ASK QUENTIN

Restore my SL?

I’m weighing up having my 1965 Mercedes 230 SL ‘Pagoda’ restored with either a local garage with an extensive client base of classic and racing car owners and experience of restorations (estimate €30-40k) or Bracq Heritage, which is run by the son of the car’s designer, four hours away in Bordeaux (estimate €50-60k).

Using the local garage would allow me to visit frequently and I am confident of the quality of the work. I have visited and seen ‘Pagodas’ under restoration at Bracq and am confident in the quality of the work there, too.

Assuming that the result would be similar, is having the renovation done by a ‘Pagoda’ specialist likely to add €20k to the value? David Basten

With restorers, the best advice is go for the one where you can visibly see the highest standards and quality of finish in their work. Spending the extra €20k with Bracq will increase the value of your SL significantly and guarantee higher quality. Take it from someone who has made mistakes with restorers in the past in order to save money – go to the people who know your model well, are recognised for their superior work and come highly recommended by your car’s enthusiast community. And make sure you and the restorer take lots of photos and document the complete restoration for the history file. Quentin Willson

Value our Estelle restoration

My mate and I have a barnful of weird and wonderful cars which we fix and sell on as a hobby. One little gem is a 1984 Skoda Estelle 120L which has been partially restored. We’ll finish the job once we locate the right fabric for the interior, by which time it will stand us at about £3000. What do you think it’s worth? Phil Shanks

Unless your Skoda really is properly mint and perfect, you may struggle to get your investment back. Even very low mileage Estelles only make £5000. If it were a Rapid model, then you’d be looking at a lot more, but the market has yet to see a standard 120L saloon as desirable or valuable. Quentin Willson

Should my Golf stay or should it go?

I have an immaculate 2008 MKV Golf R32 five-door in black with 39k miles and full VW service history from new. The car was two years old when I bought it, having been VW Milton Keynes-owned from new. Should I sell?

I was recently offered £12,500.

Michael Sykes

Your R32 has everything going for it – best colour, low mileage, full history and VW as the first owner. I’d definitely hang on to it, because mint, unmodified 32s are going to become increasingly desirable as the numbers of immaculate lowmilers reduces.

Right now I’d see it at £14k. Quentin Willson