Eugene Bernshtam, Auto Enthusiast states that learning how to restore a classic car only requires a few steps and bits of information. Implementing them however will take time and money. It can take up to one thousand man hours to restore a classic car to its former glory and that is a lot of time and dedication.
Before you start work you should assess the car to ensure it is fixable, get a second opinion on this from an expert. Ensure that the car is authentic and the associated costs that this will entail. Work out how much of the work you can do yourself this will greatly affect the next stage3 which is working out how much it could cost, always over price rather than under. Work out if there will be any way to make any money back from the vehicle through hire or exhibition to get some of your money back. Then work out how much time you can give to the project and how much it is likely to take in total. This will ensure that you know how long, roughly the whole project will take you. Reach out to as many contacts and helpers as you can, many people would love to get the opportunity to do what you are doing so let them be part of it.
Contact local car clubs they will be a fantastic source of advice, they may also have people who will be happy to come and help you. Some of the members may have premises that you can use and getting them onside will be a fantastic help at all stages of your project. They will also be able to help you with the best places to source parts for a reasonable cost and with guaranteed authenticity.
The parts may be difficult to come across depending on the age of the car and also a lot of money. Vehicle salvage centers are a good place to start looking. Online is the next great place to start, the internet really opens your options for finding parts anywhere in the world. They may also have a professional spray painter to help you out.
The only way to restore a classic car cheaply is to give it a go yourself or with a friend. You will therefore need a garage or a suitable area to do it. It will need to be somewhere that will protect the car from the elements and you will need tools and a way to safely raise the car to get a look underneath.
Start with the cosmetic and body work as this will be the easiest place to start. It is always beneficial to pay for a professional paint job when you have done this though as that is a difficult job with the most impact when looking
