Some interesting challenges this week, starting with a couple of Ferrari’s brought out of long-term storage that needed some work to be made roadworthy again. A Mondial That had been left in a garage for 14 years needed full recommissioning as well as a major service and a lot of cosmetic work, while the Testarossa wouldn’t start when it emerged from hibernation. Issues included corroded wiring at the starter motor, injectors that didn’t inject, brake calipers that had seized… the Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel distributor also needed a serious tune up and we used our new handheld emissions tester to help get it there; it’s now running properly on all 12 cylinders. The gearbox for our long-term Porsche 912 restoration project is now stripped for inspection and rebuild, and we’ve also got new belly pans to fit to a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing that once we’ve checked the fit, will be painted the correct green before being re-fitted. #ferrarimondial, #ferraritestarossa, #classicferrari, #italianclassics, #porsche912, #mercedesbenz300sl, #gullwing, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration,

In between working on our customer cars, we’ve been able (slowly) to make some progress on two of our own. The Ferrari 308GTB has finally been painted – here it is, fresh from the paint shop – and on the Porsche 968, we’ve changed noisy cam followers on the variocam, so it’s nice and quiet now, and had the seats re-coloured – they look really good now! #ferrari308gtb, #classicferrari, #italianclassics, #porsche968, #classicporsche, #germanclassics, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration

A short post this week – gradual progress on our long-term project Pagoda, which is now prepped for epoxy primer to seal panels before it goes for 1st primer. There’ll be a lot of pre-fitting before it goes in for final paint. It’s a slow process but will absolutely be worth it in the end! #mercedessl, #mercedespagoda, #mercedesbenzw113, #classicmercedesbenz, #classicmercedes, #germanclassics, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration

To the UK and Italy for our second post – the Aston DB6 engine bay and cabin are now bare-metalled before we carry out body repairs, the Lancia Fulvia convertible now has had it’s underside bare-metalled, epoxy prime seam sealed and raptor coated. Meanwhile our 308GTB has had some panels polished and we’ve got a 550 in for trim repairs – currently with it’s dash out. #astonmartindb6, #lanciaflavia, #ferrari308gtb, #ferrari550maranello, #ferrari, #italianclassics, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration

Lots of activity at Templar Classics this past week, enough for two posts this weekend. For this one, we'll start with a very unusual visitor in the shape of a VW Schwimmwagen amphibious WW2 military vehicle that came in for some recommissioning – pretty sure this is the first one we’ve ever had! Moving on to the pair of elegant Mercedes coupés that we’ve been working on…having realigned the roof and window of the big 300se, we’ve started fitting the luxurious interior. The Pagoda is now back from the metal shop, the next steps will be prep and paint. These are such stylish cars! #mercedes300se, #classicmercedesbenz, #classicmercedes, #mercedesw112, #mercedesw113, #pagodamercedes, #vwschwimmwagen, #germanclassics, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration

Despite the mixed – to put it mildly – weather over the past few days, we’ve been as busy as ever at Templar Towers. One of our long-term projects, the Lancia Flavia convertible, is now ready for final prep before going into the paint booth. Another long-termer, the DB6 has now been stripped of all it’s paint, underseal etc and is about to go into the metal shop. Also among our full restoration projects, we’ve started to fit the restored dash into the big Mercedes 300SE. We’ve also got a Pagoda in for a few jobs and detailing ahead of it being put on sale by the owner. On the Ferrari front, we’ve got a Testarossa in for some attention to it’s brakes and to have new injectors fitted after having been off the road for a while, and we’ve fitted an ”E Diff delete kit” as well as fixed an internal leak on a 430. #lanciaflavia, #classiclancia, #italianclassics, #mercedes300se, #mercedespagoda, #classicmercedes, #germanclassics, #ferraritestarossa, #ferrari340, #classicferrari, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration

The variety of classics we get to work on is one of the joys of what we do. This 1930’s Mercedes 170H came in to us for a major service and to have some brake issues fixed. It’s similarity to the VW Beetle is not a coincidence – Ferdinand Porsche, designer of the Beetle, was involved in the development of Mercedes’ rear-engined cars in the late 1920’s. A motoring history sliding door moment? The DB6 is now on a trolley – the next step will be to clean it properly underneath before it goes for metalwork repairs. The doors and some panels from our 308GTB are now black, the body will be next. Another Ferrari, the Testarossa, is in to have it’s injection system overhauled. Finally, one of our favourite Swedes, a P1800 has come in for a new head gasket – we never get tired of working on these stylish coupés. #mercedesbenz170h, #mercedes170h, #classicmercedesbenz, #1930smercedes, #rearenginedclassics, #germanclassics, #astonmartindb6, #db6, #classicastonmartin, #classicbritishsportscars, #britishclassics, #ferraritestarossa, #ferrari308gtb, #classicferrari, #italianclassics, #volvop1800, #classicvolvo, #classicswedes, #classiccarrestoration, #templarclassics.

Back at the grindstone after a few days away, the Aston DB6 Vantage is well on the way to being prepared for its repaint – the old paint is almost gone, after which it’ll be mechanically stripped before it goes in to the metalwork shop for body restoration and then repaint. Meanwhile another famous British sports coupé, this gorgeous Jaguar XK150 has been in to sort out a carburettor issue and get a tune up. Looks fabulous in red! Finally for this week, our 308GTB is in final primer and panel fit before heading into the paint shop, where it will go back to its original black. #astonmartindb6, #db6, #astondb6, #classicastonmartin, #jaguarxk, #jaguarxk150, #classicjaguar, #classicbritishsportscars, #ferrari308GTB, #classicferrari, #classicitaliansportscars, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration.

We’ve been working on some of the most prestigious marques in motoring lately. We’ve begun stripping down the Aston Martin DB6 as we begin a complete restoration on this iconic British sports coupé, it’s going to be with us for some time. The Ferrari 550 has been having interior panels refitted, while our own 308GTB is now in final primer, having had a new engine cover fitted and we’ve also trial fitted the doors. All being well it should be in paint by the end of this week. Finally for now, we’ve also had an elegant Mercedes Benz 380SL R107 in to get some electrical issues and water leaks sorted out. Fabulous cars, all. #classicgtcars, #classicsportscars, #ferrari, #ferrari550, #ferrari308, #italianclassics, #astonmartindb6, #astondb6, #db6, #britishclassics, #classicbritishgt, #mercedesbenzr107, #classicmercedesbenz, #germanclassics, #templarclassics, #classiccarrestoration