Whether you have a passion for restoring them or driving them, there are many classic car lovers out there. Bringing a classic or vintage car back to life can be a labor of love and can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It could be to sell the car on, and the process is what you enjoy. It could be to then keep the car yourself and enjoy it as a weekend vehicle.
But if you’ve not done it before, but quite fancy the idea of it, then where do you start? Here are a few of the steps you should take if you’re interested in a classic or vintage car restoration. Then, no matter your previous skills or experience, you can be on the right path to getting the project done well.
Do Your Homework
A vintage car restoration is not a small project. So you need to take some time to figure out how much it could cost you and what you have available to spend on it. What are the tools you need for such a project? Do you have the right ones? If you know someone that has done it before, then that could come in really handy.
Choose the Right Car
Choosing the right car can be one of the trickiest parts of a car restoration. It isn’t always going to be straightforward; the chances are that you will find one with a few problems. But you don’t want to have too many problems that will cost you a lot to fix. So take your time checking out what is for sale near you. Looking up ‘car auctions near me’ could be a good idea too, as you can often get a good deal at an auction. Classified ads, local papers, and car garages can be good places to look to. Be sure to ask plenty of questions for the previous owners.
Original or Personal
When it comes to classic cars, there are some stalwarts that believe you have to recreate the car back to its original form. But will that be the route that you take? You could opt for classic, or add some personality to the car. Making a plan and deciding what you want the car to look like is really key. It can be a good idea to know what you want to do beforehand, so that you can plan the right tools and design.
Space
You might have grand plans for your car restoration, but have you thought through where it is all going to go? Do you have space in your own garage, or would you be placing the car elsewhere? If so, you’ll need to check the security of the place, as well as check on insurance (though if the car isn’t driveable yet, it can reduce the insurance).
The thing to think about is why you are doing it, as classic car restoration can take a while. It should be a labor of love, as that will make it more appealing, and get you out there each week, rather than putting it off and wasting your money.