PRE-WAR SPECIALISTS ARE BACK ON TRACK
But firms say that some suppliers are still working through backlogs
Pre-war car specialists say that business is continuing to recover as lockdown measures ease, with suppliers gradually getting back up to speed despite fears that the parts supply-chain for such cars would take a hit due to coronavirus.
Blue Diamond Riley Services managing director, John Lomas, said that lockdown had slowed restorations that had come in before and during lockdown: ‘Our parts aren’t coming from China. We’re reliant on small industry and/or oneman bands who have taken stock of the situation during lockdown, built up a backlog themselves or ended up shielding or retiring.’
Bromsgrove Rolls Royce and Bentley specialist, RR&B, is one of the businesses reporting a recent upturn, however. Spokesperson, Adrian Lord, said: ‘It’s picking up again; most suppliers are getting back to normal and things have started to run smoothly.
‘ We’ve been open again since last month and have managed in the main, but it’s getting busy again now – back to working normally.’
It’s a similar situation at Formhalls Vintage and Racing Ltd., based in Salisbury. MD, Charles Tanner, said: ‘Generally we’re normal-ish now. We use a lot of specialist suppliers but haven’t seen too much of a negative impact on them.
‘ We do a lot of in-house stuff and pride ourselves on a fast turnaround, but things haven’t been quite as quick until recently.’
He added: ‘It’s good to see people getting more into their cars with the time they’ve had to put the work in.’
Tom McCooey
❚ blue-diamond-services.co.uk ❚ rrbgarages.com ❚ formhalls.com