While I was on the parts hunt, SB1619’s frame was sent to Sweden’s number one coach builder, Magnus Ahlqvist of Motorima. Ahlqvist has been in the business for some 25 years, and is well known for his excellent craftsmanship. Over the years, he has done beautiful body restorations on vintage Bugattis, Ferraris, Jaguars, to name but a few.

In December 2005 the car could be seen in my garage before being sent to coach builder Ahlqvist.

By February 2006 the skin had been removed.

Frame restoration involved removing modified parts of the frame, as well as replacing tubes that had been destroyed when the car was involved in an accident in the early 1970s. The challenge was to remove as few of the original tubes as possible.

By April 2006, the re-skinning could start. As could be seen on the pictures of the car when it was found, not many of the original aluminium panels could be reused. Years of racing, the accident and the unforgiving weather in Africa had taken their toll. The transmission tunnel was really the only salvageable panel which has been refitted on the car.

In June 2006 the body was ready. Here (above, lower right photo) the car can be seen in good company of Graham Hill’s old F2 Cooper T71 1964, which Magnus Ahlqvist is racing.