We love a challenge or two at White’s Bodyworks and this 1900 De Dion Voiturette certainly exercised our expertise and knowledge of all things vehicular and mechanical.
The good news is our team is always open to the challenge and this is one we really couldn’t resist.
The 1900 De Dion Voiturette is a classic in more ways than one. If you want to see what the first cars on the road looked like, then this is the type of vehicle you would have seen at the turn of the 20th century in towns and cities around Britain and Europe.
De Dion-Bouton was one of the first vehicle manufacturers, a French firm that was created in 1881 and continued to make cars right up until the end of the 1950s. With a single-cylinder engine and just two gears, the Voiturette wasn’t the fastest car on the market at the time and there were never that many of them built, but it certainly had a lot of style.
At White’s, we’re able to bring modern methods to help restore all classic cars, including really old ones. Our fully equipped garage is matched by a team who really understand what it means to bring a vintage vehicle back to life.
The 1900 De Dion Voiturette is probably the oldest vehicle that we’ve had in our workshop but, over the years, we certainly dealt with a whole host of classics.
Over the last few decades, we’ve developed a pretty good reputation for carrying out repairs and refurbishments for classic cars. When a vintage car owner comes to us, they’re really looking for someone who cares as much as they do.
Finding a skilled team who know what they are doing is important, of course. Repairing a vintage car can often mean sourcing rare parts or even fashioning new ones from scratch. Not only does the car need to be roadworthy, it needs to be repaired in the spirit of the time it came from.
If you are a classic car owner and require either repairs, servicing or other work carried out on your vehicle contact the team at White’s Bodyworks on 01273 933633.
Mercedes is synonymous with precision engineering but that doesn’t mean wear and tear doesn’t take the its toll. This 300SE Fintail is a remarkable car but it had seen some better days when it came to our garage in West Sussex recently.
This is the kind of vintage vehicle restoration that our garage team at White’s Bodyworks actually revel in. We’ve had hundreds of classic cars come through our forecourt over the last few decades and our knowledge and experience is one reason why people come to us again and again.
Our classic car restoration, repair and respray service means that your vintage vehicle will soon be leaving us and will be looking as good as new. This 1964 Mercedes 300SE Fintail was no exception and one which we were proud to have worked on.
More About the 1964 Mercedes 300SE Fintail
Mercedes Benz were probably the luxury car of the 60s. Produced by German precision engineering, the cars looked substantial and were built to last. That’s a testament to the Fintail because it reached us in the last year needing renovation after nearly 50 years on the road.
What We Did at White’s Bodyworks
When it comes to repairing or helping restore a classic car, it’s all about having the right approach and the proper equipment. Modern methods may not be entirely appropriate which is why we always work closely with the vintage car owner to makes sure expectations are being met.
There was a lot of work needed on this car, not least because it is more than 50 years old. That’s a lot of time spent on the road and a fair amount of rust and damage that has gathered over time.
If you have a classic car and want it repaired or restored, contact the team at White’s Bodyworks in West Sussex today on 01273 933633.
The Volkswagen Type 2 Camper Van is one of those vehicles that carry a bit of everything. Travel, lifestyle, nostalgia, and usually a fair bit of history. Most of them have been used properly over the years, which is part of the appeal, but it also means the bodywork rarely escapes without a few stories to tell.
This one is in for bodywork restoration, focusing on bringing the structure and panels back into good order rather than making it overly polished. Like many campers, it’s seen regular use, likely some coastal air, plenty of damp conditions and the sort of wear that builds up gradually rather than all at once.
We often see similar patterns on these vans. Corrosion around the lower panels, sills, wheel arches and seams is common. Water tends to sit in the same places over time, especially if drain holes block or seals start to fail. From the outside, it can look manageable. Once you start opening it up, there’s usually more to deal with.
Older repairs are also part of the picture. Camper vans in particular have often been patched over the years just to keep them going. Some of that work holds up, some of it doesn’t. In practice, it’s not unusual to uncover filler over corrosion or thin repairs that need to be redone properly.
At White’s Bodyworks in Hassocks, West Sussex, restoration work like this starts with getting back to solid metal. Any compromised sections are removed and replaced with properly formed panels. There’s no benefit in covering over corrosion, especially on a vehicle that’s expected to keep being used.
Panel alignment and overall shape matter more than people expect on a camper. The sides are long and fairly flat, which means imperfections show up easily in the light. Getting everything sitting correctly, with clean lines and consistent gaps, takes time.
The aim here isn’t to over-restore the van or remove its character. Camper vans suit an honest finish. They’re meant to be used, not just looked at. The focus is on making the bodywork solid, tidy and durable enough to handle more years of use.
