Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

This was our first full vehicle restoration project. The car arrived from the USA in parts—the body was mounted on the frame, but the rest of the components were in boxes. This unique model, produced in only 564 units, was from 1954. The aluminum body posed a significant challenge for the bodywork specialists. After stripping the body of its paint, all its imperfections became apparent. The 50-year-old structure had undergone much, and our goal was to recreate its original condition as closely as possible. This was achieved thanks to the determination of the bodywork team and the countless hours spent restoring the body.

The vehicle’s frame also required repairs, and after proper preparation, it was painted and fitted with restored components. Purchasing the missing parts proved to be another significant challenge. The car wasn’t complete, despite the previous owner assuring us all parts were included. At that time, online sales were just beginning to develop, so we had to rely on friends in England to help us search for the right parts. The photographic documentation of the entire repair was also an interesting challenge—photos were taken with an analog camera, which added uncertainty, as we never knew if all the pictures would turn out or if we’d capture the right shots.

After completing the bodywork and painting, we began assembling the car. We managed to start the engine before mounting it onto the frame. The suspension, brakes, and other components were already in place. A difficult stage was making wooden strips that were key to the interior finishing. At this stage, we invited a carpenter-artist who precisely created and fitted all the wooden elements before they were upholstered in leather.

The next step was the upholstery. We entrusted this task to a professional, but unfortunately, only the seats turned out satisfactorily. The rest of the elements were poorly made and couldn’t be installed. We decided to take on the upholstery work ourselves, which started our ongoing adventure with upholstery. As a result of this experience, we now have several complex interior projects completed for brands like Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Bentley.

It took us about two months to complete the entire interior, and the final result could rival many professional upholsterers. The client was thrilled with the outcome and commissioned several more upholstery jobs in the following years, including for a Jaguar E-Type and a Bentley Azure. Our restored vehicle won many awards at rallies and today delights a new owner in a private collection, still looking stunning.