Home of rejuvenated, marvellously preserved and completely overhauled chariots of yesteryear.
Not that all of our cars are vintage or half-century Sceptres and Rovers – nowadays Cortinas and Preludes from the 1980s and 1990s form part of the collection as another generation learns to cherish cars they maybe didn’t appreciate first time round.
There are all sorts of reasons classic vehicles are so in demand today. Many were built to be much more durable than many of today’s cars, and often the standard of engineering was so high that the cars have stood the test of time admirably.
Whether our customers remember being ferried around in a classic car as a youngster, or drove one of these marvellous vehicles many years ago, or perhaps have always driven cars such as these, they all appreciate the satisfaction of driving a car that was built to last.
So few people owned cars all those years ago that it was in manufacturers’ interests to build them solidly – hence a reputation for reliability and durability, whereas nowadays if cars lasted this long the manufacturers would all have gone bust years ago!
The sturdy seats, the thick steel of the panels, the straightforwardness of the engines, the rich bold colour schemes – the cars of the classic era all seem so honest, so sensible, so elegant compared with many of today’s offerings. And the materials used in the cars’ interiors add to the allure – whether real wood or veneer, thick leather hide or tough vinyl, the pure functionality of so many cars from years gone by adds to the magic.
And it’s a magic we at Craners take pleasure in preserving and sharing. Here at Craners we’re glad to carry on the tradition of classic cars, as we have done successfully now for more than forty years. And loved every minute of it.
Our business would never have been possible without the magnificent contribution made to motoring history by such companies as Morris, Riley and Austin and the geniuses who in the early part of the twentieth century invested their time, money and effort in making British carmaking what it was when many of our cars were produced.
The trusty A-series engine which features in many of BMCs cars or the revered 3500cc Rover engine which was Austin’s flagship engine throughout the 1970s and beyond have made it so much easier for us to restore and maintain our cars.
Many of the companies who help restore our cars to such a high standard have been able to specialise and excel thanks to many of the engines often being so similar, whether in Rileys, Morrises, and Austins, or in bigger powerhouses such as those found in Jaguars.
And of course engines were a lot less complicated in those days although just as if not more reliable. Our customers often tell us how delighted their elderly mechanic was to discover he would get to service an engine he knew inside out all those years ago.