Quite often the first question a typical classic car hobbyist asks is “How much is it going to cost to restore my car?” Most car owners want the restoration shop to quote a flat price for the job, however most shops will not do so unless the price is extremely high. That is why understanding why car restorations costs add up quickly and many times go well beyond someone’s restoration budget.
Most restoration shops insist there is no “scientific” way to project restoration costs. They will quote an hourly rate for their time and tell the customer that they work on a “time and materials” basis. That means “X” many dollars per hour of time, plus the cost of parts and supplies. Most shops also charge for research time, shipping of parts, recycling, rags and so forth. Sales tax is also collected, too.
We will try to come up with a somewhat scientific way to explain restoration costs. For example, the typical process and average time for a complete frame-off restoration of a mid-sized GM performance car includes nine processes with a total typical time ranging between 395 and 550 labor hours. With average labor rates for all types of auto repair shops nationwide coming in around $80 per hour, that would mean a $31,600 restoration at the lower total hours or a $44,000 restoration at the higher number of labor hours only. The labor rates can vary dramatically across the country, and even in the same region depending on the quality or specialty of the car restoration shop.
Naturally, the cost would vary according to a shop’s labor rate and parts costs. So, it is virtually impossible to say a car or truck restoration costs “X” many dollars. Still, it is interesting to see at a minimum how the work involved quickly adds up to what is involved in bringing an old car back to like-new condition.
Typical Process & Average Time for A Complete Frame-Off Restoration | ||
Process | Hours | |
Body disassembly and install on a rotisserie | 10-50 | |
Frame/Suspension/Steering/Brakes disassembly | 10-50 | |
Frame/Suspension/Steering/ Brakes Clean Up & Paint | 30-40 | |
Frame/Suspension/Steering/Brakes assembly | 30-40 | |
Disassemble Drivetrain & Accessories | 5-10 | |
Drivetrain & Accessories Clean Up & Paint | 20-30 | |
Assemble Drivetrain & Accessories | 30-40 | |
Body/Trunk/Undercar, Interior & Under-hood Clean & Paint | 120-160 | |
Total Process Labor Hours | 395-550 | |
| ||
Assembly | Body Repair | Brake Repair |
Conversions | Cooling System Upgrade | Metal Fabrication |
Electrical Repair | Engine Building | Tuning |
Interior Work | Rust Repair | Metal Repair |
Paint Booth | Paint Refinishing | Color Sanding |
Buffing | Detailing Services | Suspension rebuild |
Upgrades | Sandblasting | Chrome Plating |
Zinc Plating | A/C Repairs | |
| ||
Paint Stripping Options | Start the Body Work | Paint the Car |
And Then There Are Sub-Contracted Costs
Depending on the restoration shop that you use there are also a number of restoration components that can be sub-contracted that will add to these costs. These extras can include: rebuilding the engine and/or transmission, car interior component restoration, as well as replacing any missing vehicle specific parts or rebuilding.
Finally
We have discussed in the past everything from setting up your restoration plan to cost budgeting when restoring your classic car. It is important to know that no two classic car restorations will go or cost the same at the end of the project. This is why we stress the importance of doing your research when selecting a restoration shop as well as keeping in constant contact with the shop management to ensure your project goes according to plan.
