What is paintwork restoration?
Quick answer: Paintwork restoration is a full process to bring tired paint back to a deep gloss: thorough wash and decontamination (tar, fallout, clay), then machine polishing in one or more stages to remove oxidation, swirls and light marks. Heavier defects may get local wet-sanding or touch-ins, and the finish is sealed with wax, sealant or ceramic. It aims for a dramatic improvement, not a respray-level “perfect.”
Paintwork restoration is a combination of machine polishing, paintwork correction, and often cosmetic repair, which is done with the specific purpose of restoring a car.
The difference is largely the amount of time involved and the price. However, it might be worth it, especially on vintage cars with original paintwork (or mostly original paintwork). Respraying the car would mean it loses some of its charm. It might also be worth doing on expensive, desirable, luxury and sports cars which will one day be valuable classic cars.
There is a lot to be said for keeping the paintwork original, as this can make the car more valuable.
Typically, we would perform this services in conjunction with restoring other parts of the car, such as wheels and leather upholstery.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 23/09/2025 14:42