There are quite a few hobbies worth getting into during retirement, one of which is collecting and restoring classic cars. It keeps you active and gives you a chance to revitalize a piece of automotive history. Before fixing up any classic cars, common restoration mistakes to avoid are crucial to learn about. This guide will detail three common, costly restoration mistakes and how you can prevent your project from enduring them.
Seeking Insufficient Services
The external services you need will differ from car to car. For instance, you might hire a shop to do extensive restoration tasks or just some simple touch-ups. Likewise, you’ll have to find a replacement parts vendor to swap out old, broken components. Whichever services you seek for your project, conduct thorough research into any given service provider.
It’s not uncommon for some to hire an expert without really digging into their past work, which can lead to costly mistakes. Look at online reviews to ensure the service provider is reliable. Plus, shop around to ensure the service provider you’re considering is offering the right price.
Carelessly Cutting Costs
Speaking of price, budget is something you have to consider when rebuilding classic cars. Common restoration mistakes to avoid are common for a reason—the car enthusiasts at the helm neglect to do the right research. Luckily, with this guide, we can remind you of the most common slip-up you have to avoid, which is carelessly cutting costs.
Do thorough research into the restoration tasks you have to complete for any classic car so you can put together a realistic budget. If you’re not in a financial position to invest in a high-quality fix-up, then don’t. Some costs might be higher than you’d like, but investing in cheaper, low-quality materials will result in a lackluster restoration. Spending the time and effort to restore a car only for it to suffer from you cutting costs is never a rewarding experience.
Overlooking Paint Preparation
During classic car restorations, you should aim for that “good as new” look. Some restorations will take more work than others to achieve that look, but that work will produce a rewarding final result. So, don’t just slap on a new coat of paint when fixing up a classic. For instance, when you’re working on a classic Willys Jeep, there are specific steps you must take in order to do it correctly. The reason paint preparation is so important is due to the damages some cars might have, such as rough edges. Likewise, it’s crucial to remove materials that can cause further damage, such as dirt and grease.
