Robert Siemsen

Edition Five Feature
Words by: Robert Siemsen 
Location: Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia  
Photo Credit: ©Robert Siemsen @robertsiemsen  

What is it that you do and how do you do it? 

I’m a traditional coachbuilder and I manufacture car bodies. It’s an old craft, started in England, and it’s all based around creating contoured sheet metal for car bodies. The metalworking is very broad: plenty of welding, brazing, soldering, and wheeling to create shape. 

I also restore classic cars, which is the bread and butter of the workshop. The really bespoke work – making full car bodies – is a very niche industry, so I take on good restoration projects as well to make a decent living. 

Starting my own business was a big step. I opened full-time in August 2020, at the height of the pandemic. But I’ve been busy ever since, so it’s been good. 

When you make a full car body, is it your own design or do you use historic designs? 

Subscribe to Audience to read the rest.