As we begin the year with New Year’s resolutions what better place to start for the classic car hobbyist with a plan for your favorite car. No matter whether you already have a classic car that needs repairs or restoration, or you are planning to buy one you must start with a plan. So put pen to paper with our simple beginners guide to car restorations and using our previous posts on budgeting, planning, restoration garage shopping, or even some of the DIY projects.
There is nothing like the magic of driving a classic car. If you are new to the vintage car hobby and want to restore your first classic car or truck, some planning will make the restoration go faster and cost less. And you will end up with an auto that you are proud of and suits your needs.
If you have made the decision to restore an old car, first do some planning with this classic car restoration beginners guide:
Determine Where You Want to Finish
When you plan a vacation, you decide where you want to go and then you work back from there, by booking flights or planning your driving route. You do not simply start driving or hop on an airplane and then end up someplace. No, you decide where you want to be, and work back from there.
It is a similar concept when it comes to restoring a car. First, you need to know what you want to have when the restoration is complete thus the need for a beginners guide. Ask yourself:
- Why do you want to restore a classic car?
- Do you want to drive an iconic classic, like a 1969 Camaro or something rare and obscure, like a 1965 Triumph Spitfire?
- Do you want to drive a car from your youth?
- Do you want a car strictly for show, or do you want a car that you can drive regularly and take on road trips?
Once you have answered these questions, it is time to go shopping. But first, start planning how you will do the restoration.
Planning to Get Ready to Restore a Car
Among the elements to consider in planning your restoration project:
- Money: How much are you prepared to spend on this project? Include costs for specialized tools you will need for a classic car restoration that you don’t now have. Allow for a bit more than your budget because there will be unforeseen expenses. How much does a classic car restoration cost? It depends on the condition of the car when you get it, how much work you need to do and how much work you want to do.
- Time: How many hours per week will you spend on this project? When is the target date for completion?
- Location: Where will you do the work? Do you have a garage, or will you need to arrange a place where you can work on your car?
- People: Who is working on this? Just yourself? Family members? Friends? Professionals?
- Skill level: How much of the work are you able to do yourself, or how willing are you to learn new skills? How experienced are the friends and family members who may help? How skilled are professionals you may pay for specialized work?
Finding Your Classic Car to Buy
Once you know how much money and time you must spend on this project, then you can start shopping for the car of your dreams. You may have a specific year, make, and model in mind, like a 1964 Cadillac Seville, or you might be looking for a type of car, like a late 1960s muscle car. The search may take you far from home, or perhaps just down the street. You might find what you want within days, or the search might take months or even years.
The price you pay for the car is only part of the cost of the total restoration project.
For some cars “restoration” may be minor. Perhaps your car is mechanically sound but needs some bodywork to take out dents and fill in rust holes. Or maybe the restoration on your car means a new or rebuilt engine.
For other cars, “restoration” may mean replacing and/or rebuilding most of the vehicle, including the frame, body, interior and drivetrain. So, depending on the type of restoration you are doing, not all the following steps may be necessary.
Begin Work by Taking Things Apart
As you are tearing apart your car, take lots of pictures to show where things properly go when you are putting your car back together. For some procedures, a video is even more helpful. Also, having pictures will be invaluable for the “before” and “after” photos that can be part of your display to show off your car after the restoration is completed.
You may also want to get original dealer brochures and/or articles from car magazines that will be very helpful in showing you what your car originally looked like.
- Interior: Remove the interior components, and store them in a dry, clean place. Label everything, and store small pieces in well-marked envelopes or clear plastic zip-top bags. This may seem like a time-consuming process, but it will save you time when it comes to putting everything back together. Order the car interior restoration parts as needed.
- Drivetrain: Remove the engine, transmission, and other components of the drivetrain.
- Body: Remove the bumpers, grill, trim pieces, and lights. Label them and store them carefully.
As you take the car apart, you will be able to determine what car restoration parts need to be ordered.
Doing The Restoration Work Yourself or Getting It Done
Now that your car is in pieces, you can start working on it. Decide what needs to be replaced, what needs to be repaired and what just needs to be cleaned. Your final decision may come down to the dollars you have available and how you want your car to look when the restoration is completed.
Depending on your skill levels, available time, and budget, you can do some of the work yourself. For other tasks, you may need a friend or family member experienced in these areas. You may be able to swap some skills; for example, you do some bodywork for a buddy, and he returns the favor by tuning up your engine. In other cases, you may need to hire professionals.
It is a good idea to have several projects on the go at the same time, as you work through the car restoration beginner’s guide. That is because there will inevitably be delays waiting for parts or for friends’ or professionals’ help. For example, if work on the engine gets delayed, you can work on the interior. If that work gets slowed down waiting for parts, you can tackle the bodywork. Be prepared to have one area almost done, another partly done, and another just started. That’s OK – and ultimately it means the project is still moving along, even if one element of the restoration is temporarily delayed.
Finishing It Up by Putting It Back Together
After the work is completed on the various components, now it is time to put everything back together.
- Start with the drivetrain. You may have replaced the entire engine or just the worn-out parts. The steering and suspension parts may also be repaired or replaced. A new set of classic car wheels and tires are recommended to finish off a restoration.
- Then, moving inside, the interior components can be re-installed or replaced. This includes new weatherstripping, sound deadening materials and car interior headliner.
- The body may just need minor work to smooth out dents and dings, or it may need new sheet metal welded in to replace rusted metal. After all the bodywork is completed, then comes new paint and trim moldings.
You will also need to decide how safe you want your collector car to be. For example, some people add safety belts and turn signals to collector cars, even if they didn’t have such features when new. It is about making your car safe in today’s driving conditions.
Enjoy Driving Your Collector Car
With the restoration finished, and you start driving and showing off your collector car, there are a few other things to consider:
- Make sure you have proper insurance.
- Like any car, your collector car will need routine maintenance and upkeep. That includes oil changes, checking the tire pressure, and keeping it cleaned and waxed.
- If you store your car during winter, you will need to make sure it is in a dry, safe place. Proper upkeep and care are just as important when you are not driving your restored car as when you are.
Finally
Proper care after the restoration is complete means your collector car restoration will last longer, be a financially sound project – and be a source of pride for a long time. But remember this all starts with having a restoration plan and following the beginners guide.
