Vintage Cars
Building the boat-tailed body on our Austin 12 – Henwood & Dean.
In the classic vintage car era of the early 1900s wooden ‘skiff’ bodied cars were considered to be at the very height of style and craftsmanship.
Henwood & Dean Boatbuilders are developing their exceptional level of craftsmanship and skills into restoring existing boat-tailed cars, and are also able to design & build bespoke wooden boat-tailed bodies on any vintage car for specialist collectors and enthusiasts.
The Austin 12 'Sheila' – C J Photography.
To demonstrate their skills and quality of craftsmanship the company purchased and restored a 1924 Austin 12/4 Tourer on which has been built a unique and highly individual boat shaped body.
'Sheila', as this delightful little car is affectionately known in the workshop, due to spending much of her life in Australia, has been built using traditional methods of craftsmanship – steam bending the highest quality mahogany planking onto ash frames, fastened with copper nails and roves.
An unfailing attention to detail, from the smallest nickel plated screw though to the luxurious leather upholstery and fittings, makes this little car a delight to look at and to drive.
1920 Mahogany Boat-tail Delage – Henwood & Dean.
We have been involved in a number of prestigious contracts including rebuilding the triple-skinned mahogany body on a 1920 Delage, building new frames on three 4 ½ litre Bentleys; the complicated restoration of the ash frame on a 1936 Lagonda, and the frame restoration on a Type 57 Bugatti.
Ash frame on Type 57 Bugatti – Photo Henwood and Dean.
As well as continuing to build, restore and care for fine wooden boats on the River Thames, Henwood & Dean Boatbuilders are pleased to be able to offer vintage car enthusiasts the same high standard of craftsmanship and expertise.