Auto Restorations Limited
52 Stewart Street
Christchurch 8001
New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 366 9988
Fax: +64 3 366 5079
Company History
Auto Restorations Ltd was started on the 7th June 1972 to service the repair needs for vehicles owned by three friends, who are car enthusiasts here in
Christchurch, New Zealand. From such humble beginnings the company 34 years later has processed in excess of 8,500 jobs and has built the business up to the stage where over half of the work undertaken comes from overseas.
The move to their current premises at 52 Stewart Street in the centre of the city was made 1998, and theses premises have provided plenty of parking, a more modern building, and a better layout with excellent working conditions. New equipment has been purchased and installed to ensure the best and latest facilities for the restoration of local and overseas vehicles.
One of the strengths of the company is that they have had the enthusiasm, skill and experience not to specialize in only one make of vehicle. Providing that a vehicle is old it matters not whether it is a Veteran, Vintage, Classic, Historic racing car or whether it was made in America, Britain or on the Continent. Auto Restorations have expanded their skill base from one panel beater in 1973 to 27 staff and the skills include panel beating, machining, mechanical work, coach building and auto refinishing.
Cars have been restored for clients living in Australia, Japan, America, England and the Continent and they have been prepared to race their cars in Historic events and show them at Concours d’Elegance functions around the world. Racing successes with the Monterey Cup, the Old Timers award, class wins at Pebble Beach and a best of show at the Louis Vuitton Concours have proved that Auto Restorations can compete successfully with the best in the world.
Some of the finest cars in the world have been restored here in Christchurch. Racing sports cars of the fifties such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Osca & Maserati; Vintage cars such as Bugatti, Stutz, Cadillac, Vauxhall, Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Sunbeam; Post Vintage cars including Delahaye, Talbot Lago, Rolls Royce, Pierce Arrow, Jaguar and many more have passed through Auto Restorations.
Whilst some of the overseas cars have more history, there are still a number of local vehicles that are serviced, maintained and repaired by Auto Restorations as and when required. These cars are used in rallies and Vintage Motorsport events throughout New Zealand.
A number of the jobs are just done on parts of cars, rather than complete vehicles. A stock of Southland beach is held for the making of the wooden framework that most of the older cars have beneath their steel or aluminium panels. Sheets of steel and aluminium in various thicknesses and grades are held in stock and from these, car bodies, mudguards and bonnets are formed using the same techniques in the past.
When mechanical parts are unable to be repaired, new parts need to be made. This may involve the making of wooden patterns, the casting in a foundry and then the machining of that casting. Castings can be in steel, bronze or aluminium depending on how they are to be used and the strength of the required part. Some parts are machined out of forgings, or solid billets of steel, such as complete stub axle assemblies.
In 2005 a new building was erected to house the paint shop and bake oven and a dedicated area for parts and vehicle storage.
While some aspects of the restorations are handled by outside companies, most work is done in-house, where quality can be controlled.
