1907 Itala Restoration Project
Under the new ownership of Tomas De Vargas Machuca, David was delighted to be loaned the Itala (once owned and rallied by himself of course) in April to do the flying Scotsman Rally. It was from this test rally that David realised that it needed a lot of work doing to it. So another 1907 Itala Restoration Project was begun!
Before the restoration the car went to Italy to be displayed before returning to our workshop on 8th August 2025.
The aim of the restoration was to put this beautiful car back in to 1st class condition to go long distance rallying again with Tomas.
Whilst out of David’s care the Itala had been modified including the charging system, fuel system, engine, clutch and the gear box had all been played around with.
The fuel system didn’t work properly, the clutch was not working properly and it was not charging.
Therefore it was in need of a serious amount work.
The plan was to strip down the Itala and put it back into the condition that it was in when David used to rally it.
And just to put more pressure on, we only had a very small window to do the job, with proposed shipping in early Jan 2026.
Below are some images of the strip down process during the restoration:
On top of doing restoration Tomas also wanted to change parts of the car:
- 2 side fuel tanks removing and changing in to storage
- We totally stripped the car down to a bare chassis including totally rebuilding the fuel tank, rear axle & gear box
- We manufactured a new front axle and steering joints
- The radiator was totally rebuilt as was the gear box
- The engine and clutch completely dismantled and rebuilt and the crankshaft crack tested
- The cylinder blocks were stitched as they had cracks in them
Once the car was reassembled we managed to do 4 miles on the clock before leaving the workshop on 19th January 2026 and being picked up to be shipped to Saudi Arabia.
With the 1907 Itala Restoration Project complete, and on deadline, it was time to test it in the upcoming conditions. Once the vehicle arrived, the main testing was done with Tomas in Saudi before the start of the Badawi trial.
See more details of the Rally in our blog highlighting some of the recent history we’ve had with the Itala.
About David Ayre Cars
As a veteran and Vintage Bentley and Lagonda owner and restorer (as well as Rally Support and competitor), we pride ourselves in having the knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise to be able to offer the most detailed and comprehensive service to our worldwide customer base.
30 plus years in the trade and a real passion for vintage Bentley and Lagonda cars has given us an extensive knowledge and experience of vintage car restoration. Our complete service means no matter whether it’s a full restoration or a service, you’ll be in expert hands. From a complete engine rebuild to an interim service, we’ll take care of your vintage car to the highest of standards.
To view more of our restoration projects, including Vintage Bentley and Lagonda Restorations, click here.