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Our Restoration Departments
Australia's only, fully in-house specialist restoration workshop
Mechanical Dept, Engine Dept, Transmission Dept, Body/Panel Beating Dept, Paint Dept,
Trimming Dept, Electrical Dept, Instrument Dept, Assembly Dept, Injection Pump Dept, Parts Dept, Media Dept,
Body Work/Panel Beating Department
Our experienced craftsmen have rebuilt hundreds of tired, abused and poorly repaired classic cars. Most cars need to be completely dismantled to repair or replace damaged, rusted or missing body panels. First all of the decades old paint is removed from any metal, followed by carefully sand blasting the body shell and parts. Aluminium requires special attention. Now repairs can begin, with some parts needing replacement, preferably with new old stock panels if available. This work requires patience and concentration, it is very time consuming , especially when the car had been damaged and badly repaired in past years. The all important gaps on panels and doors are created at this early stage. With perfect metal preparation only a minimum of filler should be necessary. At this stage the usual abundance of chrome parts on cars prior to 1970 needs to be trial fitted to the body – too late when the car is painted.
Paint Department
Customers ask “how long does it take to paint a car?” About two days, but it will take many months before we are able to apply the final coat of Dulon. Or what ever is the proper original product to result in a concours winning finish. After the metal work is completed, we etch prime, spray fill, sand and rub, under coat, rub, more primer, more sanding. Test fitting all parts, especially chrome. It’s all in the preparation. Only then can we mask and prepare for painting. We will only paint an old car from bare metal, as old and new products are not compatible. A quick spray over may well be a waste of time and money. The outside paint job is what people see first, so it is the most important. But we don’t tell the painter.
The engine is seen as the heart of a car, especially on a valuable classic. Any proper restoration must include a complete rebuild of the engine, no matter what life may be left after so many decades. The engine has to be removed in almost all cases and that is the time for a professional renewal. Replacement parts are usually available, locally or overseas. This is a major industry word wide and we have all of the contacts we ever need. Our engines are blue printed and rebuilt to factory original, some with performance improvements, if requested by the owner. It is all done in pressurized and temperature controlled rooms.
Engine Department
Here is where all of the various mechanical parts of a classic car are being repaired or replaced. Such as suspension, brakes, driveline, cooling system, fuel supply, differential, steering, gearbox/automatic and more. Everything needs to be returned to original and as new if the finished car is to live up to the owner’s expectations. Most of our projects are more than sixty/seventy years old and on delivery they will be compared to the modern every day transport. A mechanically rebuilt car will deliver what a shiny paint job promises.
Mechanical Department
Electrical Department
After many decades most if not all of the electrical equipment in an old car needs to be repaired, if not replaced. This includes wiring, complete harnesses, generators/alternators, starter motors, relays, distributors, instruments, lights and much more. Every part is dismantled, repaired and tested prior to re-assembly. We now do all of that in-house.
Trim Department
We rely on the skills and experience of our specialist staff members, some have been with us since the 1980s. Classis car trimming is a rare craft these days and our projects demand perfection. Apart from paint, the leather interior is the most visible part of a newly restored collector car. And there is so much more to an interior than just the seats. We source (mainly leather) trim kits and materials from the most professional suppliers in Europe and the US. During the past three decades we have been awarded at many shows, even including the famous Pebble Beach Concours in California.
Assembly Department
The body is painted, the engine is rebuilt, the trim is ready to be installed. Even the chrome has finally been delivered. So now the car, still on a trolley, is moved to the special assembly rooms. This is a most rewarding time for the customer and for us. Everything is new and it is exciting to put it all together. Not as simple as it sounds. Suspension, wheels, engine and gearbox, steering, brakes and the endless electrical stuff. The interior can now be fitted, seats, carpets, door trims and perhaps a soft top. This is where great care needs to be taken with every step of assembly. Delicate hands, soft clothing and infinite patience, helped only by experience gained over many years, even decades. Then we test and test some more, before finally reluctantly asking the customer to collect his new old car.
Injection Pump Department
A recent addition to Sleeping Beauties Restoration is our own in house INJECTION PUMP DEPARTMENT. To continue to keep these cars alive and to deliver concourse cars for our customers all over the world, we are now offering the ability to restore Bosch Petrol injection pumps for our own restoration projects. This service is also available to other mechanical workshops to keep as many classics on the road as possible. In this department we specialise in Restoration of Bosch Petrol Mechanical Injection pumps from vehicle models such as Mercedes-Benz 1954-1957 300SL Gullwing, 1957-1963 300SL Roadster, 1956-1972 220SE, 300SE 1955-1962 300d, 300sc, 1963-1972 230SL, 250SL, 280SL 1968-1972 300SEL 6.3
JAMES MILLAR
Email: james@sleepingbeauties.com.au
Ph: +61 450 426 206
OPENING HOURS:
Monday - Friday
7:00AM - 5:00pm AEST
