s also the easiest way to talk to us, especially across time zones. You can ask questions and we’ll answer them against the photos. When you’d rather talk something through, we’re on the phone or a video call as usual. You don’t need to be here to keep up with your car. When the work is finished, the record stays with it. The way a project runs, from first conversation to handover, is set out on our How We Work page.
Expat owners with cars in New Zealand
We often work with classic owners who live offshore for most of the year. Cars left behind after a move, cars inherited, or collections owned and stored in New Zealand while the owner works overseas.
We can collect from wherever the cars are kept and keep them all running while you’re away, from servicing and warrants through to maintenance and restoration work. You don’t have to fly back to get a project underway.
Sourcing, restoring and exporting
New Zealand is a good place to buy a British or European classic. Rock salt hasn’t been used on our roads since the early 1980s, so the underside of a New Zealand car has usually had an easier life than a British or northern European one.
If you have found a car here, we can assess it before you finalise the purchase. We do this regularly for overseas buyers, and you get a detailed report on the car’s condition to help inform your decision. Most of our clients arrive with a car they already own, but if you need help to find one, we can do that too.
Once the car is yours, there are two options. Some owners have it restored here and keep it in New Zealand for when they’re back. Others have it restored and shipped out to them.
If the car is leaving, New Zealand cars are right-hand drive, which suits the UK, Australia, Japan and South Africa. For the United States, any vehicle 25 years or older is exempt from federal safety and emissions requirements, right-hand drive included, so most classics qualify.
Sending a car to New Zealand
We have been restoring and caring for British and European classics for over forty years, with panel, paint, coachwork, trim, mechanical and electrical all under one roof. If your car is overseas and you want that work done here, we can help arrange the details.
We’ll ship it to you when it’s finished. Or come and collect it in person, and enjoy a New Zealand road trip before the car heads home to meet you.
Common Questions
Do I need to be in New Zealand for any of it?
No. We can work with overseas owners who never come to the workshop in person. The app means you can follow your car without being here and still be involved in every part of the build.
I have several cars in New Zealand. Can you look after all of them?
Yes. We manage collections for owners who are overseas for most of the year, keeping cars serviced, warranted and used, and taking on restoration work as you want it.
I’ve found a car in New Zealand. Can you inspect it before I buy it?
Yes. We assess the car before you finalise the purchase and give you a detailed report on its condition, so you know what you are buying.
Who arranges the shipping?
That is up to you. We can work with freight forwarders at both ends, or liaise with your preferred carrier to make sure everything goes smoothly.
How does payment work?
We invoice weekly for the work completed that week, so what you pay always matches what has been done. Each invoice lines up with what you can already see in the app.
Is restoration cheaper in New Zealand?
Often, yes. You get an expert team that has spent forty years on British and European classics, and an exchange rate that usually works in your favour against the pound, the euro and the US dollar.
How do I start?
The first step is always a conversation to understand what you want to achieve. Send us what you have: photos, what you know about the car and we’ll take it from there.
If your car is in New Zealand and you aren’t, or you’re looking for one here, talk to us about an assessment.
