Are you an antique/classic car lover? Bringing your antique car back to life can be an exciting and rewarding experience. A car body restoration project is a big commitment, especially for old, antique cars. However, if it's your first time, you can easily miss a few critical steps that could mean spending more on the project. Therefore, before you commit to restoring your antique or classic car, here are some things you need to know first. 

You Need to Establish Whether Restoration Is Possible for The Vehicle

There is a lot of work that goes into restoring an antique car, and your first logical step should be to determine whether restoration will work for yours. This is important because, for some antique cars, the restoration work may be too much and expensive. You may be better off finding a different version of your classic car that will involve much less restoration work. In such a case, you may even spend less. A reliable auto body shop will be able to inspect your antique car for damage and advise you on whether restoration is a practical option. 

The Rarity of Your Car Matters

How rare is your antique car? For many antique car enthusiasts, the rarity of the car is valuable. Unfortunately, it can also make the restoration process not only slow but also extremely difficult. This is for the simple reason that the rarer your antique car is, the harder it will be to find genuine parts required to restore it. 

Budgeting Can Be Difficult

Auto body restoration of an antique car can cost you anywhere between hundreds and thousands of dollars. However, putting an estimate for the costs can be a tricky affair. You may end up spending a lot more than you expected. This is why, unless you have loads of money to spend, you will have to be very patient and complete the restoration in stages. A few things that determine the cost of restoring a classic vehicle include the make and model of the car and its current condition. 

You Need to Trade Carefully for Originality and Personality

Many classic car enthusiasts would argue for the case of restoring the car to its original condition. However, your choice may depend on how you intend to use the car afterwards. For instance, if you plan to sell the vehicle after restoring it, the ideal option is to restore it to its original condition. Originality tends to fetch higher prices when it comes to selling antique cars. On the other hand, if it's for your personal use, then you can have it personalised for your preferences.

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