Practical Classics magazine editor Danny Hopkins and his brilliant team spend time reviewing readers' restorations to appear in the magazine each month.  At the show six finalists were showcased hoping to lift the golden spanner crowning them Restorer of the Year!

The Winner

Congratulations to Neil and his 21st Century Opel Fruit for winning this year's Practical Classics Restorer of the Year.

The 2022 Finalists

The Long List

21st Century VW Golf GTI

Michael King wanted his MkII Golf GTI to be just like a MkII Golf GTI… but better!

1973 Morris Marina T16 Turbo

Ben Clayton fell for this Morris
Marina as a kid, but only after rebuilding it did it live up to his dreams

Winner - 21st Century Opel FRUIT

It’s a mouthwatering combo, one GM should have engineered itself rather than leaving it to a clever chap from Cambridgeshire…

Lotus Elise 

Crashing his girlfriend's car led to a critical lesson in glass fibre repair and the purchase of this Lotus Elise.

Lancia Beta Coupé

It took 30 years for Clive Moss to find his dream Lancia. Once he did, that was when the real work started.

Mercedes R107 SLs

Before this car, Jim Stuart had only changed oil or brake pads. How did he do it? ‘You can learn anything from YouTube!’

MG Montego Turbo

Michael Owen’s MG Montego Turbo was abandoned by a tree in France for two decades, until he found the bon courage to bring it back…

Ford Rosso T47

When John Jones bought his TR7 for just £100 back in 1994, little did he think it would
become the perfect example it is today.

Land Rover Series One

Teenage restorer Elyot Harmston turned lockdown frustration into a thing of significant beauty

1971 Midget MkIII

After 40 years of track day glory, Angus Gray realised it was time to restore his plucky Midget.

Spitfire

Nigel Cox’s Spitfire restoration was complete, but lockdown gave him an idea…

Porsche 914

Phil Lynch never planned a full resto for his Porsche 914, but the car had other ideas. Phil hit skyhigh standards without breaking the bank.

1956 1500 roadster

Andy Kenning spent eight years restoring it – now it’s the best early MGA that Practical Classics have ever seen

1966 Sunbeam Tiger

Terry Gibbons fought this Tiger to realise a dream… to own a classic British Q-car, an Alpine with real teeth!

1978 Škoda 120 L

After decades of neglect, James Goulding’s 1978 Škoda 120 L is back on the road again

XJ40 Jaguar

Parking an XJ40 in a single garage is one thing, but Gary Langton restored and painted his in one, too.

MG TA

When Tim Parrott rescued his MG TA from a Scottish barn, it was only the beginning!