In the corner of London’s quirkiest destination for classic and super cars lie Romance of Rust, a multi-award-winning restoration business. We spoke to its founder Lance McCormack on working on celebrities’ cars, creating film props, training new talent, and how it all came to be.
Romance of Rust opened its doors on August 17th 1990. ‘I’ve been winging it in an antique building with a selection of hammers and a smile since,’ Lance laughs. But he’s too modest – since moving to Brentford from another stables in Ealing, West London, he’s made this place his home. A collection of over 80 specialised hammers and mallets; traditional metalwork machinery; cars stripped down to their skeletons; vintage posters and road signs decorating exposed brick.
Lance with a wing he was working on. Photo by Paul Mowatt 
Editors Marja-Leena and Karine with Lance at his workshop. Photo by Paul Mowatt
The story of Romance of Rust has two versions. The official is that Lance’s father was into cars and he caught on. The real includes the police, lying about grades at an interview, and Lance’s talents being spotted whilst working hard and as a Rolls Royce apprentice, that all was forgiven. He trained at Mulliner Park Ward, Rolls Royce’s last coach builder, making Corniches and Phantoms.
After a short stint making artificial limbs in Roehampton, he eventually returned to Rolls Royce and worked his way up to become the youngest ever final Inspector. ‘I train students from the Royal College of Art as well as silversmiths, sculptors and even product designers. In fact, one of the students they sent me is now one of the top designers at Bentley Motors,’ he says.
He also says, “being a craftsman is a way of life and given a chance to practice your craft gives you the opportunity to meet people from other worlds.”
Craftsmanship Outside Of The Garage
Lance’s recent projects include a Facel Vega Facel ll, it was back in for a massage (after being restored by him 20 years ago!) prior to its show debut at The Royal Concours of Elegance set on the lawns of Hampton Court Palace where it wowed the crowds; its presence there heralded by a nine page feature in the prestigious Octane magazine.
However Romance of Rust is so much more than automobiles. As we speak, Lance and his team are working on a specialist bench for an official Rolex restorer in West London. ‘This man can spot a fake watch at a hundred paces,’ Lance says, explaining that the work must, therefore, be of the highest quality. In the past, he was selected to create the pre-CGI mirror for Snow White and The Huntsman, as well as Captain America’s shield, and restored the body on John and Yoko’s white Phantom V, made at Mulliner Park Ward (his Alma Mater) Odds are, you’ve seen his work in one form or another.
Talent Runs In The Family
Lance’s older son, Merlin, runs Duke of London, a classic and supercar dealership hub, and his other son Algy left the claustrophobic confines of university to train with his father and has become a highly talented metalworker. Cars run in the boys’ genes – they spent many of their weekends and school holidays in the grownups toy shop.
There is cabaret and fashion in the mix too
Lance’s wife, Louise, is also a creative force in her own right. Chatting to Louise transforms you to the exciting and slightly mysterious life of cabarets and shows: Louise is the other half of Twin & Tonic duo with her identical twin sister Karen. Together they have stagemanaged cabarets, produced circus shows, and performed for over a decade. She also sings in a trio called The Hey Las performing 50s and 60s covers. Louise has always been designing and making stunning costumes for performers, and also made her own vintage-inspired clothes. She’s recently turned her design talents to a fashion business with her chic Mâitresse Clothing brand of dresses and blouses.
For the time being, Lance isn’t going anywhere. ‘I don’t plan to retire. I probably have another 30 years of hitting things with hammers left in me,’ he says. He’s just received a very special invitation to exhibit his work at a prestigious show next year. There’s plenty of work to do.
Mechanic For Car
Classic cars hold a unique allure, an echo of a bygone era that captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike. The romance of rust – this love affair with vintage automobiles – is about more than just nostalgia; it’s about preserving and celebrating the craftsmanship and heritage of each meticulously restored machine. Yet, the journey to restore these automotive icons to their former glory is is fraught with challenges particularly when it comes to finding the right mechanic for car restoration. The scarcity of qualified mechanics who specialise in classic cars can be a significant obstacle, and especially if you’re located overseas, such as the UAE.
The vintage beauties require a delicate touch and a deep understanding of historical automotive technologies, qualities that are rare in today’s facst-paced, modern car repair industry. Thus, securing a mechanic who not only understands but also cherishes the intricate mechanics of classics cars, becomes essential to ensuring that each vehicle not only runs smoothly but also retains its historical integrity and value.
https://www.instagram.com/romanceofrust/
www.instagram.com/maitresseclothing
https://www.dukeoflondon.co.uk/
A special thank you to photographer Paul Mowatt who introduced us to the wonderful McCormack family. All images featured in this article are by Paul.
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You may also enjoy reading https://darlingmagazine.co.uk/headline/duke-london-brentford/
