9 Simple Tips on How to Restore a Classic Car

There aren’t many things in life that beat the feeling of finishing a big project after weeks or months of hard work—ask anyone who’s ever remodeled their home, run a marathon, or finished a 10,000-piece Lego set.

Restoring an old car or truck is another such project that can scratch that itch. Lots of folks dream of bringing a classic vehicle back to life, but few actually take the leap. It seems like such a massive undertaking, but we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to be a master mechanic to get it done. You just have to have passion, grit, and determination. Also, money doesn’t hurt either.

We’d be here all day if we got into all the nitty-gritty of how to restore a vintage car, and the process is different for each one, so we won’t go too deep into it here. Instead, let’s focus on some basic classic car restoration guidelines and general pointers for all of you dreamers out there. Without further ado, here’s our list of car restoration how-to tips.

Pick the Right Car for You

Bringing an old beater back to life is always going to be a lot of work, but no two restorations are going to go the same, and some vehicles will take a lot more work than others.

If this is your first restoration, consider picking something that isn’t too old—restoring a ’72 Chevy Nova sounds killer in theory, but restoring ’94 Chevy S-10 is going to be a heck of a lot easier, and it can be just as rewarding. The longer a car has been around, the more likely it is that it’ll have extensive rust, which is incredibly difficult and expensive to repair.

Certain cars are also exceedingly hard to source parts for, especially if they weren’t very popular to begin with. Best-selling models with high production numbers are more likely to have support from quality aftermarket part manufacturers, and it’ll also be easier to source OEM parts from resellers.

Other cars might not even be all that old or uncommon by classic car standards, but they may still be an enormous headache to restore due to engineering quirks that require specialized tools or niche technical know-how. One such car, for instance, is the Toyota MR2. For more examples, check out this list from HotCars.

Set Your Budget—Then Double It

Start digging around the internet, and you’ll find endless posts and comments asking some variation of the question, “How can I restore a classic car on a budget?” Every time someone asks this question, a credit card gets its wings.

We’re kidding. Mostly, sort of.

We aren’t saying budget car restoration can’t be done, because it absolutely can, especially if you or someone you know can work on the mechanical aspects of cars or do professional body work. What we’re really saying is, don’t underestimate the potential for replacement parts and service bills to eat a hole in your wallet rather quickly. Nobody ever called car restoration a cheap hobby, so it’s best to have a realistic expectation about what you might be in for, and at least a few grand of disposable income to start out with.

The Internet Is Your Friend

We live in a remarkable age where almost any question you can think of has already been asked and answered on some forum or message board. Sometimes, finding an answer is as easy as Googling, “How to restore an old truck,” followed by the make and model, and boom, you’ve got your answer.

Many popular vintage cars and trucks also have diehard car collector communities for them, and some like the famed Chevy Corvette even have entire websites dedicated to their restoration. These types of sites should be one of your main resources for knowledge. Find a community online and start asking away. Building relationships with people who are restoring a similar make and model will be invaluable, and if you get lucky, you may even find people in your own local community who can help you in person. As an added bonus, you might even make a few new friends.

Make Sure You Have the Right Tools and Facilities

If you’re planning on wrenching an old car, you’re going to need a lot more than just an actual wrench. The tools you’ll need will depend on just how much work you plan to do yourself, as opposed to outsourcing to a professional shop. Some basic tools you’ll want to have on hand include:

• Socket set and wrench (metric and imperial)
• Pliers
• Screwdrivers (Philips and flat)
• Rubber mallet
• Vice grips
• Dent puller
• Air compressor
• Voltage meter
• Floor jack
• WD-40 Penetrant, or some other spray to loosen rusted bolts

Of course, power tools like an impact wrench will make life easier in some instances as well. Certain jobs will require much larger equipment as well, like a hydraulic lift or transmission stand, which will require either a hefty monetary investment on your part or a professional shop.

Speaking of shops: you’ll want plenty of space to spread out so that you can keep any large parts that you remove organized. The more space you have, the better. If you don’t at least have a two-car garage with a high roof, you’ll probably end up having to take it to a larger shop for major projects like paint restoration. Working outside is possible, but not advisable, because it exposes the car to the elements.

Make a Checklist and Tackle One Project at a Time

It’s easy to look up how to rebuild an old car; it’s quite another thing once the old car in question is sitting in your garage. This is where the gravity of the task at hand can become paralyzing, as you look at this thing you bought and realize just how much work there is to do.

The best way around this is to take a deep breath, break out the pencil and paper, and start making a list of tasks you want to accomplish, big or small. Once you have everything organized and written out in front of you, you’ll be able to better visualize the best way to proceed, and things won’t seem so daunting.

After you’ve made your list, pick a problem, and fix it. It’s just that simple. Keep doing that, and in no time at all, you’ll start to see some great progress.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help from a Pro

Unless you’re already a mechanic yourself, chances are, you’re going to run up against some problems that are beyond your expertise—especially when you start to deal with issues like frame rust and body repair. In these instances, it’s usually best to consult a professional service center.

While paying for service will cost more cash in the moment, going to a professional body shop can actually save you money in the long run. Having a certified technician assess and fix the issue will ensure that the job is done right, which will greatly reduce the chance that you have to re-fix the problem down the line. Plus, it’ll save you tons of time, and as they say, time is money.

Think of It as an Investment

After a while, you may start to break into a sweat when you tally up the dough you’ve spent on your project. In these moments, it helps to think of your car restoration as an asset.

Generally speaking, classic cars are pretty much done depreciating, meaning they can only go up in value. Every repair that you make will increase the car’s resale value, so assuming you didn’t overpay when you first bought it, your car will be worth more as you put more work into it.

Restoring a car isn’t just an investment of money either—it’s an investment of knowledge. As you tinker with it, you’ll gain more and more insight into the restoration process, so if you do decide to sell it, you should be able to get back close to the amount you put into it. Then, if you want to try again with another car, you’ll still have all the experience to draw on for the next project.

Keep All Service Records and Receipts

We can’t overstate this: maintaining records of all the work done and money spent is an essential part of the car restoration process.

Keeping detailed records will help you keep everything straight in your head and allow you to form a clear vision of what still needs to be done. Remember the checklist we mentioned a minute ago? That’s just the beginning. Make it a habit to keep meticulous notes on every little thing, from restoring the paint on your old car, to fixing the exhaust, to squeegeeing the windshield. All loose parts should be bagged and labeled. Over time, you’ll figure out a system of organization that works best for you.

Having organized records will also come in handy if you decide to sell your project car because you’ll be able to present these records to potential buyers, which will increase your negotiating power when the time comes to talk price.

Most Importantly: Don’t Forget to Have Fun

After all, if you’re not having a good time, what’s the point?

Whether you’re looking for car restoration in Kansas City, or just need to fix a few dents on your late-model Chevy SUV, McCarthy Collision Centers are happy to help. We have locations all across Greater Kansas City, including ones in Olathe, Lee’s Summit, and Overland Park. We also offer free estimates on body work, windshield repair, painting, rust repair, and more.

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