Classic Car Restoration

Unlike just any car repair and maintenance work, classic car restoration takes a lot of extra time and effort. Even for professionals, each classic car presents new and unique challenges depending on the make, model and condition of the vehicle. If you're looking for a quick and easy fix, classic car restoration is not the place to be! For starters, here are some useful tips and tricks which can save you some both time and money.

Classic Car Parts: Of course it's up to you to decide how careful you want to be about using original parts for your classic car. For the best restoration practice, all car parts should carry the original manufacturer's logo and/or identification stripes. For popular American-made classics, you also have the option to easily purchase reproduction parts which can be found at most generic replacement-parts suppliers. Also, classic car shows are a great resource for learning more about how to properly care for and restore your classic. In fact, most every exhibition area has a manufacturer or supplier of correct vintage batteries for most applications.

Classic Car Part Renewal: If originality is your goal, treating and renewing the original classic car parts is the key! For major body work or for the restoration of major parts, you may want to work with a professional. However, you can save yourself some money while making a huge difference for the overall appearance of your classic car if you take the time to renew the smaller items such as bolts and wires. For example, once you've removed and chemically cleaned the classic car bolts, you can use a wire wheel to remove any remaining rust then use a clear-coat spray to make them look just as new! Similarly, engine wires are all color coded but are often covered with dirt and grime even after just a few years. You can use a solvent or thinner to clean off the wires, but be sure to used hand and paint protection when using this solution.

Emblems: For any classic or antique car, the emblem is its signature mark. Even for a classic car in excellent condition, the emblem is a crucial finishing touch. Fortunately, many exterior emblems will survive the years unscathed. However, any painted work will most defiantly need re-doing. To save yourself from having to pay for a professional paint job, clean off the old paint, then use a model paint and brush for touch-ups. It's best to keep the paint wet by adding it in drops and letting the paint flow through the area. This will help to avoid unattractive brush marks. If your emblems are trashed, reproductions are usually available from restored-parts suppliers.

Lenses: After years of cleaning, clear or colored plastic lenses often become dulled with scratches. Unless the lenses are suffering from deep scratches or cracks, they can usually be saved with a fine metal polish. Some classic car lenses will require more work than others, but the results are usually well worth the effort. Unless light lenses are deeply scratched, they can often be brought back to life. First, thoroughly clean the surface, and then use a fine metal polish to remove the surface scratches.

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