Behind the Workshop Doors: A Busy Spring at P&K Thornton Restorations

Spring marks the return of classic cars to the road after months of winter storage. As owners prepare for touring, events and regular driving, the workshop naturally becomes much busier. This year, however, the spring season brought an exceptional level of activity, with our team working at full capacity to welcome a wide variety of classic Jaguars through the doors. We had a lot of Jaguars coming through the workshop for their annual spring service; in particular, we had a large influx of Jaguar E-Types in for routine servicing. Alongside routine servicing, the workshop was also progressing and completing restoration projects, specialist repairs and preventative maintenance. This article highlights some of the restoration and servicing work we have completed over the spring months.

Similar to previous years and other restoration garages, Spring is a very popular time for classic car enthusiasts to get an annual service done before the summer driving months. This year, our workshops were incredibly busy with our restoration projects and with a large volume of Jaguars (in particular, Jaguar E-Types) that came to the workshops for their annual service. These were bought in by new clients and long-standing customers who previously had their classic car restored with us. Each vehicle was carefully examined for signs of wear, leaks or developing faults that could affect reliability later in the driving season. During a typical spring service, our technicians inspect the engine, braking system, steering, suspension and cooling system, checking everything from fluid condition and ignition timing to hoses, belts, wheel bearings and lubrication points.  

While many vehicles simply required routine servicing, others provided an opportunity to undertake more extensive mechanical work. In addition to our servicing work, our technicians were also progressing well with our longer-term restoration projects, even completing some projects ready for our clients to enjoy during the summer driving months.

Some recently completed projects included the Jaguar Dubai E-Type restoration. We completed a full restoration on the Jaguar Series 1.5 E-Type shipped in from Dubai; this includes the installation of a dual modern air-conditioning and heater unit, which was designed, 3D printed and assembled by our team at P&K Thornton. The air conditioning was seamlessly integrated into the dashboard and allows for better cabin comfort in the hot climate. In addition, the rear axle was rebuilt, the brake system was upgraded, and the engine frames were replaced and resprayed. Additionally, the interior was backdated to the original Series 1 design whilst integrating the new air-conditioning system.

Furthermore, some other Jaguar E-Type projects that were in our workshop over the spring include a stunning red convertible E-Type that was in for a full carburettor rebuild, comprehensive annual service and core plug replacement. We also completed a post-purchase inspection on a Jaguar E-Type. The detailed post-purchase inspection provides the owners with confidence when making their purchase. Additionally, we continued working on one of our ongoing workshop projects, a Jaguar Series 3 E-Type bought to us from Italy. Before arriving with us, the E-Type was previously restored in Italy; however, not to our standards and required further mechanical improvements. The spring marked a milestone for the rebuild with the completion of the engine rebuild and rear axle rebuild.

In addition, we have had a variety of other Jaguar models in our workshop for restoration and preventative maintenance work, including a Jaguar XJS which came in for repairs and upgrades to the air conditioning system, a full annual service, dry ice blasting within the engine bay and additional preservation and rectification work. Alongside the XJS, we also had a Jaguar XK150 in for its annual service; in addition, adjustments were made to the hood and trim, along with fitting side mirrors.

By far the most time-consuming and extensive project we took on during the Spring was restoring an Aston Martin D2/4 in preparation for the Mille Miglia 2026 in Italy. The extensive work included a head gasket replacement and mechanical preparation, all carried out in just 3 weeks. With the race covering 1180 miles, the Aston Martin needed to be reliable to ensure it could cover the event’s hundreds of miles in the hot climate.

Looking back, this spring has been a very busy but rewarding season. We're proud to have welcomed such a diverse range of classic Jaguars through our workshop doors. Whether carrying out routine servicing, specialist repairs or major restoration work, every project reflects our commitment to helping owners enjoy their vehicles with complete confidence. 

If you are looking to get your Jaguar restored or repaired with us, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

📧 info@thorntonrestorations.com

☎️ 0115 9262266