Our Services
From full restorations to regular maintenance, our expert team provides comprehensive services to preserve and enhance your classic automobile.
Comprehensive Classic Car Services
At Classic And Retro Autos Limited, we specialise in restoring and maintaining classic cars to their original specification in the Northeast. Our skilled team combines traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques, offering door-to-door service. Expect regular updates with photos and detailed invoices.
Mechanical work starts at £65/hour, welding & fabrication at £80/hour, and TIG aluminium welding & fabrication at £110/hour (plus VAT).
Restoration & Servicing
Complete and partial restorations & servicing using authentic methods.
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Parts & Accessories
Sourcing and fabricating components exclusively for vehicles in our care undergoing restoration or servicing.
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Sympathetic Modifications
Sympathetic upgrades to improve performance, comfort, and usability.
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Specialist Welding
Complex welding and fabrication work that most garages simply won't take on.
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Restoration Services
Restoration & Servicing
We revive classic vehicles with authenticity and historical accuracy, from frame-off restorations to targeted component work, then look after them with expert care and regular servicing. Mechanical work starts at £65/hour, welding and fabrication at £80/hour, and TIG aluminium welding and fabrication at £110/hour, plus VAT.
Complete Restorations
Frame-off rebuilds with meticulous attention to detail
Bodywork & Paintwork
Expert panel beating, metalwork, and factory-correct finishes
Mechanical Restoration
Engine rebuilds, transmission overhauls, and brake system restorations
Electrical System Restoration
Rewiring, component restoration, and safety improvements
Parts & Accessories
Parts Sourcing & Fabrication
For cars in our workshop for restoration or servicing, we use our supplier network and in-house fabrication to track down rare items, commission high-quality reproductions and make bespoke parts when nothing else will do. Every part meets our standards before it goes on your car. We do not sell any parts on their own.
Original Parts
Genuine new old stock (NOS) components when available
High-Quality Reproductions
Manufactured to original specifications for authenticity
Custom Fabrication
Bespoke parts created in our workshop for rare or unavailable components
Worldwide Sourcing
Extensive supplier network to find what your build needs
Tasteful Upgrades
Sympathetic Modifications
We value authenticity, but many owners want a classic that is more reliable, comfortable and usable. Our modifications improve the car while respecting its character and heritage, and every one can be reversed if desired. We work closely with each owner to plan an approach that suits their specific needs and preferences.
Performance Enhancements
Engine upgrades, improved braking systems, and suspension modifications
Comfort Upgrades
Subtle enhancements to seating, air conditioning, and sound insulation
Reliability Improvements
Electronic ignition, fuel system updates, and charging system enhancements
Audio System Integration
Discreet installation of modern audio equipment
Specialist Welding
The Work Others Won't Touch
Rotten chassis rails, corroded structural sections, panels that need rebuilding from scratch: we take on the jobs most garages turn away, and do them properly. Decades of corrosion and previous botched repairs need real skill and proper equipment. Welding and fabrication is £80/hour, TIG aluminium £110/hour, plus VAT.
MIG, TIG & Gas Welding
The right process for the right job, including TIG aluminium work
Structural Repairs
Chassis rails, sills, crossmembers, and structural outriggers
Panel Fabrication
Hand-formed repair sections and complete panel replacements
Previous Repair Correction
Cutting out poor-quality past work and doing it properly
Before You Buy
Inspection & Consulting
An hour with the car on the hoist and a straight answer about what it needs. We go through the structure, the corrosion and the mechanical condition, and tell you what it would take to put right, whether you are thinking of buying the car or you already own it. It typically takes an hour, £65 plus VAT, by appointment.
On the hoist
Structure, sills, floors and chassis looked at from underneath, not guessed at
Mechanical condition
Engine, transmission, brakes and suspension, and what they need now or soon
A straight opinion
What the car is, what it needs, and what that is likely to cost
Before you commit
Book it before a sale goes through, or on a car already in your garage
Common Questions
The things people ask us most often, before they ring.
- How does a job start?
- Ring or email and tell us about the car and what you are after. For more than a small job we look at the car first and give you an estimate before any work begins. If we find anything else, we ask before doing it.
- What do you charge?
- Mechanical work starts at £65 an hour, welding and fabrication at £80 an hour, and TIG aluminium welding and fabrication at £110 an hour, all plus VAT. We charge parts and materials on top, listed separately.
- When do I pay for a restoration?
- A restoration is billed in stages as the work goes on, so the cost is spread across the project rather than paid up front. The final payment is due before the car leaves us, and the terms are set out in your agreement.
- Is the work guaranteed?
- It depends on the job, and we tell you what is covered before we start, not afterwards. Anything we guarantee is set out in writing with the work, and some guarantees need the car to be maintained to stay valid.
- Can I come and view a car for sale?
- Yes, by appointment. Ring first so that the car is ready and someone who knows it is here when you arrive. We are at Unit 4 & 5, Langley Park Industrial Estate North, Witton Gilbert, County Durham, DH7 6TX.
- Will you sell my classic for me?
- Yes, we do. We take classic cars on to sell on the owner’s behalf. Ring us on 0191 3730086, or get in touch through the Contact page, and we will talk through your car and how selling it with us would work.
- What is in the £65 inspection?
- About an hour with the car on the hoist and a straight opinion on what it needs: structure, corrosion, mechanical condition and anything likely to cost money soon. £65 plus VAT, whether you are buying or own it.
- When are you open?
- Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday, 9am to 2pm. We are closed at weekends, and visits are by appointment, so please ring 0191 3730086 before you travel to see us in Witton Gilbert, County Durham.
Ready to Discuss Your Classic Car Project?
Whether you're looking to purchase, restore, or service a classic vehicle, our expert team is here to help you every step of the way.
Weekdays 09:00 to 17:00, Fridays to 14:00. Visits to the workshop are by appointment.Or email classicandretro