From the August 2016 issue
Certified-used-car programs are a bumping side business for most automakers, but they tend to trade in late-model vehicles. For seven luxury brands in the heart of a surging collector market, though, factory restoration and certification operations are now full-time divisions unifying formerly separate parts, service, and archival departments. Their advantage over independent shops" They?ll re-create many parts from the original tooling?sometimes even with the original workers?and bless the car with a certificate that could add thousands or even millions to the price at auction time. Even though he runs one of those independent shops, Wayne Carini, longtime restorer and host of Chasing Classic Cars, sums up one possible appeal: ?People buying cars now, they?re not car people. So who do they trust" It?s a stamp, a guarantee.?
Aston Martin Works

Year founded: 1954

Vehicles restored: 400

Services: Parts fabrication, 3D scanning, certification, resales, road tests

Recently sold: 1963 DB4 Series 5 Vantage convertible ($1,484,019)
It takes 200 hours for a new $290,475 Vanquish to come together on Aston?s assembly line in Gaydon, England. But a car from Aston Martin Works, located at the old plant in nearby Newport Pagnell, requires nearly two years and is likely to cost even more. Or collectors can submit their car for certification under the Works?s $5800 four-tier process. Platinum cars are ?absolutely perfect and original,? says comme...