Richard James
Richard’s interest in vintage and classic cars stems from his father, who’s been restoring classic cars and motorcycles for almost 50 years.
Richard’s first restoration project, aged 16, was a 1966 Vespa 150 Sport which he restored with the help of his father. The next was a Lambretta Li 125 Series 2, by which time he knew he was hooked.
He attended art college in Stroud, finally specialising in fashion where he learned pattern-making as well as how to sew. From there he went straight to work at Alpine Eagle, a company with a worldwide reputation spanning over 40 years, and learned his craft as an upholsterer under the watchful eye of Roy Partridge.
Richard’s passion, when he is not at work, is Hot Rods, with Japanese Performance cars a close second.
Vespa 150 Sport, Richard’s first restoration project
Lambretta Li the next project – of many
When I was growing up, I didn’t even consider our cars to be classic cars, they were just what we used to get around
Richard James