An interest in classic cars was always on the cards for Colin Thomas, with a mechanic for a dad and a grandfather always tinkering with old cars.
His childhood was littered with various makes and models, such as Rover P5, Humber Hawk, Morris 8 and Ford Corsair, while a 1957 Cadillac 60 Special threw in a curveball that would later inspire his own passion for American cars.
Thomas’ first classic was a 1972 Rover P5B saloon and he cut his teeth in the early 1980s with an apprenticeship at his local Austin Rover dealership in Northampton.
This Volkswagen Type 2 has its Solex carburettor tweaked by Colin Thomas
He continued to learn his trade at a number of garages until, in 1994, he decided to set up his own business.
From then until 2004 Thomas was contracted to carry out everything from valeting and delivery driving to servicing with Westaway Motors.
Filling spare time with other clients, he became involved with a less-than-reputable classic car ‘dealer’ – who proceeded to disappear with Thomas’ considerable financial investment.
Some might have opted to get a run-of-the-mill job instead, but the experience made Thomas even more determined to be his own boss.
From campervans to sports cars, Clouds Hill Classics gets a variety of projects through the workshop door
