Classic JDM metal is getting rarer and more valuable every year, and a proper restoration protects both the car and everything you put into it. RoughEdge restores from the shell up: stripped back, rust cut out, metal repaired, then rebuilt to a standard the factory would recognise or better. We chase down the right parts, keep it honest where it matters and improve it where it makes sense. Whether it's a numbers-matching survivor or a resto with modern upgrades built in, we treat your car like it's ours.
Bare-Shell Rebuilds
A serious restoration starts with a bare shell, because you can't fix what you can't see. We strip the car right back, assess the metal honestly, and rebuild from a clean, sound base rather than papering over problems. Everything gets documented and bagged as it comes apart so it goes back together correctly, not as a puzzle of mystery brackets and missing clips. Starting from the shell costs more time up front but it's the only way to restore a car properly, and it's what gives you a finished result that's solid all the way through instead of shiny on the surface and rough underneath.
OEM+ Where It Counts
There's a balance in every resto between keeping it factory-correct and making it better to live with. We build OEM+, restoring the car to look and feel period-correct while quietly improving the things that were always weak points, from bushings and seals to wiring and cooling. You keep the character and the correctness that makes these cars special, but you don't have to suffer the factory's compromises. We'll talk through where to stay original for value and where a subtle upgrade makes the car more reliable and more usable, so it's a car you can actually enjoy rather than just admire.
Rust Repair And Parts Sourcing
Rust is the enemy of every old JDM car, and it hides in arches, sills, floors and boot floors. We cut it out and repair with sound metal rather than filler, so it's fixed properly and won't creep back. Finding the right parts is half the battle on these cars, and we tap into the network to source genuine, reproduction or quality alternative pieces to get your build complete. Some parts take patience and hunting, and we'll be straight with you about what's easy and what's a wait. The reward is a car put back together with the correct bits, done once, done right.
A Plan, A Budget And Straight Talk
A full resto is a journey, and the worst thing we can do is start swinging spanners without a plan. Once the car's assessed we map out the work in stages, so you know what's coming, roughly what each phase involves and where the big decisions sit. We're honest about what these projects take in time and effort, because a restoration done properly can't be rushed and shouldn't be sold as quick. You'll always know where your car is at and what's next, rather than dropping it off and wondering. That transparency is what lets us take on a build and hand back a car you're genuinely proud of.
Got a classic worth saving? Book a restoration consult and we'll map out the journey from shell to finished car.
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