A 50-year-old Mount Barker company, comprising a dozen strong team of highly skilled professionals, is taking on a unique automative challenge to showcase their expertise.
Original article published 25 January 2018
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by Samatha Hill
RESTORE IT
Your vehicle back to better than new
A 50-year-old Mount Barker company, comprising a dozen strong team of highly skilled professionals, is taking on a unique automative challenge to showcase their expertise.
Over the past 13 months, the Finch Restorations proprietor Peter Roberts and his team have been designing and building their SS120, an homage to the original Jaguar SS100. They will be presenting the SS120 at this year’s All British Day. Peter has been a supporter of All British Day for years and said 40 to 50 per cent of the cars they restore are from British origin.
Jaguar, formerly known as Swallow Sidecar, changed their name during World War II due to connotations associated with Nazi soldiers. The SS100 was also known as the Jaguar which is where they got the new name for their company.
Peter explained there are major differences between the Finch SS120 and Jaguar SS100. “The SS100 was a wooden bodied car with a metal skin, whereas our car is all metal, as were the post war Jaguars.”
The differences are also in the structure and overall comfort of the car.
“The car we’ve built is much more comfortable, it suits modern adults better.”
Peter pointed out that, pre-war, people were generally a lot smaller and shorter.
“I’m over six feet tall and there is enough elbow and leg room for me,” Peter said.
It’s clear why the SS120 will take 16 months to complete as everything is fashioned individually.
“This is a hand-built car, it’s not manufactured in a factory offshore. We use local, highly skilled artisans. I call them a grey beard work force,” Peter said.
While Finch Restorations offers a lot of expertise into maintaining and reviving older cars, they are also proficient in areas like mechanics, panel beating and more.
“We have to have the old school skills, mechanics, panelling, coach building – old worldly skills. Those with the knowledge are older and going into retirement.”
Peter stressed the importance on having the skills to maintain these older model cars.
A customer of Finch Restorations said they were really impressed with the company’s services.
Cameron Mighall, a Strathalbyn local, bought a speedy two door MGB to take his wife on drives.
“The car was riding too low, so we took it to Finch Restorations for some mechanical work,” Cameron said.
“It was a big process and a complex job, but I wasn’t held up unduly.” Cameron highlighted that the process went smoothly.
“They know what they’re doing, they have the skill-set you can’t find anywhere else.”
Cameron would recommend Finch Restorations to anyone needing mechanical help.
You can view the SS120 at All British Day at Echunga on Sunday, February 11, 2018.
To find out more about Finch Restorations head to www.finchrestorations.com.au To make an inquiry phone 8398 2332.
