Welcome to The Pre War Workshop

Welcome to the Pre War Workshop. We are a specialist in the restoration, maintenance and servicing of pre war Rolls Royce and Bentley. Our extensively equipped facilities include the very best engineering equipment including lathes, milling machines and fabrication equipment to perfectly compliment the vast experience of the most experienced workshop staff in the Island of Ireland.
 

From a full chassis restoration to a simple yearly service, every vehicle is given the Pre War Workshop treatment, and our attention to detail is second to none. We go the extra mile to ensure that every nut and bolt in our builds is historically accurate and is exactly how the original coachbuilder would have wanted it.

Our premises in Lisburn, just outside of Belfast provide us with a spacious, well equipped workshop with which to ensure your vintage vehicle is in the best care possible.

Have a look at the Restorations page for pictures and information about the various restorations we are involved with.

 

Classic Car Insurance from Aviva

Before we start looking at insuring your classic car, it may be worth trying to define just what is a classic car. Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as we might think and a clear definition can be hard to pin point. However if we go by the guidelines of The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) we will get more of a comprehensive idea. They state that the car must be between 20 and 40 years old in order to be classic and if it's over 45 years old, then it is considered to be in the Antique Class. The CCCA go on to say of a classic car:

“a 'fine' or 'distinctive' automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948... Other factors, including engine displacement, custom coachwork and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and "one-shot" or automatic lubrication systems, help determine whether a car is considered to be a Classic."

In the UK though there isn't such a fixed definition. There is however a taxation issue which does make a difference. If a car is built before January 1, 1973 then it is exempt from paying the annual road tax vehicle excise duty. If this is the case, then the car will have a license disc identifying it as an 'historic vehicle'. For company taxation purposes HM Revenue & Customs define a classic car as being over 15 years old and worth more than £15,000.

None of this is set in stone though, so if you purchase a car which you may believe to be classic then you need to discuss with your insurer if it is or not. Different insurance companies, like Aviva car insurance for example will have different guidelines, which makes it well worth shopping around a bit. There are a number of things which are worth bearing in mind about getting insurance. In general you will find that classic car insurance is less than that for a modern one, this is mainly because it will be driven less than your average car and far more time is spent maintaining it and making sure it is in good condition. However, it is all very well getting cheap insurance, but you should bear in mind the increased chances of your classic car being less reliable on the road so you may find yourself calling on your insurer more than you would with a modern car.