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Coachwork & Body

Ash framing, hand-formed sheet metal, windscreens, hoodframes and dashboards — every style of body, from the Vanden Plas Team Cars to formal town carriages.

Coachwork

Any style of body, in English ash

VBE can restore or re-engineer any style of body — from the Vanden Plas Team Cars to formal town carriages. We work in English ash to replicate the original material a body would have been constructed from.

We specialise in fabricating bonnets, wings, running boards and tool boxes. All the wing stays, brackets and spare wheel mounts are made in-house using traditional blacksmithing, sheet metal working and modern techniques.

One of our unique services is the use of state-of-the-art computer graphics, giving us the ability to copy an original design exactly — or create a bespoke body to your own specification and style.

Coachwork and body construction at VBE Restorations
Windscreens

Every permutation of screen

Windscreens are another in-house specialism at VBE — not only the renovation of original screens, but also the design and construction of reproduction screens to suit each customer's requirements.

We can provide every permutation of vintage and classic windscreen, including Auster screens, Aero screens, side screens and Dual Cowl screens. Any questions about your vintage or classic windscreen — give us a call.

Vintage windscreen restoration Reproduction Auster screen Aero screen built by VBE
Hoodframes

Elegance of line, engineered

VBE have developed a great expertise in the design and construction of this important area of vehicle restoration. It demands a high degree of design experience as well as craftsmanship to achieve the correct result.

Elegance of line and appearance, combined with engineering practicality and fabrication skill, are all essential ingredients — few restorers are able to excel in these disciplines. Painstaking research ensures the end result is period-correct.

Hoodframe under construction Hoodframe detail Fitted hoodframe Hoodframe joint detail Completed hoodframe on a vintage Bentley Hoodframe fabrication
Dashboards

Instruments, switches & finish

VBE Restorations make and restore dashboards suitable for a wide range of vintage and classic vehicles, in a variety of materials — instruments, switches, lamps, labelling, engraving and the surface finish of the panel itself.

Original equipment can be overhauled and reconditioned, or new replicas supplied. Additional instruments can be fitted and rally equipment mounted in a carefully considered fashion — including all the Bentley Team Car items such as toggle switches and lap counters.

Coachwork Enquiries

Discuss your bodywork

From a single wing to a complete coachbuilt body — tell us what you have in mind.

Contact the Workshop