Lovingly restored Peugeot wins prestigious show prize for firm

A DERBY-based car restoration company has won the Restoration Showcase Award at one of the country's most prestigious shows.

- By EVA MILLETT

AutoRara, based on Griffon Road headed to the Concours of Elegance competition at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey on September 6.

Entering the Restoration Showcase category with a 1990 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI, the team at AutoRara successfully took home the win with the "tongue-in-cheek" restoration - aiming to show craftsmanship, preservation and authenticity.

The winning Peugeot 205 was considered unusual at such an elitist event where restorations usually feature rare and exotic marques like Ferraris or Lamborghinis.

The Concours of Elegance brings together a collection of 60 of the rarest cars from around the world many of which have never been seen before in the UK.

After being shortlisted in the top five restorations, the team were happy to take that as an achievement.

"We thought it was amazing to get down to the last five," said David Stubbs, company director.

"There were some superbly rare and expensive exotica around that place. So we just thought to be in the final five was good and then we were asked to drive the car up on stage.

"We drove up and after we were guided round we realised we were the only car sat waiting.

"I was driving and you never want to do anything ridiculous like stall. The stage was based around a fountain at Hampton Court, it was beautiful.

"The moment we found out we won was quite surreal."