Restoring a classic car is much more than a mere hobby – it’s a fulfilling endeavor as you get to preserve a piece of history. For enthusiasts, the process is imbued with a sense of nostalgia and respect for craftsmanship from the past. Each classic car comes with its own story, a unique character, and a legacy that often transcends generations.
This blog post delves into the intricacies and pleasures of bringing these vintage vehicles back to life. If you’re looking for the steps involved in restoring a classic car, check out our guide Here are some tips that can help if you’re planning on restoring a classic car:
Choose a project car wisely
The first step in your classic car restoration adventure is, quite obviously, finding the right car. You have to be wise here – not all classic cars are worth the effort. It’s better to pick a model with strong aftermarket support. Think twice before committing to a rare vintage with parts last produced in the 60s. The challenge of finding obscure parts can be overwhelming and might dampen your enthusiasm.
Popular models like the MGB, Volkswagen Beetle, or Triumph saloons are excellent choices, thanks to their readily available parts. Sure, discovering a rare component on eBay can be thrilling, but convenience is key when it comes to essentials like filters and brake parts.
Another wise choice is to choose a classic car model that is proven to be reliable. After all, you want to be able to enjoy driving your project car for a long time, after you have spent a lot of effort and resources restoring it.
The important thing is to choose a car that genuinely resonates with you. You’ll be investing a lot of time and effort in disassembling, sourcing parts, and reassembling. If the car doesn’t truly excite you, the long and demanding restoration process might feel overwhelming. Avoid settling for a classic that doesn’t check all your boxes.
To ease the workload and expenses, consider starting with a classic that’s already been partially restored. Maybe it’s a project abandoned due to lack of time or resources. While this option might be pricier initially, it can save you a significant amount of labor and parts hunting later on.
On the flip side, you could opt for a more ambitious project – a blank slate car requiring extensive work. Though more demanding in terms of effort and parts, these projects are often more affordable at the outset.
When scouting for a car to restore, patience is the key. You can network with fellow classic car enthusiasts to get promising leads. Regularly peruse classic car magazines and online classifieds for potential finds. Remember, the more work a car needs, the longer and potentially more expensive your restoration journey will be.
Determine your purpose for restoration
When contemplating whether to restore a classic car, there are a few essential questions to ponder:
- Purpose: What are your plans for the car?
- Current Condition: What shape is it in right now?
- Rarity: How unique is your car?
- Budget: How much of the budget is available for the project?
Examining these aspects can help you decide whether to embark on a restoration journey or continue to maintain the car in its current state lovingly. Your motivation significantly affects the extent and direction of the restoration.
If your goal is to showcase your car in classic car shows or competitions, authenticity is key. Experts often recommend preserving the car’s original color and style. You might refurbish a faded paint job or repair damaged parts, but keeping the car as close to its original state as possible is usually advised.
However, if your classic car is purely for personal enjoyment, the decision to restore and the extent of that restoration is entirely in your hands. Whether it’s a full-blown restoration or just a few tweaks, the choice is yours to make based on your aspirations and resources.
Understand your classic car
Once you have found a classic car to restore, you have to be familiar with its bits and pieces. A deep understanding of your vehicle is a foundational step – it informs you of every decision you make.
To understand your classic car, look at these things:
- Vehicle identification number (VIN): The VIN is the fingerprint of your car. It can usually be found on the dashboard near the windshield or on the driver’s side door jamb. This number provides crucial information about the car, including its year, make, model, and place of manufacture.
- Data plates and stickers: Often, classic cars have data plates or stickers that can offer additional information about the vehicle, such as the engine type, paint color, and factory options.
- Registration and title documents: These documents often contain essential details about the car and can be a reliable source for identifying its make, model, and year.
Once you have obtained this important information, research the original specs and features of the car to ensure an authentic restoration. Look for factory specs, detailed engine specs, interior and exterior options, and even paint colors.
It also helps to learn about the era in which your car was manufactured so you can gain valuable insights. For instance, certain design elements and technologies were popular in specific decades, and understanding these can help you restore your car more authentically.
If possible, compare your car with existing models in person at car shows or online through photographs and videos. This can give you a real-world benchmark for your restoration.
Set up a place to work.
To set yourself up for success, ensure you have a well-organized and equipped workspace. It doesn’t only facilitate a smoother restoration but also ensures safety and efficiency.
Choose a place with a comfortable amount of space, which can contain not only the car itself but also disassembled parts, tools, a workbench, and for moving. A garage or a spacious shed can be ideal.
Make sure you have enough lighting, proper ventilation, and adequate power outlets. The place must also be a secure spot so you can protect your project from the elements and potential thieves.
