There are different reasons to restore a vintage car. Maybe you want to keep it as a family heirloom, or maybe you just want to drive something different. Whatever your reasons, there are some things you should avoid if you don’t want to end up regretting your decision.
Underestimating Costs
Unfortunately, restoring a vintage car isn’t cheap. For one thing, the parts are often hard to find and expensive. For example, you may need to pay a premium for a part that’s no longer in production. And then there’s the cost of labor.
Even if you do some of the work yourself to save money, it’s likely that you’ll still need to hire professionals for some parts of the job and that can get pricey.
To accurately estimate how much it will cost to restore your particular vintage car, consult with industry experts or a friend or family member who has done it before.
Rebuilding the Engine Too Early
A mistake people make when restoring a vintage car is rebuilding the engine too early in the process. Yes, the engine is important, but there are other things that need to be taken care of first.
For example, you may need to replace the brakes or suspension before you start working on the engine. Otherwise, you could end up doing more work than necessary.
Once again, it’s best to consult with someone who has experience with vintage car restoration to get an idea of what needs to be done in what order.
Not Rustproofing
Old cars are prone to rusting so after you’ve removed any existing rust, consider taking things a step further and rust-proof it. Otherwise, all your hard work could end up going to waste. And because rust can quickly spread and cause serious damage, it’s important to take care of it as soon as possible.
There are different ways to rustproof a vintage car. You can use a rust converter, which will turn the rust into a protective coating. You can also use a rust inhibitor, which will prevent rust from forming in the first place. Whichever method you choose, make sure it’s done properly to protect your investment.
Not Testing Everything
While restoring your vintage car, it’s important to test everything so you’re sure all is in proper working order. For example, you should take it for a test drive to see how the engine runs, if the brakes work, if the tires feel wrong, and any other issues. You should also have a professional inspect the car so you don’t miss anything.
Testing everything might seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to find out after the fact that there was something you missed and now have to go back and redo it. You could even end up in a car accident.
Restoring a vintage car can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just make sure you avoid these common mistakes so you don’t end up regretting your decision.