Improving Your Automobile

How to Decide if a Car Is Worth Restoring

16 December 2015

Addison Morris

Automobile restoration is tricky. Many avid auto enthusiasts love restoration projects and will work on anything that passes through the doors of their garage, but there are a few general guidelines to follow if you are looking into restoring a vintage car without breaking the bank. If you are interested in keeping the car forever and are confident in your abilities, then by all means, restore away. But if you would like to market the car to collectors in the future, listen up.

Condition

One of the first things you'll see when looking at a restoration project is the paint job. But this is not important . . . at all. Instead, you should be looking at the actual body underneath the paint. Are the panels dented, rusted, or relatively damage free? Even if a car appears to have a solid paint job, make sure to inspect what is underneath.

It is also important to check the floorboards, interior, upholstery, gauges, and engine. Although most problems can be fixed with the right budget and supplier, it is important to take these prices into account before deciding to work on a car.

Cost of Parts vs. Worth

Depending on the make, model, and condition of your next auto restoration project, you could end up spending much more than the car is worth on repairs alone. Before even beginning the process, check prices online, call a few dealers, and see if the parts and paint you need are even readily available. It might also be a good idea to contact a few auction houses or collectors to see how much they are willing to pay for a restored version of the car. You can also consult an American or European car services representative to get yet another opinion on the condition of the car (depending on its origin) before you start fixing it to see whether they think it's a worthwhile undertaking.

As a general rule of thumb, you will go over budget. With almost every vintage car out there, you will run into some unforeseen trouble or realize you need an expensive part, so make sure to always plan ahead.

The Best Cars to Restore

All auto enthusiasts know that there are some models that you just can't help not restoring. These include Ford Mustangs from the mid 1960s, Chevrolet Camaros from 1967 to 1969, the AMC AMX, or a Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Charger, or Oldsmobile 442. Of course, there are countless other valuable cars that are worth restoring, but those models are among the most popular, and it can be an economical idea to restore one of these and make yourself some money if you plan well.

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