Set a realistic budget
When planning a budget for your classic car restoration, the first step is to take stock of everything that needs to be done. List out all the components – auto parts, accessories, paint, tires, wheels, panels, doors, and any professional services required. Assess the cost of each item to arrive at an initial budget figure. However, experience shows that it’s wise to add an extra 30% to this figure. Restoration projects often encounter unexpected costs, and this buffer helps prevent any financial surprises along the way.
Certain tasks, like a professional paint job, can be expensive, averaging around $10,000. A complete restoration can easily reach $40,000 or more. Plan all your expenses well so the car won’t end up as an unfinished project in your garage.
If you’re restoring with the intent to sell, ensure that your total investment aligns with the car’s market value to avoid losing money.
Find and secure the parts
When restoring a classic car, sourcing replacement parts is key to the process. Unlike standard cars, part of classic cars can be hard to find. It’s one of the biggest challenges to classic car restoration.
A great starting point is to contact vehicle salvage centers nearby. They might have a similar model from which you can harvest parts. This is often the most cost-effective route. Also, keep an eye out for listings where individuals are parting out similar vehicles. These can be found on various online platforms and are a great source for reasonably priced parts.
Additionally, online car collector groups are treasure troves for finding parts. These groups bring together enthusiasts who buy, sell, or trade parts. Being part of such communities helps you find the parts you need and connects you with a network of individuals who share your passion and can offer valuable advice and tips.
Buy compatible tools
When restoring classic cars, you will invest in parts and tools, especially if you don’t have a comprehensive tool kit with wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, and a socket set. Quality tools can be a big expense, but they pay off in the long run.
When shopping, always buy the best you can afford. Low-quality tools will only slow you down as they may break or won’t work the way they were intended to. If the price is too good to be true – and this also applies to parts – then it’s not worth it.
Plan your restoration project
Before getting your hands dirty with the project, you must first make a number of decisions and assessments to make sure your time, effort, and money will not be wasted. Here are some things you must do:
1. Assess the car.
Take a good look at your car. Is it a rust-ridden find, an accident-damaged vehicle, or one with weary bodywork but a sound engine? Maybe it’s a long-parked gem needing only minor touch-ups. The car’s current condition will dictate the scale of your project, both in terms of time and budget.
2. Decide how authentic you want the car to be.
Now that you know what you need to do, it’s time to think about parts. Your spending will hinge on how much you value original or brand-specific parts. Identify which components must be authentic and which ones you’re willing to compromise on to save money.
3. Evaluate your skill level truthfully.
While a DIY approach can save money, incorrectly handled repairs can end up costing more if a professional needs to rectify them. Realistically gauge your mechanical skills and be honest with yourself. If you’re not a seasoned mechanic, some tasks might prove challenging, so if you anticipate needing expert help, factor this into your budget from the start.
Some tasks in car restoration are best left to those with specific expertise. Spray painting is an example. You may think painting the car is something you can easily tackle, but achieving a quality finish requires skill and the handling of potentially toxic materials and specialized equipment. The effort, cost, and potential mess involved in DIY paint jobs often don’t match the satisfaction and quality of a professional finish.
4. Be realistic about your schedule.
Restoring a classic car is time-consuming – it’s like assembling a big, complex puzzle with so many pieces that must be perfectly placed. So don’t expect it to be done in a month, or a few months for that matter. Allocate enough time for each step of the process, allowing yourself to work thoroughly without the pressure of rushing to completion.
Also, prepare for the unexpected – parts can be hard to find, deliveries can be delayed, and professional services might not always be readily available. If you choose to DIY, your skills may improve over time, and you may find yourself revisiting and redoing your earlier work to meet your evolving standards of quality.
5. Be organized.
The key to a successful classic car restoration lies in meticulous planning and organization. If your project car requires dismantling, it’s best to work methodically, often from the bottom up. As you remove parts for replacement and restoration, keep a detailed catalog of every component. This organization is crucial to avoid the all-too-common scenario of ending up with a jar of mysterious spare bits and pieces that you don’t know what for.
Have fun
The restoration journey can be a long and tedious journey, but don’t forget that it’s supposed to be fun. Enjoy each stage of the process, and look forward to something new that you will learn. Find joy in small victories along the way. Seeing even just one part of the car reach its finished state can be a massive morale booster. It gives a glimpse of the project’s potential and can re-energize your passion for the task. So, go ahead and spend time polishing that radiator grille or getting those wheels blasted and painted. These small wins are not just progress; they’re fuel for your enthusiasm.
And when the day comes to roll your completed project out of the garage, you’ll likely look back on the restoration process with fondness, satisfaction, and pride. It’s the journey, with its ups and downs, that adds depth to the joy of completion.
But be warned: the process of taking something old and worn and bringing it back to a state better than new is incredibly addictive. While this might be your first foray into classic car restoration, it’s unlikely to be your last. The satisfaction of breathing new life into a classic car is a satisfying experience, one that often calls enthusiasts back time and time again.