Brightwell specialises in the upkeep and restoration of classic cars to the very highest standards, including preparation for, and support on, prestige events and rallies such as the legendary Mille Miglia. Based in Hockley, Essex, we make sure that you don’t just have a nice-looking car, but a well-put together one.
“A restoration is so much more than body, paint and engine,” explains our founder, Phil Parry.
We take great pride in our classic car restorations.
“Parts restoration, careful re-assembly and interior coachtrimming are at least 50 per cent of the job. Classic cars that rattle, that have ill-fitting parts, excessive wind noise, vibrations and other niggles, soon ruin the fun.
“Our team of project managers have decades of experience specialising in particular marques, in particular early Porsches, Mini Coopers, Jaguars and Ferraris.
“The word “partnership” is over-used, but we really strive to include our customers as part of the team on their own project.
Classic car ownership and the restoration journey are supposed to be fun!”
Brightwell was set up following Phil’s own experiences having cars restored over the years and our investors are all classic car owners themselves.
“I think all that customers want is honesty, regular communication, photos of progress and explanations of what’s going on,” he says.
“It’s not the restorer’s fault if a customer has bought a rotten car, but by the same token, it’s not the customer’s fault if the restorer hasn’t explained why something it did three months ago took 25 hours instead of five.”
What are the most popular restorations and services we offer?
“Finishing unfinished projects and getting cars back up to scratch,” Phil explains.
“There are lots of disheartened classic car owners out there who started a restoration several years ago and haven’t managed to finish them.
“It’s easy enough to find someone to do the body and paint on your car and to build an engine, but there is so much more to a restoration. Brightwell was set up to fill that gap in the market, to specialise in putting cars together as they should be and properly restoring all the parts that make a car what it is.
“Similarly, there are lots of classic cars that are older restorations or have been owned for 20 years but not maintained by the right people and just need expert attention to bring them back up to scratch.
“We have a lovely customer who has owned his Aston Martin DB5 for 23 years. We did about 60 hours mechanical work on his car and another 50 fitting a new carpet and repairing some of the leather upholstery – and after he collected it he gave us possibly the best compliment, which was that in all his years of ownership his car has never driven so well and he’s fallen in love with it again. That’s what it’s all about.”
Have a project that you need help finishing? Get in touch with us to get the ball rolling.