Restoration of vehicles

Each restoration carried out by World War II VW consists of the following steps. We start with the painstaking disassembly of your vehicle, cataloguing each component as it is removed. The next important part of the process is to carefully sand blast the main body and chassis back to the bare steel. The same procedure will be given to a number of major mechanical parts. Now we conduct a full condition assessment on the metalwork, our focus is one of dual purpose; our goal is restoration of the metalwork to exacting standards but, most importantly, to retain as much original steel as possible. We are dedicated to what we refer to as preservative restoration. We are very proud that our capability to join new metal with old is to a standard culminating in metal repairs that are hard, if not impossible, to detect.

Mechanical component refurbishment is the next phase and equally meticulous attention is given to every single part, large or small. After cleaning, we check each component for damage and wear. Measured parts falling within the original factory tolerance guidelines will be reused. All parts failing our analysis test are replaced from our stock of approved original parts, new original parts or remanufactured parts.

As a matter of course, our restoration process often relies on the following, vitally important, duties; Firstly, our skilled craftsmen will repair any original parts deemed savable. Secondly, we have the ability locate parts. If your vehicle is incomplete, we may be able to find the parts we need with the help of our unique network of contacts. Lastly, we have the ability to recreate unobtainable parts from scratch. If it has been made previously, why can’t we make it today? An example of this can be found on the Type 128 Prototype Schwimmwagen we recently restored for the Grundmann family. This vehicle was missing its steering wheel and, as this was a prototype vehicle, we had to make an exact replica to complete the restoration.

The same exacting levels of quality and attention will be invested in the next stage of restoration; body preparation and paintwork. We aim to replicate the original type of finish your vehicle, which could have been built eight decades ago. However, as we know you will not require the level of urgency the workers who first painted it had to meet, we are able to supply you with a level of detail and comprehensively even paint application never possible at the time of manufacture.

The upholstery found in the vehicles we restore is basic, even in the KdF-Wagen (Beetles) but this does not equate to this element of restoration being any less important. The correct colours and materials are essential ingredients. We have gone to great lengths to source materials by using samples of original cloth, canvas and vinyl as guides. Fortunately, we have also been able to replicate our seat covers, windscreen covers and roofs by using the actual technical drawings the original upholsterers used as guides. Therefore, you can be assured your vehicle will be absolutely correct.

The last stage of restoration is now here! The final assembly and refit process of your restoration is given the utmost care and attention. Each module; electrical, braking, suspension, drivetrain is checked and tested. Then, on completion, we conduct checks on the vehicle as a whole, to assure it is ready for the final part of our service. This is the most important stage both to us and to you, as it is only then that we hand over to you your fully restored World War II VW.