Cambrian Classics Ltd is our family-run business that specialises in pre-1980 classic and vintage car repair and servicing, and is located by the beautiful Ceredigion coast.
I started Cambrian Classics in 2021, after over 10 years working in the local motor trade. I have owned and worked on my own classic cars since I (below) was a student at Aberystwyth University, almost 20 years ago. I have always enjoyed testing my classics, both at speed on track days and on longer road trips.
We have driven MGs through Ireland, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Spain and Portugal, and shipped a 30-year-old Land Rover campervan to Iceland. We have visited 11 countries and clocked up over 15,000 continental miles in vehicles averaging 40 years old!
I was also secretary of the local MG Owners Club and so knew many other classic enthusiasts in the local area. I decided it was time to make the leap, combining knowledge and passion, and start my own business – quite a scary prospect in the uncertain Covid times.
I started working out of our workshop at home, and initially most customers were MG owners that I already knew. We also purchased two classic VW T2 campervans, with the plan to refurbish and rent them out as an additional income stream. However, the repair and servicing aspect of the business grew so rapidly that we quickly realized we were not going to be able to manage the campers, and we sold them without ever hiring them out.
One of the most important things I learned during my customer-facing roles in the motor trade is the importance of communication and understanding people’s expectations. If you get to the point where someone is unhappy with your service, you have made a mistake earlier in the process. I spend a lot of time working with the customer to find out what their priorities are, as well as their budget – and stay in touch throughout the repair process to provide options that suit them.
As a classic owner myself, I understand the emotional attachment people have to their classic cars. Classic and vintage vehicle ownership isn’t just about getting from A to B for the daily commute. There is an appreciation for heritage craftsmanship, a nostalgia for memories of youth, or it may be an heirloom piece that has come from a family member.
When we work on a customer’s car, we know that it is personally important to someone, and we take the care and dedication as seriously as we would for our own classic cars. Our Google reviews reflect our commitment to customer service, and we are proud to have so many happy customers.
Our clientele come from all over Wales, and sometimes further afield – we have a couple of people who bring their cars over from Ireland on the ferry to us for work. Our customer base has spread very organically, largely through word of mouth – we haven’t done much advertising – which is fantastic.
It is a great feeling when someone has been recommended by a friend who has enjoyed their classic so much more since it’s been through our workshop. We are classic MG specialists, but work with a variety of classic marques, including Austin-Healey, Rolls Royce and Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, BMW, Triumph, Volkswagen, Morris, Land Rover, Mini, and Rover.
As the business has grown, so has our staffing, and we are now a team of five. Jeremy is our specialist in pre-war vintage cars, Eilir comes on an ad hoc basis when we need some extra welding work, and Joel is our newest addition – our 19 year old apprentice who is so passionate about classics that his daily driver is his 1970s MGB! My wife Clare manages the admin side of the business, as well as covering trailer transport and valeting when needed. Our 6 year old daughter has also helped out with polishing – the 3 month old still needs some practice.
As well as an expanding family, we have also recently bought a much larger workshop, just up the road from home. We will be spending the next few months getting it ready, then will be moving in. It will allow us to have additional ramps, and workflow will be much more efficient – we were seriously running out of space.
We will then be offering classic car storage in our original workshop. We outsource larger paintwork jobs right now, however in future we will likely create a bespoke paint booth and do more in-house. We currently focus mostly on repair and servicing work, as well as recommissions – but our new capacity will allow us to take on larger scale restorations, as well as some car sales too. It is certainly a very exciting period for us, so watch this space!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim Winton is the founder of Cambrian Classics Ltd, a family-run business that specialises in classic car repair and servicing and is located by the beautiful Ceredigion coast. Cambrian Classics offers services that range from restoration and repair work to regular servicing and maintenance. Cambrian Classics is a recommended garage for both the MG Owner’s Club and Just Kampers, and regularly works on pre-1980’s classic cars, including pre-war vintage vehicles. Cambrian Classics specialises in a variety of classic marques including MG, Austin-Healey, Rolls Royce and Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, BMW, Triumph, Volkswagen, Morris, Land Rover, Mini, Rover.
