If you’re an auto enthusiast seeking tips on how to restore your car, the task may seem daunting at first. Luckily, there are plenty of car restoration tips you can follow to help simplify this process.
Restoration remains a highly popular practice among American car owners. According to Peter MacGillivray, the VP of Communications for the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA), the bottom line for this market in 2015 was $1.9 billion. One can only guess that this figure will continue to increase as newer, more sophisticated car models enter the market. According to Global Industry Analysts, the global automotive aftermarket is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2022, largely because of the growing average age of vehicles and the number of cars circulating on the streets. The average length of car ownership (for both new and used cars) has also increased substantially in recent years.
Owning and fixing up a car is exciting, but it also comes with a high degree of responsibility. Here are five tips on how to restore a car for beginners:
Determine Your Project
Before doing anything else, it’s important for you to establish what you primarily hope to accomplish as part of your car restoration, including what level of restoration you are seeking. Your vehicle’s age, condition, and type will all determine how much work needs to be done. Also, you should ask yourself questions like, “Will I need help for my project, or will I complete it all on my own?”
Set a Budget
As with any endeavor, determining a budget can significantly help you stick to your plan. Adding a small percentage to your budget (around 30% extra, for example) can also help you prepare for any unplanned expenses. If you ultimately don’t need that additional money, you can treat yourself by purchasing some flashy rims or other similar parts.
According to carsdirect.com, restorations can cost up to $60,000 after all costs (labor, parts, finishing, etc.) are tallied. For Mustangs and Camaros, for instance, parts alone can amount to around $10,000. Parts you can’t supply can often be charged with a markup, so be prepared for this, too.
Set Up Your Space
You always want to ensure you have enough room for your renovation project. A full frame-off classic restoration can handily take up multiple garages. Thus, arranging each type of part and tool by section is essential, as is having a clean and well-lit garage. Don’t hesitate to also ask for advice on what tools and equipment are best-suited for your project.
Celebrate Small Victories
Whether it’s giving your car a shinier new look thanks to a fresh coat of paint or fixing the grill, take pride in any aspect of the restoration process that you have been able to do without any major hitches. If you need to take a mechanics or body work course at your local college to become more acquainted with this process and end up passing it with flying colors, give yourself a pat on the back. Small victories matter too.
Enjoy the Experience
In the end, you want to have fun restoring your car, whatever model it may be. You may even be able to pass on your knowledge to a friend or relative. However, be sure to have your car inspected by a reputable body shop or mechanic. An inspection can cost less than $100 and save you a lot of headaches in the future, so it’s undoubtedly worth looking into.
Speak to the Car Restoration Professionals at Robs Shop
Reach out to the car restoration experts at Robs Customs & Restorations in Manassas, Virginia, to learn more about the most effective way for you to restore your car. Robs’ professionals boast years of experience restoring antique, muscle, classic and vintage cars. In the case of vintage vehicles, Robs’ experts can disassemble several of your car’s parts and replace them with custom-made parts so that your ride can be returned to its original state.
Robs also provides custom auto body work (should your car suffer damage during an accident) and custom paint jobs to fix any rusting, cracked or chipped-off paint. They also offer frame repairs (for both classic structural frames and unibody contours) and rust repair, as most models can easily rust during humid seasons or when there is salt due to the formation of ice on the roads.
Finally, Robs can also perform four different types of engine swaps: LS swaps, fuel injected swaps, coyote swaps, and hemi swaps.
Call Robs today at (703) 552-5001 or contact them online for an estimate.