Alan Wilson was an indentured apprentice for Star Bodies in Oldham and attended Openshaw Technical college studying vehicle and coach building from 1972 until 1976. Alan won a 2nd prize in a country wide competition for timber framing while studying at Openshaw college and gained top honours and credits in the city and guilds examinations.
Alan built and raced Formula 1 Stockcars from the age of 17, winning and gaining invaluable experience in racing and preparing cars to a high standard to take the punishment and horsepower of these exhilarating special cars.
Alan is now passing on his knowledge to his son Chris Wilson who also works in the family business.
Chris has studied under Alan since being 17 years of age. Alan insisted he serve a 4 year indentured apprenticeship with him before trying other areas of the vehicle trade.
Chris has had the same indentured apprenticeship which Alan had, and has worked at various body shops including a spell at Chevron racing cars building and preparing Chevrons, F1, F2 and GT cars for racing.
We have been involved with vehicle restoration since 1977.
Alan first started restoring Vintage cars and in 1983 restored his first Austin Healey MK111 winning 3 Concours prizes.
Further Concours prizes were won over the years with Vintage and classic cars, Austin Healeys being one of the favourites.
An Historic rally car built by Merlin and driven by the late David Shakespeare won numerous awards in Europe and in the UK as well as concours prizes from 1989.
A Delage D8S, one of only 3 built, owned by John Ash also won numerous Concours awards including best car in show at the NEC in 1990.
Alans Austin Healey MK11 has won the Liverpool and Chester motor club Sprint Championship for over 3litre class in 2005,06,07,08, and also tied on points in the Austin Healey sprint and Hillclimb Championship in 2006 only loosing by 1 podium finish to Paul Baker in his MK111 Healey.
Alans MK11 came 2nd in class in 2005 at the International Healey weekend Concours event.
The most recent win was Brian Traves Austin Healey MK111, winning 3 Concours awards at the Goodwood International Healey weekend in 2008.
Chris has now built a MK11 Sprite at the Merlin workshops, sprinting in 2007,08 and hopes to be competing on par with Alan in the near future.
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