Aston Martin Restoration, Full or Part

by Goldsmith and Young

One challenge was this conversion of a Series II DB4 to full Zagato body and mechanical specification.

Although the bodies are aluminium, the chassis is steel and yes, it does corrode badly.

This is sometimes difficult to see as the aluminium outer sill wraps around the steel inner.

The illustration to the right shows a cross-section model of an Aston Martin DB4/5/6 sill.

Are your sills and jacking points sound ?

Prior to painting, all the aluminium bodywork needs to be stripped of it's many layers of existing paint - an exhausting and thankless task but it is the only way to achieve a good end result.

When stripped of paint, the thirty or fourty year old aluminium body often reveals evidence of previous accident damage or aluminium oxidation. This needs to be corrected at this stage.

The bodywork needs to be very good if the painter is to achieve the high standard of finish required.

This photo shows a new hand fabricated aluminium transmission tunnel which replaces the original fibreglass part.

When the car finally returns from the paint shop on it's trolley- it looks beautiful but now the real task begins. Fitting up - it takes hours and hours of work by dedicated personnel working on a newly painted body. No slipped screwdrivers here, we hope!

A new wiring loom goes in followed by the heater radiator core, reconditioned dashboard and instruments. Perhaps the car is converted to negative earth at this stage ?

The previously powder coated suspension is built into the car, complete with all new components and Koni shock absorbers.

The brakes are fitted with new servos, reconditioned callipers and new hydraulic brake lines. The engine bay is fitted up with reconditioned steering rack and column, all new or reconditioned ancilliaries such as header tanks, oil and water radiators etc., etc.

Then the great day comes when the reconditioned rear axle is fitted, (maybe with a performance enhancing limited slip differential ?) and the car can be lowered onto it's new wire wheels and tyres for the first time and steered around the workshop. Then in go electric windows and all other glass complete with new rubbers.

All chrome work is fitted, complete with grille and lights. It goes on and on and attention to detail is the key!!

Meanwhile the engine is being built and run in on our dynamometer. Perhaps it is a 4.2 litre fitted with Cosworth pistons and one of our unleaded, ported cylinder heads ? The gearbox is checked and if necessary rebuilt with new bearings and seals, prior to fitting along with a reconfditioned and balanced propshaft.

The engine is the heart of any motor car and certainly this applies to the Aston Martin.

We can undertake routine rebuilds of pre war 4 cylinder and post war 6 cylinder and V8 engines. We are also able to undertake performance enhancing modifications, such as 4.2 litre conversions to the 6 cylinder unit, and/or converting to unleaded fuel to meet todays stringent pollution requirements.

Next the interior is done. A completely retrimmed interior is fitted using the best Connolly leather hides.

All new carpets are made and fitted. Perhaps extra sound insulation is required to reduce noise or a modern CD radio is fitted and trimmed in to your newly converted negative earth car.

Perhaps a modern electric window motor upgrade is done at this stage, before the door panels go on, and a Tracker or other security device may be fitted.

Finally, after a year to eighteen months of dedicated work, the car is ready for that magical moment when you start it up and drive it for the first time.

Another Aston Martin car has been saved from the scrap-yard to live on for many years to come, thanks to your enthusiasm and financial backing and our engineering and technical expertise.

A true partnership indeed