Car Restoration Brisbane

Restoration work demands a different pace and a different level of attention than production repair jobs. Classic vehicles, custom builds and long-term enthusiast projects require workshop expertise in body and panel work, surface preparation, rust treatment and high-quality refinishing. MRP Automotive Refinishing in Redland Bay has been involved in restoration projects for Brisbane owners since 2008.

Discuss Your Project Call 0418 674 333

Show-quality full restoration — Holden VL Commodore by MRP Automotive

We handle the body, panel and paint side of restoration projects. That means panel repair and rust treatment, surface preparation to a standard that supports lasting paintwork, and refinishing work that reflects the quality of the restoration overall. We don't take shortcuts on restoration jobs — the work sits under close scrutiny once the vehicle is on the road and at shows, and it needs to hold up to that.

Restoration projects vary significantly in scope, condition and objective. A car coming in for a show-quality colour change respray is a different job to a vehicle that needs rust cut-out, metal work and rust-inhibiting primer before it ever sees a colour coat. We assess each project individually and are direct about what the body condition actually requires before committing to a scope.

Historic RX-7 race car in primer during body restoration at MRP Automotive Redland Bay

Restoration Services

Body, panel, preparation and paint work for classic, custom and enthusiast vehicles.

Body and Panel Repairs

Older vehicles carry decades of repairs, rust, dents and previous paint jobs. Before any restoration finish can go on, the body needs to be assessed and corrected. We remove old filler where it's hiding rust or poor repairs, cut out and replace rusted sections, panel beat damaged areas back to profile, and build the body into the correct shape for a flat, even paint surface. The quality of the paint finish is determined here — everything that happens later reflects what the body looks like underneath.

Paint and Refinishing

Restoration paint and refinishing is where the vehicle's final character comes together. For factory-correct restorations, we reference original paint codes and period formulas to produce an accurate colour. For custom or modified builds, we work to the colour brief and finish specification agreed in the project assessment. All restoration paint work goes through the same downdraft booth process as our other refinishing work — the controlled environment is especially important for show-quality finishes where surface perfection is non-negotiable.

Restoration Preparation

Preparation for a restoration finish is more involved than preparation for a standard repair respray. We fully strip the vehicle where necessary, assess every panel for previous filler, rust or damage, apply rust inhibitor to any bare metal before primer, and build a high-build primer base that is blocked flat before any colour. For show-quality restorations, the preparation process alone can take as long as the painting. We don't skip steps to reduce time — we're upfront about what a job actually requires.

Project Assessment

Every restoration enquiry starts with a thorough project assessment. We inspect the vehicle in person — examining body condition, rust extent, existing paint and panel profiles. We then produce a written scope of work covering what needs to be done, in what order, and what the realistic cost and timeline looks like. We don't provide ballpark figures over the phone for restoration work without seeing the vehicle, because condition varies too much to be useful without a proper inspection. If the project needs to be staged, we plan that from the start.

Vehicles We Work On

Our restoration work covers a broad range of vehicles. Classic Australian and imported cars from the 1950s through to the 1990s are a common enquiry — Holden, Ford, Chrysler, British and European models. We also work on more recent enthusiast vehicles requiring body corrections, custom colour changes or high-standard resprays that sit above what a standard repair shop would produce.

Custom builds — vehicles that have been modified, widened, lowered or fitted with non-factory body panels — require the same careful preparation and refinishing approach, with additional attention to panel gaps, fitting and surface transitions between custom and original sections.

We don't take on every restoration project that comes through the door. If the scope is outside what we can do at the standard required, we'll say so.

Related Services

Common Questions

FAQs

What restoration work do you handle at MRP Automotive?

We handle the body, panel and paint aspects of restoration projects — panel repair, rust treatment, surface preparation, refinishing and respray work. We work on classic vehicles, custom builds and enthusiast cars. We focus on the paint and body side; mechanical restoration is handled by the owner or a separate workshop.

How does the project assessment process work?

We start with a thorough inspection of the vehicle — body condition, existing paint, rust extent, panel profile and previous repairs. From that, we put together a clear scope of work with timeline and cost. We don't start work until you've reviewed and approved the assessment. If the project needs to be staged across multiple visits, we plan that with you from the beginning.

Can you match original colours for classic car restoration?

Yes. For factory original colours, we reference the vehicle's paint code or use period paint formula records to produce an accurate mix. For colours that have aged significantly on the original vehicle, we can match the aged or faded finish, or produce a fresh-from-factory representation depending on the restoration goal.

Do you work on custom and modified vehicles as well as original restorations?

Yes. Alongside factory-correct restoration work, we handle custom paint and body work on modified builds — colour changes, custom finishes and panel modifications that require professional preparation and refinishing. Custom work is scoped and quoted individually.

How long does a full body restoration take?

Restoration timelines vary considerably based on the condition of the vehicle, the scope of body and panel work needed and the complexity of the paint. We provide a realistic timeline estimate after the initial assessment, and we communicate clearly if the scope changes once work is underway. We don't rush restoration work to meet an arbitrary deadline.

Discuss Your Restoration Project

Contact MRP Automotive Refinishing to arrange an assessment. We'll inspect the vehicle, talk through the scope and give you an honest picture of what it involves.

Get in Touch Call 0418 674 333

3/43 Daintree Dr, Redland Bay QLD 4165 — Mon–Fri 7:00am–4:00pm