Paul Russell and Company

Paul Russell and Company employs the highly qualified technicians and the necessary special equipment to successfully perform the full range of mechanical, coachbuilding, paint, upholstery, machining, and materials sourcing services on the great European sports, touring, and racing models from the prewar era through the 1950s.

Our projects range from a complete body-off restoration to the preservation of an exceptional original car. We also offer expertise in other aspects of car collecting, such as sales and brokerage services and concours and rally event support.

Restoration

Our restoration process involves a true commitment to craftsmanship. We continue to set the highest of standards and have developed a unique restoration process that virtually makes your classic new again. It is not unusual for one of our projects to entail:

• At least six technicians in various disciplines that remanufacture the car to the original manufacturer's specifications;
• Collaboration with numerous specialists to hand-finish trim parts before re-chroming them, to duplicate the original leathers and fabrics for authenticity, and to manufacture no-longer-available parts;
• A significant number of research hours to locate original parts and materials using domestic and international sources;
• 3000 man-hours, on average, to complete a full body-off restoration on a typical 1950s sports car;
• Extensive road testing of the finished product.

The great classics and production sports racers built prior to the 1950s were originally assembled the old fashioned way — by hand. Our master craftsmen literally re-manufacture a car from the ground up, using a multitude of skills and a massive amount of perseverance. Every component is examined and either reused, rebuilt, or, as a last resort, replaced. We are dedicated to a restoration process that faithfully replicates the materials and construction details used by the original builders.

Preservation and Maintenance

The same technical skills and pride of craftsmanship that are demonstrated on our world-renowned body-off restorations are brought to bear on every repair job. In the 1950s, sports racing cars were still being driven from the public roads directly on to the race track. An integral part of the service we offer is an intelligent maintenance program, one that allows the owner to get behind the wheel and revive that experience of driving, either on the road or on the track, any time he desires.

All of our work, whether it is being performed on a car that is fully restored or one that is completely original, is approached with concern for the future of the car in mind. Experience has shown us that, in the larger world of restored classics, an exceptional original car is in fact unique and highly valued both by historians and by collectors. Our underlying philosophy, consistent in everything that we do, is that any part of a car which is truly in original condition should be preserved whenever feasible.

Research

Chasing leads and digging for information is one of the most important and least acknowledged aspects of any restoration or preservation project. Our accumulated lore and extensive collection of reference materials form a basis upon which decisions are ultimately made regarding authenticity and originality. Sometimes the questions of authenticity are answered by conferring with the original designer or the owner's family, and other times the answer comes from the car itself during a careful disassembly.

The Extras

Our pre-eminence in the restoration field puts us in contact with an international clientele of buyers and sellers. We also support other activities related to the car collecting endeavor, from showing a car at a concours d'elegance to preparing and delivering it to a road rally — even when the event is being held overseas.

“... the kind of place where real people rebuild honest cars for genuine car enthusiasts”

Jean Jennings
“Monterey or Bust”
Automobile Magazine