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Dave North - Webmaster

Money Saving Car Restoration Tips

Welcome to the second installment of "Money and Time Saving Car Restoration Tips".  In this installment, we'll be dealing with a very important and specific question:

What car should or should NOT be restored, and why?

Most car lovers would like to save a buck or three and restore their car as quickly as possible.  That sounds reasonable and prudent.  In order to accomplish your goal, you'll need to have a solid car to start with.  The key word here is solid.

In most cases, a total basket case car should only be restored if it has some sentimental value above and beyond it's final value.......in other words "money is no object".  This may seem obvious, but many first-timers have been caught off guard and had to spend much more than they were willing to complete their project.   Others were left with a project that they could not afford and abandoned their project, and were unable to sell a car in poor condition, or sold it for a heavy loss.

Let's look at  two 1968 Mustang restoration project cars.  The lesson here is threefold:

1. What should or should not be restored
2. What to watch out for when buying a car to restore
3. How to know when you should fire the guy doing your car restoration

Background info on the Convertible:

During the "restoration" it should have been apparent that the car was in terrible condition and should not be restored.  Instead, the shop cobbled pieces of sheet metal into the car with screws and welds in places that make little sense.  New sheet metal was placed over areas of disintegrating rust.  Simply put, this car is merely a "parts donor" car.

Here is a side by side comparison....click the pictures to enlarge.

Now that we've had our side by side look at what should and should not be restored, what can you do to avoid a situation like this?

FIRST - Take your time to evaluate the car.  Take notes as you inspect it.   Use a weak flexible magnet to help locate body filler.  Use a strong flashlight to look into tight areas in the trunk and engine compartment.  Check the floor for a solid feel, pull back the carpet if you can.  Get underneath the car with your light and have a good look there too.  If at all possible, take the car to a garage with a lift and put it in the air for a closer inspection.  Spending 30 to 50 dollars can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of disappointment before you buy the car!

SECOND - If you expect a professional car restoration, take your car to an experienced professional.  This will save you a lot of money.  Many amateur restorations will usually look great for a year or two, and then the car begins to fall apart.   Your entire investment is virtually wasted at this point, as it will likely require a much higher investment to correct a bad restoration.

THIRD - Visit the restoration shop and ask to see the progress of your car.  If distance is a problem, periodically ask for detailed photos.

We hope you found this installment helpful.

We'd like to help with your car restoration needs, and hope that you'll consider us.