An avid car restorer will soon have completed work on an SS100 Jaguar from the 1930s which was the iconic sportscar of the era.

Lee Taylor lovingly restores pre war and post war cars to their former glory at his workshop at Brereton near Sandbach making a new aluminium body and wings at the home of Taylor Coachworks whose website is here .

And the current project, which he began in January is due to be completed this month (April) ready for the car, originally bought from America by a Cheshire collector, to be moved on to the next stage of its restoration - the paintwork.

The 40-year-old car lover set up Taylor Coachworks in October 2023 and now spends his days doing what he adores - restoring pre war and post war cars.

Lee offers a range of services at Taylor Coachworks from full body restorations to bespoke panel making, ash frames and steel and aluminium welding.

"There's a great satisfaction seeing them back in the condition they would have been bought in. Some of the ideas car manufacturers had in the 1930s were what we have now," said Lee, who lives in Holmes Chapel.

Since setting up, Lee, who used to watch his grandfather working on cars in the garage he owned in Wolverhampton before he became an apprentice mechanic.

Lee honed many of his skills working for a company specialising in restoring Alvis cars, again iconic vehicles of their time.

Years ago, with pre war cars you would buy the engine, main chassis and wheels and then approach a coachbuiler to make the car for you.

Lee has worked on a range of cars from Bentleys to a 1930s Talbot as well as newer cars such as a 1970s Golf and a 1980s BMW.

He cut his teeth as an apprentice on a Morris traveller and it's this vehicle he would one day like to own himself.

"There's just something about them," he said. "They are such a lovely vehicle and I would love to own one. It's great that pre war and post war cars are being restored as otherwise they would be scrapped and lost for ever."

Lee's skills are second to none but he says during Covid many coachmakers and other restorers found alternative work never went back to the business.

To this end, Lee, who is coming up to his second year in business, would one day like to employ an apprentice so he can pass on his skills.

He is thinking about holding an open day so would-be apprentices and other enthusiasts can come and see the business at work.

"It's sad that one day these skills my be gone. I plan to hold experience days where people can come and learn basic skills."

For the time being though, Lee is concentrating on getting projects finished but will be showcasing his business and skills at the Classic & Performance Car Spectacular at Tatton Park on June 7th and 8th.

"It's so important that these skills are passed on to the next generation and they're not lost forever."