Classic cars need a different approach. Not more fuss, not rose-tinted nostalgia — just proper mechanical understanding and the patience to do things the right way. We see a lot of classics that have been over-maintained in the wrong places and under-maintained where it actually matters.
At White’s Bodyworks, we carry out classic car servicing, mechanical repairs and MOT preparation for owners across Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and the wider West Sussex area. From regularly driven classics to cars that only come out in good weather, we work with the car as it’s actually used, not how a handbook from 1972 imagined it might be.
Most people don’t realise how much modern servicing habits can cause problems on older vehicles. Tolerances are different. Materials behave differently. Some things that would be faults in a modern car are perfectly normal on a classic, while other issues are more serious than they look.
In practice, we often see:
Classic work is about understanding what’s acceptable, what’s not, and what will cause trouble six months down the line.
A classic service isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s about inspection, adjustment and early intervention.
Servicing typically includes:
We’ll also tell you what doesn’t need touching. That matters just as much.
We carry out a wide range of mechanical repairs on classic vehicles, whether that’s routine wear or issues that have crept in over time.
Common work includes:
We don’t rush classic repairs. Parts availability, access and condition all affect how work needs to be approached, and we factor that in from the start.
Even MOT-exempt vehicles benefit from a proper annual inspection. Most owners already understand this, and we see its value every year.
For MOT-tested classics, we:
For MOT-exempt classics, we offer pre-MOT style inspections so you know where you stand. In practice, this catches issues early and avoids expensive surprises later.
Classic car costs vary more than modern cars, but these ranges reflect real-world workshop jobs:
We always inspect first and talk costs through before starting work. Guessing helps no one.
In practice, classic ownership works best when the garage and owner are on the same page.
We won’t chase unnecessary upgrades or over-restore something that doesn’t need it. Check out our portfolio of classic car restorations and repairs.
View more of our recent projects.