In practice, restoration like this is steady work. There’s a lot of preparation before any paint is considered. Each section needs to be right before moving on to the next. Rushing it just creates more work later.
This camper is still in progress, but the goal is straightforward. Restore the body so it’s structurally sound and visually consistent, while keeping the character that makes these vans what they are.
They were never built to last this long, but with the right work, they often do.
Bodywork and paintwork Restoration in progress
It’s not all about repairs and restorations when we take in classic cars at White’s Bodyworks. Sometimes the vehicle just needs a vintage vehicle respray to get it looking good again. That was the case with this 1967 Mercedes SL280.
Mercedes, of course, is a classy brand of vehicle and one that we see a lot of on our roads. Back in the 60s and 70s, however, it was the luxury car and the one that all successful people drove if they didn’t like the alternative Rolls Royce brand.
This soft-top car was actually a joy to see in our workshop. We usually associate the older Mercedes with more substantial body designs. This two-seat sports vehicle, however, looks more like the MGB than a traditional Mercedes and certainly had a racy feel to it.
More About the 1967 Mercedes SL280
You won’t find too many of these cars still on British roads but their classic sport design is certainly one that gets collectors going. It’s probably one of the more valuable classic cars on the market and if you can get your hands on one for renovation or restoration, despite the work that may need carrying out, the return on investment can be worth it.
Respraying at White’s Bodyworks
The key to carrying out a great respray, whether it’s for a modern car or a classic, is doing the prep work properly. In this case, it means ensuring there are no dings or dents and that the surface is smooth and ready for the paint.
Fortunately, at White’s Bodyworks in West Sussex, we have a fully equipped vehicle respray workshop that can handle any job and an expert team on hand to make sure the results are exceptional. We have to say this vehicle was in great condition and had been well looked after by its owner.
If you are searching for a respray for your vintage vehicle, contact the team at White’s Bodyworks today to find out how can help. Just call us on 01273 933633.
The Morris Oxford is a classic car enthusiasts classic car. A favourite that never seems to lose its shine. You won’t be surprised that there’s a strong Morris fan club in the UK and they’re the sort of cars you often see at local fetes and festivals as well as classic car meets.
We’ve seen a few Morris Oxfords and Morris Minors at our workshop in Hassocks, West Sussex, over the years. It’s not only a vintage vehicle that people like to collect, it’s also a car that is still driven on modern roads quite regularly.
The Morris Oxford is one of the most enduring cars ever produced in the UK. Models came off the production line as long ago as 1913 and it continued to be made right up until 1971. It was one of the most reliable cars on British roads and by far the most popular.
Compared to other vintage cars, the Morris is a little more robust than most and major work rarely needs to be carried out as long as the vehicle has been cared for properly. After 50 or so years, however, this particular car required repairs to the chassis to keep it on the road.
Whether it’s minor work removing dings and dents or something more substantial like car chassis welding, it’s important to make sure your classic car is dealt with by a garage who know what they are doing.
At White’s Bodyworks, we have all the equipment and expertise you could want to help fix your vehicle. We can handle any make of car, whatever condition it is in. We’ve even helped restore classics from fairly dire condition to look as good as new.
If you are searching for a classic car expert and a garage you can trust to restore or repair your vehicle, contact the team at White’s Bodyworks today on 01273 933633.
We rarely get more obscure and frankly wonderful vehicles in our workshop at White’s Bodyworks than this Messerschmidt KR200. It looks fantastic – a little small for many people’s taste, but intriguing all the same.
This three-wheel bubble car is something of a niche collectors item and you don’t see too many in the UK. This one happened to be in pretty good condition for what is a fairly basic car that was built between 1955 and 1964.
More About the Messerschmidt KR200
While we normally associate Messerschmidt with the manufacture of aeroplanes, they did make a foray into the automotive market and produced around 40,000 KR200. At the time, it was a surprisingly big success.
Think of this car as the smart car or mini for the 50s generation. It was small, agile and great for city driving and parking. Despite being a pretty small car, it clocked a top speed of 56 mph and came in coupe, convertible and roadster styles.
Working on Classic Cars at White’s Bodyworks
We were tasked with undertaking restoration work and repairs for the Messerschmidt. That involved working with the owner who had been searching for a garage that knew what it was doing when it came to vintage vehicles.
Our experience with a wide range of classic cars and motorbikes at White’s Bodyworks in West Sussex gives us a head start over many other garages in the Home Counties and the rest of the UK. Our fully equipped facilities and the knowledge of our garage team means that we can handle almost any type of vehicle.
If you are a vintage vehicle owner in the Home Counties or anywhere else in the UK and want a garage for repairs, renovations and restorations you can really count on, contact the team at White’s in West Sussex on 01273 933633.
