Classic Car Panel Beater / Coachbuilder
Classic Car Panel Beater / Coachbuilder Do you have experience working with aluminium and steel and a passion for classic and performance cars? Would you like the opportunity to develop those skills further while working on some of the world’s most iconic motor cars? Aston Workshop is one of the world’s leading independent Aston Martin specialists, with an international reputation for the restoration, preservation and development of Aston Martin vehicles. From our extensive facilities in the Beamish countryside, our team of more than 40 specialists work on cars spanning the history of the marque, from early pre‑war examples through to some of the most recognisable Aston Martins ever produced.
We are looking for a Classic Car Panel Beater / Coachbuilder to join our specialist body restoration team. For us, the most important starting point is a good foundation of practical metalworking skills, particularly the ability to work with and weld both aluminium and steel. You do not need to arrive as a master coachbuilder, nor do we expect you to have experience in every traditional restoration technique. If you have the right core skills, take pride in your work and have a genuine desire to learn and develop, there is a great deal we can teach you. Equally, if you are already an experienced panel beater or coachbuilder, we would be very interested in hearing from you.
The Work
Our body restoration department undertakes everything from localised repairs and preservation of original bodywork through to complete ground‑up restorations involving hundreds or thousands of hours of skilled work. No two projects are quite the same. Depending on your existing skills and experience, your work could include:
- Repairing and restoring aluminium and steel bodywork
- Welding both aluminium and steel
- Panel beating and metal finishing
- Hand‑forming panels and repair sections
- Fabricating sections where replacement panels are no longer available
- English wheel work
- Shrinking and stretching
- Repairing and preserving original body panels wherever possible
- Structural body and chassis repairs
- Panel alignment, fitting and gap correction
- Working from patterns, templates and original components
- Developing traditional coachbuilding and restoration techniques
- Working alongside our paint, mechanical and engineering departments on complete vehicle restorations
We don't expect every applicant to be experienced in every technique listed above. Some of these may already be part of your skill set; others may be techniques you have always wanted the opportunity to learn.
Who We’re Looking For
The foundation we’re looking for is relatively straightforward: someone who is good with their hands, understands metal and can competently work with both aluminium and steel.
- Practical experience in panel work, vehicle bodywork, coachbuilding, fabrication or a closely related metalworking environment
- The ability to weld both aluminium and steel
- Good general metalworking and fabrication skills
- A good eye for shape, fit and finish
- Practical problem‑solving ability
- Attention to detail
- Pride in the quality of your own work
- A willingness to learn and develop further skills
- Previous experience with classic cars is advantageous, but it is not essential.
- Previous Aston Martin experience is certainly not required.
- What matters more to us is having the right foundation of skills, a genuine interest in producing high‑quality work and the desire to develop.
Develop Your Craft
One of the advantages of joining Aston Workshop is the breadth of experience already within the business. You will be working alongside people who have spent many years developing specialist restoration, panel beating and coachbuilding skills. That provides an opportunity not simply to do the job you already know, but to continually broaden your abilities. If you already have extensive restoration experience, there is an opportunity to apply that knowledge to some exceptional projects. If you have strong core skills but haven’t yet had the opportunity to develop every aspect of traditional coachbuilding, don’t let that put you off applying. We’re interested in what you can do now, but also in what you could become with the right environment, projects and people around you.
Working Hours & Salary
Working hours are Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, including a 30‑minute paid tea break each day. Paid overtime is available, along with flexible start and finish times to provide greater flexibility around the working day. Salary is competitive and fully negotiable depending on experience and ability. We recognise that candidates for this position may come from very different backgrounds and levels of experience, and remuneration will reflect the skills you can bring to the role.
Employee Benefits
- Employee discounts & cashback across a wide range of high‑street and online retailers
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Use of our workshop facilities outside of business hours
- Staff discount on vehicle parts
- Opportunities to represent the company at events across the UK and Europe
- 30% staff discount on food and drink at The Black Horse Beamish when visiting socially
- Discounted staff accommodation at The Black Horse Beamish, subject to availability
- Preferential friends & family accommodation rates at The Black Horse Beamish
- Free room hire for employees' own events at The Black Horse Beamish, subject to availability
- Two complimentary Aston Workshop tours each year for friends or family
- Free on‑site parking
- Staff events and social activities
- Training and development opportunities
- Opportunities for career progression across the group
Job Summary
Job Types: Full‑time, Permanent
Pay: Up to £40,000.00 per year
Benefits: On‑site parking
Experience: aluminium welding: 3 years (required); steel welding: 3 years (required)
Work location: In person
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