Classic car restoration is one of the most fun and rewarding things an automotive enthusiast can engage in. The completion of a restoration project is one of the greatest things you will ever experience. There are, however, steps you must follow beforehand to properly evaluate a car before starting the restoration. Before starting the restoration, you must evaluate many things, such as the car’s condition, your budget, and if you will tackle this project on your own. Today we will discuss tips for a successful classic car restoration.

First thing you will want to do is inspect the car from top to bottom. Don’t leave anything overlooked. Check in the trunk, the engine, drive train, and everything else. If the car is mobile, try taking it to a car shop to see if the restoration can really be achieved. It might be better to pay a mechanic for their professional opinion rather than have the project go downhill and waste all the money you used to put into it. Once you have the car evaluated, you’ll want to decide whether you want to replace the entire frame or not. If the frame on the car is still solid, you can save quite a bit of money by not having to replace it.

After examining the car, you will need to make a list of everything needed to start the restoration. You will have to create a budget ahead of time and shop around to see where you can get quality parts for a good price. (Hint, Auto Body Specialties!). You’ll also need to make sure you have the adequate number of tools for the job and consider what other tools you will need to buy.

The next step is to decide what type of restoration level you want to achieve. There are 4 levels of class car restoration, and those are…

Driver Restoration: This is level is preformed to get the car back to fully functional condition. It often includes simple part replacements and minor cosmetic adjustments.

Street Show: This level includes getting a car into fully working condition and repairing all the major cosmetic problems. Body work is often required at this level but after completion, it should fall 80-89 point when looked at by a judge.

Show Car: This level often requires professional expertise to achieve the labor quality needed to obtain to the 90-95 point range if looked at by a judge.

Concours: The is the highest level of classic car restoration. All work on the car should be done by a professional. The cars that are usually repaired at this level often are from private collections and are never driven. The car must be in optimal condition after restoration before this level can be achieved.

After you pick your level of restoration, you will have to find the space to perform the restoration. If you have a garage, this is a perfect place. Just make sure you have enough space to maneuver around the vehicle without difficulty. You should also make sure the location has adequate ventilation for painting and bodywork. The are should be well lit and include several hanging lights that can be moved to places on the vehicle where it is hard to see.