In the workshop

Hardy Hall Restorations

What’s your history?
I started the firm in 1999 after a 15-year career in motor racing which culminated in rebuilding a six-wheel Tyrrell. During that time I built and prepared cars that won historic F1 and F2 championships and a modern F3 championship.

What’s your range of skills?
We are primarily chassis engineers, and alongside ground-up restorations we also undertake the straightening, repairing or replacing of complete chassis frames and suspension components. We frequently manufacture new parts from scratch, and supply the Frazer Nash Club with new steering arms and complete front axles.

Do you have a specialisation?
Restoration and preparation of historic sports and racing cars from vintage through to Can-Am and F5000. We employ the same sound engineering practice and close attention to detail on all the cars we work on, from chain-drive ’Nashes through to the later single-seaters, and are passionate about building in reliability and maintaining originality.

What’s in the workshop now?
A good mix, from a 1968 Lola T140 nearing completion to a 1922 GN Vitesse which is being recommissioned by us having not rolled a wheel in 45 years. Then there is the one-off 1965 Kincraft Formule Libre, originally built by Jack Pearce. We are working to return the car to its original configuration using the original drawings. A T43 Cooper, the one-off 1959 Kieft-Climax and a 1929 Frazer Nash complete the line-up.

What projects are you proud of?
I have enjoyed the challenge of rebuilding the Lola T140 which came as a damaged chassis and which we believe is the only one in the UK. However, I am most proud of rebuilding a Cooper T56 MkII (top) that arrived in a similar condition and took a lot of work to return to its original state. It was one of two cars run by Team Tyrrell for Cooper which was later sold to Steve McQueen who raced the car in California.

GC was speaking to Jonathan Hall