Restoring and rebuilding a vintage car can be a fulfilling hobby. The fruit of each day’s work is visible, and you can measure the progress your car makes regularly. While the financial commitment involved in this hobby can be substantial, the satisfaction you’ll receive when you rev up the engine for the first time will make it worth your while.
To Restore or Not?
Rebuilding antique cars takes time and dedication if you want it done right. There are some cars that are ideal for rebuilding, and some others that should be considered only if they have a sentimental value attached to them. This is an important consideration for every restoration project that you take up.
Working on Your Car
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Get to know your car – Once you have settled on the car that you are going to work with, the next step is to get to know the car intimately. Use reliable sources like the local car club, specialist mechanics and online resources to learn more about your car.
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Find missing parts – Talk to your mechanic, or search online, to locate reliable salvage yards and old car parts supply shops, in order to find all the missing parts you are looking for.
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Decide which parts you are restoring – You have to decide whether your restoration work is centered only on the engine, or the exteriors and interiors as well.
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Determine order of restoration – If you plan to restore your car completely, the ideal way to proceed would be by starting with the engine, moving to the body and then finally working on the interiors.
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Check each part of the car – Breaking down the car has to be systematic, and each part will have to be examined to look for damages or the need for replacement.
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Check frame alignment – Going right down to the frame will help you determine whether it is straight and if the alignment needs to be looked at.
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Divide your work into smaller tasks – Working on your car should be done in phases. Divide the work to be done on your car into tasks, which you can do yourself, and those which will need to be done by an expert.
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Get help from a good mechanic – Find a reliable car mechanic, preferably one whose work comes well recommended, and turn over the high level tasks to him/her.
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Plan your budget – Each of your phases have to be budgeted to ensure that you do not cross your total budget; yet accomplish all that you have planned.
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Allow for additional expenses – Being realistic about the expenses is necessary as is allotting roughly 20% percent more at each level of work for unexpected expenses.
Finishing Up the Project
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Check each part – When you begin putting your car back together again, make sure you examine every part of it minutely to ascertain it’s in working condition.
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Test your car parts in batches – Working in batches and testing the car as you go along helps in ironing out small issues.
Good quality restoration work will ensure you qualify easily for antique auto insurance. Whether it is expert advice on car evaluation, a free quote, or some of the best classic car insurance options for vintage cars, Classic Auto Insurance Agency has everything you need. For more information, call us at 888-901-1338.
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
