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The Top 5 Hardest Classic Cars To Restore

Posted by Lauren Middleton on Apr 14th 2021

Last month we published a blog on the easiest classic cars to restore. This month we’re switching things up a bit and going over the top 5 hardest classic cars to restore. When picking the hardest classic cars to restore, a couple of things came into our decision making process. They included the price to restore the car and difficulty in finding restoration parts. Always remember that classic car restoration projects are supposed to be fun. If it becomes too time consuming and stressful, the project probably isn’t worth it.

1.Pontiac Trans Am SD 455 – This car was one of the rarest muscle cars ever produced. Pontiac only built 232 copies of this car. Because of this, the proper parts for the frame and body panels haven’t been produced for years. Even if you purchase one of these cars at an auction, the upkeep may outweigh the cost of the car.

2.Dodge Challenger R/T – One classic car restoration specialist spent eleven years finishing a restoration of this car. Like the Trans Am, these cars were rarely produced and because of that, their parts are also extremely hard to find. The R/T also had parts that tended to rust very quickly which also contributed to production ending so fast.

3.Plymouth Superbird – Jay Leno even had a tough time finding a way to restore a Plymouth Superbird. It is another rare car but gained notoriety when Richard Petty win eighteen races with it. Restoration parts are incredibly difficult to find when you can find them, it costs a fortune to buy them.

4.Buick GSX – This is another classic car that one enthusiast spent over five years restoring. The hardest part to find for this Buick is the CI V8 engine. Even trying to recreate it may not yield the horsepower that the original engine had.

5.Corvette LS6 – There were several rare Corvettes produced and the LS6 is one of those as only 454 were made. Like the Buick, this Corvette’s engine is hard to find. The engine was aluminum headed with solid lifter. Though they are hard to find, these cars are considered a collector’s item because their 454 horsepower engine outpaced many other Corvettes.