5 Useful Tips for Restoring Your Classic Car

Are you considering embarking on a restoration project for a vintage vehicle? Whether it’s your first or hundredth project, we have useful tips for restoring your classic car!

Why Do You Want To Restore a Classic Car?

The first thing you should do is ask yourself why you want to restore a classic car and what your project goals are. Do you want a side hobby and think it would be fun, or can you flip the car and make some money?

The answer to this question will inform every other aspect of your restoration and help you determine various aspects of the project, like the level of restoration and the budget.

Determine the Level of Restoration

Next, you’ll want to set a goal by determining the restoration level for this project. There are four levels of classic car restoration:

• Driving quality
• Street show quality
• Show car quality
• Concours quality

Driving quality is the lowest level and is purely about making the car drivable again, even if its appearance still looks run-down. Concours is the highest level, most expensive, and reserved for professionals, which is why most restorations remain at the street show or show car level.

Research Car Parts

Once you know the level of restoration for this project, it’s time to choose a restoration car. You may already have a car in mind, but before you commit to it, you’ll want to do some prior research to ensure you have the means and ability to restore it.

If it’s a rare model where replacement parts and experience with the car are hard to come by, it may be too big a project to do on your own. Foreign cars are also difficult, and having parts shipped to you globally can be expensive. If this is your first restoration, a simpler vehicle with plenty of replacement parts available is likely the best bet.

Create a Budget

Restoring a classic car can be an expensive hobby and project, so it’s wise to first create a budget to act as a guideline moving forward. If you’re new to car restorations, research similar cars and restorations to yours to see how much you can expect to pay in time and labor.

Once you think you have a set budget, consider adding another 30 percent, as that’s usually how car restorations go!

Join a Club

Our last useful tip for restoring your classic car is to find other classic car owners and restoration experts by joining a classic car club. Often, the best resource for owners and restorers are other owners and restorers with experience and knowledge.

A local club that centers on classic cars is an excellent choice, but you can also likely find online groups and clubs devoted to the specific automaker or model car that you’re restoring.

If you’re searching for classic cars you’d like to add to your collection or restore yourself, Ideal Classic Cars has a wide selection of custom vintage cars for sale. Browse our online inventory or stop by our Venice, Florida, showroom today!