PROJECTS

Here's just a small sampling of the some of the work we've completed or are currently working on.

New project images and galleries are currently being uploaded

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Trunk Floor

The original trunk floor panels in this 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz had reached the end of their usable life. Years of corrosion and damage had left the metal thin and full of holes, so rather than trying to repair compromised panels, we made the decision to fabricate a complete new set.

The process began with a 3D scan of the trunk floor, allowing us to accurately capture the original shapes, dimensions and details. From that data, bucks were produced using a CNC router, giving us accurate forms and guides for the fabrication work that followed.

With the bucks completed, we fabricated tooling to reproduce the various swages in the floor, along with a series of hammer forms for the more intricate shapes and details.

The new panels were then formed using the Pullmax, with the bucks providing an accurate reference as each of the original floor details was worked into the metal. The ends of the swages and finer areas were finished by hand to recreate the original shapes as closely as possible.

Once formed, the new trunk floor was positioned back into the Cadillac using references taken from the original panels. The original gussets and bracketry could then be returned to their correct locations before the entire assembly was spot welded together.

What started as a trunk floor too badly deteriorated to save has been recreated from the ground up, combining 3D scanning and CNC technology with traditional metal shaping and hand fabrication.

1961 LANDROVER SERIES 2

A Land Rover with a lot more than miles behind it.

This 1961 Land Rover Series II arrived at R3 Fabrications in mid-June 2026. It has been part of the same family for many years, travelled overland through numerous countries including the Middle East, and carries the marks and character of a life well lived.

The goal with this restoration isn’t to make it look brand new. It’s to get it back on the road while preserving as much of its history as possible.

When it arrived, the 2.25-litre engine had seized after sitting for a long period. Surprisingly, the chassis was in reasonably good condition, although the firewall has required considerably more work. While engines aren’t normally part of what we do, Glen has a particular passion for old Land Rovers, so this one is getting some extra attention and a careful mechanical refresh.

Under the bonnet, everything will be clean, fresh and ready for the road again. The exterior is a different story. Its original patina is staying.

The repaired firewall will be painted in Bronze Green before being carefully aged and brushed back to blend with the rest of the vehicle. The idea is simple: repair what needs repairing, preserve what tells its story.

And there’s a very special reason for getting this Land Rover back on the road.

Once it’s finished, it will make another big journey, this time back to Dunedin. The owner wants to take his mother for a ride in it again. Years ago, she travelled overland in this Land Rover with her late husband, creating memories across countries and thousands of kilometres.

So this isn’t about building a showpiece.

It’s about bringing an old Land Rover back to life, keeping every bit of character we can, and giving one family the chance to make another memory in a vehicle already full of them.

We’re aiming to have it back on the road by late 2026.