Phoenix Classic Car Consultancy
Taking the hassle out of classic car restoration
Why Choose a Consultant
Source your vehicle
It might be a car you have lusted after since your youth or perhaps a similar car to what your dad had back in the day. Are you looking to start a collection? Everyone is different and the classic car community mirrors that and applauds the diverse range of vehicles available. Some are sure-fire investments, but they need to come with the right provenance and paperwork. Others are daily useable and lack the depreciation of a new car.
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We have a keen interest in the classic car market and have many contacts with the trade and various clubs. If you have a good idea of which particular make, model and approximate year you are looking for then let us know and we will do our best to find the right car for you.
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If you are 6'4" and 20 stone, you are going to find a Mini quite uncomfortable. Before we commit to sourcing a particular car, we will ask all manner of questions to see if you have really thought it through.
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A Jaguar E-Type is a beautiful sports car but using one over long distances with a mountain of luggage, whilst possible, isn't that pleasurable. A luxury Grand Tourer might be more appropriate. In which case, we are happy to discuss alternatives, some you may have thought of and some you might have forgotten.
Pre purchase inspections
Have you ever bought the 'wrong' car? Plenty of people have, whether that be from an auction without properly viewing it first or from a trusted seller - both private and trade - who has given you the salesman's patter and it has left you feeling a little deflated and slightly embarrassed.
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Our pre-purchase inspections are there to stop a potential costly mistake. The chances are that if you are looking for one of our pre-purchase inspections, you have already found a car that suits you
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The pre-purchase inspection looks at every aspect of the vehicle, from suspension to the electrical system, the bodywork and the condition of the interior. You will receive a full written report with corresponding photographs and a verbal debrief if time is of the essence e.g. an auction about to take place. You will be supplied with all the information - including current value - so that you can make the correct decision. We can negotiate, or bid on your behalf if you so wish and arrange for transportation if you do decide to purchase. Leaving you free of stress with the car of your dreams delivered to your door.
If you are buying a car with the intention of a full restoration, please continue reading.
Mechanical or bodywork restorations
Here is where we come into our own. We will arrange a meeting if possible, face to face or over the internet, and discuss all aspects of the required work to be done. Here you can decide if you want a concours standard restoration to make the car the same as when it left the factory, or you may wish for some more modern enhancements like better brakes, bigger alternator, more power or a modern air conditioning system better than the asthmatic factory system. Remember that this is your car and if you want it in pink with yellow spots, then it's your choice, we can recommend what will look good but don't let anyone tell you that you have to have it in a certain colour.
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You may have a preferred specialist in mind or you may want to investigate some of our suggestions. We have worked with a variety of restorers and can tailor a restoration to your specific needs.
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A Rolls-Royce specialist might not be the best place to send your Italian exotica to. As a general rule of thumb, specialists in one particular marque of car understand how their cars were put together, saving time and money over a workshop that is doing it for the first time. Conversely, some specialists can be trading on a reputation gained several years ago, with long gone staff and are currently not up to scratch. We will always check out the current work and customer reviews of a restoration workshop before any work is agreed to.
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We then project manage the entire restoration on your behalf. We will do regular visits, taking photographs along the way, ensuring that your pride and joy isn't just sitting in a corner being forgotten. For example, we can look at the standard of paintwork and if there is any hint of a ripple, run, imperfection or 'orange peel' we can get them to address it straight away. We will report back through emails allowing you to release funds to the workshop when certain waypoints have been attained.
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Some aspects of restoration like where to go to get a steering rack refurbished or where to buy a new fuel tank or wiring loom can take a workshop many hours of trawling the internet to find a suitable part. We have many hours of experience of finding that elusive part. We pass this information onto the workshop allowing them to spend more time restoring your car and less time sat in front of a computer screen. Remember that you are paying full workshop rates for them to spend a morning on the internet.
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Our input will ultimately save time, getting the work completed to a satisfactory high level and save you money. You don't have to have the stress of chasing the workshop or having to go and visit. The only stress you'll have is where to take the car on its first outing.
Selling your vehicle
When the time has come for you to pass your classic car to its next lucky custodian we can help you to sell the car. We offer two options:-
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Option 1) For a fixed price (+ mileage) we will come and take extensive photos, do a complete write up of the car and list it on some well known internet sites. You will get to proof the ad before it goes live. Your number will be listed and it will be you who sells the car.
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Option 2) Same as above but we list our number not yours, we negotiate the sale, we will visit your home with the buyer and the only contact you will need to do is make a cup of tea and hand over the keys once the money is in your account. For this we charge a structured commission fee lower than many specialists.
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Unfortunately we do not at this time have the capacity to put your car into a showroom.