BELOW: JSW operates a range of HAAS machinery, capable of creating components from scratch
BELOW: Machining of major cylinder head castings
TRADE PROFILE
ABOVE: The JSWL workshops deal with a wide range of high-quality hugely expensive prestige classic car restorations and recreations
There can be few in the classic car scene who have achieved such an impressive business development, not to mention a huge degree of personal respect from others in the industry, as Jim Stokes. It’ s a classic‘ acorns to oak trees’ story, progressing from a oneman-band business in his back garden to its current, almost legendary, status with fi�e large industrial units on a business estate in Waterlooville, near Portsmouth, employing a dedicated and highly skilled staff of over 50 persons.
Probably the main achievement is not so much the scale of the business, but that Jim has been able to maintain the exacting standards and quality of work that for so long defined him as a one� man operation. Where many businesses‘ lose it’ and have to compromise on quality when they expand too quickly, or too far beyond the control of their instigator, Jim has remained firmly in charge at the helm, ensuring that his own high standards are maintained, but without sti�ing the abilities and enterprise of his staff.
�he first part of Jim�s career( from 1970) was with Geoffrey Marsh, the owner of Marsh Plant, the plant hire company, when he was at college and night school during the beginning of each week, followed by working with other major restoration companies from Wednesday onwards.
Jim recalls‘ This was a great way to learn the business, working with marque specialists all over the country, working on Geoffrey’ s cars in others’ workshops. After around seven years we started to do far more work in-house, initially just myself and then with two others for race meetings. Towards the end of my time there( 1�80�81) I was team managing at the race meetings, with up to three cars with professional drivers and an ex-F1 rig.
��hen, in 1�81 I went self�employed and started sub-contracting for other restoration companies, and the first engine rebuild I did with this arrangement was a V16 BRM.
Everything has progressed steadily from there, to how it is now, with a team of over 50 staff and a worldwide presence in the restoration industry’.
The business has now grown to occupy fi�e industrial units on the Pipers Wood Industrial Park in Waterlooville and the group now has a global reputation and customer base, with a range of contacts and suppliers that is unrivalled in the historic and classic car world.
With a 50-strong workforce, the group comprises four main elements, each working under independent management and accountability, but under the overall control of Jim as managing director of the JSW Group. Taking care of the restoration and re-creation of historic cars is Jim Stokes Workshops, the original company which was founded 40 years ago by Jim and his wife Hilary.... P
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