Thinking about restoring a vintage car back to its former glory? While classic car restoration can be a fun and rewarding process, it can also lead you on the road to frustration, sleepless nights, and headaches if you’re not prepared for the work involved.
To help you make the process as smooth as possible, here are three things you need to know about restoring a classic vehicle.
- Finding the right car is key. The amount of time, money, and effort you will pour into your car restoration project will primarily depend on the kind of vehicle you’re looking to give a new lease of life, so it’s important that you find the right car.
Contact junk yards and salvage car dealers so they can help you find a car that suits your needs, budget, and preferences. You can also check out magazines and newspaper ads, or talk to classic car enthusiasts if they can recommend a potential project. To save time and money, you can choose to buy a partially restored classic car, but you need to be prepared to pay upfront for this. It would also be a good idea if you bring a trained mechanic with you to inspect cars you’re interested in and let you know if it’s really worth buying and restoring as other unreliable dealers may try to sell you old cars that are literally junk.
- It’s all about the parts. Once you’ve purchased a vehicle, it’s time to look for replacement parts. If you’re lucky, you’ll still be able to make use and salvage some of your car’s current parts, but there will still be other items you need to buy.
You can contact junkyards to check if they have a similar vehicle, and ask if you can get replacement parts at a cheaper cost. Also, check online for dealers of auto parts for classic cars, as well as when shopping around for tyre prices and other parts you might need. How much you’ll spend on the parts will depend on whether you prefer to use OEM parts, or settle for aftermarket alternatives.
- Decide whether to DIY or go pro. There’s nothing more fulfilling than successfully completing a car restoration project on your own. However, if you don’t have the skills and knowledge to embark on this type of project, it would be better to just leave it to the pros. Sure, you can learn from online tutorials and do some research, and DIY-ing may also save you some money, but you risk paying more if at some point you end up making mistakes.
If you’re not confident that you can complete the project on your own, then better engage the services of professional restorers instead. With their expertise and your direction, you can quickly get your vintage car back on the road—minus the hassle and additional costs.
Restoring a classic car is no easy feat, with the number of tasks you need to accomplish and the pitfalls that may block your success. But once you return the old beauty to its original glory, then all the time, money and effort you spent on the project will all be worth it.