If you own a car or a truck that needs repairs – or that you plan on taking to an auto show – you may be tempted to fix or rebuild it yourself, especially if you have experience with vehicle mechanics. However, a custom auto body shop will likely be much more prepared to assist you with any level of restoration. These businesses often have all of the essential tools and technology required, and they use specific processes to perform restoration services.
What Car Restoration Services Are Offered By A Custom Auto Body Shop?
A vehicle is considered “restored” if both the exterior and interior have been completely reconstructed to appear as if it had just rolled off the assembly line where it was manufactured. The restoration process is different from “refurbishment,” which implies that an automobile has merely undergone minor repairs and improvements.
There are several different levels of car restoration, including driving condition, street show condition, show car condition, and concours condition. Oftentimes, a 100-point rating system is utilized to evaluate a vehicle’s condition.
Car Restoration Services Provided By Custom Auto Body Shops
Most custom auto body shops offer restoration services for many different types of cars and trucks. Here is a close analysis of four distinct types of vehicles that a custom body shop can typically restore.
Antique Car & Truck Restorations
Antique vehicles such as the 1927 Ford Model T and the 1930 Cadillac 16 are extremely rare because of how old they are. They can easily sustain significant wear and tear as time goes by. A custom auto body shop can disassemble any old parts of a car’s body and replace them with higher-quality components. It can also straighten an antique vehicle’s frame so that the car can circulate normally on the road.
Regarding antique trucks, a body shop can restore pickup truck beds and doors in order to improve their functionality. For both cars and trucks, a shop can repair a dashboard or restore seats.
Classic Car & Truck Restorations
Classic vehicles such as the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE are not as old as antique cars, but they should still be treated with extreme care. Similarly to an antique vehicle, an auto body shop can adjust a classic car’s frame and fix any wear and tear (by performing a custom paint job, for example).
An auto body shop can also restore a classic car or truck’s interior by upgrading their fabric or leather seats (for additional comfort) and repairing the glove box and dashboard.
Vintage Car & Truck Restorations
Vehicles that were built between 1919 and 1930 are generally considered to be “vintage” automobiles. Examples of these include the MGB Roadster and the Alfa Romeo 8C. Like antique vehicles, vintage cars are old and may have issues such as broken center consoles and worn-out dashboards. A custom auto body shop can help repair these issues and thus restore a vintage vehicle’s aesthetic appeal.
Muscle Car & Truck Restorations
Muscle cars such as the Dodge Charger SE and the Chevrolet Camaro LT are known for both their impressive power and style. These vehicles’ bodies and frames can experience significant wear and tear over time. A custom auto body shop can restore a muscle car by repairing its leather seats, its dashboard, or the interior side of its doors.
The tools an experienced custom auto body shop uses for restorations include impact wrenches, grinding wheels, air compressors, dent pullers, and hydraulic lifts. Somebody shops also have software programs that help with taking more accurate measurements. Many body shops can also perform engine swaps, which may be beneficial if your vehicle’s engine is too old and weak.
Reach Out To A Professional Custom Auto Body Shop
Contact the professionals at Robs Customs & Restorations in Manassas, Virginia for more information on how a custom auto body shop can help with car restoration services. We have experience dealing with several different types of vehicles, including classic, antique, vintage and muscle cars, as well as trucks.
At Robs, we know that customizing a vehicle is a way of expressing your personality and creativity. Regardless of the level of restoration you are seeking for your vehicle, we can help you achieve it. Our restoration process always begins with a frame alignment, which is essential to allowing a vehicle to circulate properly on the road. After restoring a car or truck’s body, we can rebuild the interior, including the seats, dashboard, and center console.
Finally, we can perform a custom paint job to improve your vehicle’s aesthetic appeal and an engine swap to give it more functionality. Call Robs Customs & Restorations today at (703) 552-5001 or contact us online to request a free estimate on your restoration.