Every month, Classic Cars’ Epic Restoration series celebrates the vision, determination and skill that keeps the old car world alive. Looking back on a year of huge rebuild projects in Epic Restoration of the Year 2026, Classic Cars and Machine Mart invite you to vote for your favourite transformation with the chance to win enough quality tools to undertake an epic restoration of your own
‘The level of craftsmanship and dedication to detail in these classic car restorations is truly outstanding. From painstaking bodywork to flawless paint finishes and carefully rebuilt engines, the skill and passion behind each project is clear to see. The complexity of bringing these timeless vehicles back to life is nothing short of remarkable, and every restorer involved should be immensely proud of their achievement.’
James Lewin, Machine Mart
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia SS
Dave Ward took on his rare right-hand-drive Alfa Romeo Giulia SS after years in storage had left it neglected. He replaced wings in sections, repairing each panel by hand, and crafted new interior parts. Tim Wallace retrimmed them in red leather, while Neville Byford rebuilt the engine and gearbox before the team undertook a challenging final assembly.
1990 Peugeot 205GTI
AutoRara’s rusty Peugeot 205GTI set out to prove even humble hot hatches deserve perfection. With a six-week deadline, David Stubbs and Chris Tye led the stripping and repair work, Stuart Duncanson applied flawless Cherry Red paint, and every component was renewed or refurbished. A four-figure hours investment paid off when the car was unveiled in as-new, factory-correct glory.
1975 Ford Transit MkI
Auction site eBay commissioned Envisage to transform this commercial vehicle into a mobile lounge and event space for the Transit’s 60th birthday. The team tackled rotten sills and missing crossmembers, fabricated fresh panels, and fitted a VW T5 pop-up roof. The welcoming interior layout was guided by designer Peter Stevens.
1971 Ferrari 308GTS
Ian Barkaway of Ferrari specialist Barkaways decided to lavish concours-winning attention on his family’s cherished but tired Ferrari 308GTS. Rusty bodywork was replaced – sometimes by hand-shaped panels – and Rigor Tabbert applied flawless Le Mans Blue paint. The 3.0-litre V8 engine was rebuilt with precision, and inside, Wilton carpets and Connolly leather completed the transformation.
1973 Lotus Elan +2 130/5
Led by Phil Benfield at Allon White Sports Cars, this restoration revived a Lotus Elan +2 130/5 that had languished unfinished for 26 years. The glassfibre body was painstakingly repaired with skills learned over many decades, chassis rust was stripped away by hand, and a new walnut dash and cream leather seats rejuvenated the interior.
1972 Datsun 240Z
Paul Atkinson acquired one of the earliest Datsun 240Zs to restore it in his own garage. Discovering decades of motorsport scars, he focused on preserving originality but called in RG Taylor when the project’s scale became clear. The team fabricated new body sections, rebuilt mechanicals, refreshed the interior with period-correct parts, and replaced worn suspension while resisting over-restoration.
2003 TVR Sagaris prototype
TVR enthusiast Stuart Barker unearthed this long-lost Sagaris prototype battered by hard use and even a gunshot! He enlisted Miles Hardy and HPC Classics to coordinate restoration with marque experts. Not only was there the challenge of painstakingly repairing the ultra-thin vinylester bodyshell, but also the rebuild of the media-blast grit contaminated engine, handled by Powers Performance.
1987 Land Rover Series III
Found in a hedge and thought only fit for spares, this Land Rover was resurrected by owner Paul with Artifact Automotive’s Harry Marshall and Will Roberts. New steel was welded where needed, a new wiring loom added, and the low-mileage Series III LT77 gearbox mated to a Discovery diesel engine.
1969 Lamborghini Islero
John Day entrusted his Lamborghini Islero to Simon Furlonger, Chris King and the team at Furlonger Specialist Cars for a no-compromises concours restoration. They laser-welded hairline cracks in the V12 cylinder block and sourced period-correct parts using old photos and reverse-image searches, the authenticity extending to brake pipes following factory routing.
1958 TR Ausca Roadster
Creative Custom Cars restored Simon Purcell’s rare TR Ausca Roadster – a Triumph-based Australian sports car with racing heritage – overcoming an accident-scarred chassis, ill-fitting steel frame and a cracked glassfibre body. Preserving its hand-built character was crucial throughout.
1969 Jaguar E-type 2+2
Steve Evans and Angie Owen acquired their E-type coupé as a project, choosing Petroyle Restorations to transform it into a concours-winning jewel. After decades of use and amateur repairs, acid dipping revealed widespread corrosion. Every detail received relentless attention to authenticity, resulting in a class win at Salon Privé.
1986 Lancia Delta S4 Stradale
Rally specialist Ian Gwynne and his team at BGMSport returned Mel Butler’s Lancia Delta S4 Stradale to its unique Monte-Carlo Rally specification. Botched repairs were rectified using old photos and even diecast models as a guide, and rare parts were sourced globally; no assembly went smoothly but authenticity won out.
To have the chance to win Machine Mart premium workshop tools, vote for your favourite restoration from 1 April at classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/epicrestooftheyear/. Terms and conditions apply.