Page 15 - Cornwall 2 2021

ESTATE PERSONALITY
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Transformers Autobody began small with
a Rolls Royce Cloud 1 that Gerald and his
team completely restored for a collector.
With his eye for detail and his insistence
on getting all the small instrumentation
and interiors just right, the restoration
was well received by the client and from
there the business has grown by word
of mouth referrals. So much so that he
is currently looking at increasing his
capacity to have a second team to work
on cars. As we walk and talk, we are
surrounded by evidence of the growth
in business in the recognisable iconic
car brands parked in the basement: a ’38
Chevrolet, Chevrolet pick-up, Mercedes
Ponton, Ford Mustang, Buick, MG and
then the less recognisable body parts and
whole bodies in the workshop, on their
way to the spray booth or hoisted onto 1958 Cadillac convertible, the holy
lifts with their innards being attended to. grail of Caddys. A lot of finishing
A beautiful black SUV caught my eye - I off on the interior done inhouse.
More tidying up and suspension
am sure I have seen it cruising the estate work to be completed.
roads. Indeed, Gerald says, it is a Cornwall
Hill resident’s car.

Classic car restoration is not a quick
business - a full restoration can take up
to eighteen months. The parts for the
old cars can also be difficult to source
and thus he has an ex-South African
now living in the USA who is able to
hunt down parts there and send them to
South Africa. The lead time on a part can
be up to two months. Imagine that for a
moment, when you are impatient for a
part and a fix on your modern vehicle.
1958 Porsche Speedster.
When asked about the most exciting Body work done inhouse and
restoration he has done to date, Gerald the client is assembling the
tells of the very rare 1958 Porsche car himself. Only 14 were
speedster RHD that they restored. With made in right hand drive.
a multimillion-rand price tag, it is the
most valuable car they have worked on.
Interestingly, the Porsche was a racing
car and has damage on the left side due
to a crash; it has been retained because
it adds to the provenance – the origin,
authenticity and earliest known history
- of the car and subsequently adds to
its value. The result of that restoration
cemented Transformer Autobody’s
reputation with classic car collectors.

Even though he has left the hobby
shop behind, it does seem that selling
is still in Gerald’s blood. He is currently
entering into classic car sales as well.
With his passion for collecting beautiful
cars and his connections in the classic
car community, I am sure we will see lots 1911 Model T Ford. It has
never been off the road since
more magic coming through the doors of new and the license is paid
Transformers Autobody and that big black every year. It is currently
SUV purring along our estate roads in top being painted piece by piece.
notch condition.
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Cornwall View • Issue 2 2020 15