Tasman Coachbuilders is owned and run by Richard Conlon.

Richard’s was pre-destined to become one of the best coachbuilders in the world.

His childhood was spent in the workshop under the guidance and tutorage of his father and Richard restored his first vintage motorcycle at the age of 15. This was a 1927 EW Douglas which was quickly followed by a 1917 Bard which he still owns today.

After starting his career working in the luxury yacht industry, he realised his love of fine motor vehicles could not be denied so took a deep breath and opened his own shop in 1994.

Tasman Coachbuilders first project was the major restoration of a 1953 XK 120 Jaguar Coupe, which was swiftly followed by many others as word of Richard’s workmanship and fastidious attention to detail become known to a small group of motor vehicle enthusiasts that sought perfection over production. The vehicles rolled in, either on trailers or in boxes of rusted out parts but Richard went to work and applied his craft and produced many fine examples of restored motoring history including Austin Healy’s, Astro Daimler, Alvis, MG, and many XK Jaguars.

Over the years Richard has found it increasingly difficult to find and maintain the extreme level of coach building perfection he required for ‘his’ vehicles from outside providers, so he rolled up the sleeves and taught himself many different trades, and how to do them properly.   Richard lives and breathes the definition of one-stop-shop perfection.

Richard is married to Shelley who assists in the business and they have two children, Allana and Casey. Who knows, perhaps they may aspire to be third generation artisans also!