Delightful classics sprinkled with an MR2

This week we have a Toyota MR2 on the ramp, one of the second generation W20 models, in for a full engine rebuild. It came to us with two cylinders down on power so the owner knew that at the very least the head would have to come off, but he told us to go ahead and recondition the whole engine. We can understand his enthusiasm because it does look an absolutely gorgeous car (we are not sure whether that is down most to the styling or that beautiful colour), and by all accounts they handle superbly too.

At the opposite end of the dynamic scale, but no less charming for all that, is the little Austin Seven. That has come in for some recommissioning after being inherited by the current owner – it came in on a trailer, but the owner wants to drive it away. Danny and Ryan were working on this yesterday, and Danny in particular has fallen in love with it. He calls it his baby, and we think he would like to adopt it!

Another car that has charmed everyone who sees it is the very early Austin Mini Seven. There are no bad models in the entire Mini range, but there is something about the early cars with their simple purity that is hard to resist. This one has been with us for a while, but is now almost ready to be sent on its way back to its current owner, even though we could have sold it three times over since its stay here!

Up in the bodyshop, George is cracking on with the long-term restorations, but has also found time to fit in an unusual job – painting a roof box to match the car it is being used on! That took a lot of elbow grease because it came in with a textured finish that had to be flatted back, but it is now looking really unusual and very distinctive.