Bringing a car back from the dead takes time. Each one has a unique back story and properly restoring each 356’s underpinnings requires the patience of skilled craftspeople who have learned the specialized art of car restoration. All of our donor cars have suffered severe damage and few people possess the skill, patience or know-how to preserve their DNA and give them a new life. We do.
Each car we touch follows the same well-planned course and is why our cars are as revered as they are. Yes, they photograph well, but the lasting value is in the quality of work and components used to build one.
Every car we restore is already spoken for. Our process begins when you decide that you must have a 356 in your stable. The initial consultation will help you determine what body style of car (open or coupe), what model year and what level of restoration you desire. Then, we’ll cover the topics of exterior trim, wheels, colors & finishes; interior features, seating style, colors & materials. We will prepare some visuals to help you understand what the finished car might look like.
Upon agreement of the spec, your deposit will set the process in motion. We will source the donor car, disassemble and strip it to bare metal and properly store the vehicle in our shop until work begins.
Once work starts, we launch into the labor intensive task of restoring the chassis and body’s sheet metal. Once the metalwork is complete, the exterior continues to finer and finer stages of body work and then a concours-quality paint job. After this, the car really begins to hint at its final form and the fun of final assembly kicks in.
The restoration timeline typically takes 12-18 months from the time we begin the metalwork. Project funding is divided into monthly payments during the build and the final payment is due upon delivery of the car. We will send regular project updates to help you understand where your car is in the process.
Clients often visit our shop to get an intimate understanding of our process and why we do what we do. If you think you would like to discuss a car, use the links below to make contact with owner-customizer Rod Emory.