Classic Car Restoration - Be Prepared

A classic car can be one of two things, it can be a lotdo the work myself, shops that only produce the
of fun, or the hugest pain in the but ever, it allhighest quality work available today, and shops that
depends on the approach that you take to restoreonly use the most up to date tools and equipment,
the car, first of all, you could be prepared for theyou know that a guy who wants his classic car
restoration work, and know if your going to do it, orrestored will look at the shop first, and if he's
if your going to hire a shop, rather you do it, or youimpressed by the shop then he'll look at the work
hire a shop being prepared for what's about to comethe shop has produced in the past, and then if he
will make the job a lot more fun, by prepared I meanlikes what he sees, he'll start asking the shop owner
that you have put money aside for the restorationquestions related to his particular car.
work, and for the parts, if you taking the car to aHe'll ask the shop if they have done a car like his, and
shop, it's imperative that you ask them a lot ofask what they done on that car, he'll look at pictures,
questions about the work on your car, get to knowand talk to the owner of the car and get his opinion
the people that own the shop, look at their pastof the shop, the most important part of the classic
work.car restoration is that you have fun doing it, and that
See if the shop will give you references, people thatyou get high quality restoration work, it really helps if
have had work done in the past, make sure that youyou can feel at home with the shop that is restoring
know what their shop labor rate is, and how ityour car, if you can stop by as you please, and you
applied to your car, learn about the restorationfeel welcome when you do, this will really help you
process as it is applied in their shop, every shop is aout through the process of getting your car
bit different in the way that they approachrestored, because the bottom line is it's your car, and
restoration work, there are a lot of good shops outyou love it, and the shop that's doing the work on it
there, and a few bad one that end up giving theshould feel the same way.
entire industry a bad name, and if you learn aboutSpend some time around the shop that you want to
the shop that your taking you car to, you can berestore your car, become buddies with them, and be
100% sure that it's a good reputable shop, that willsure that you feel completely comfortable with
do as they promise you they will.every aspect of their shop, make sure that you
I could personally name about ten of of the top ofknow it inside and out, and you'll be impressed with
my head that are excellent restoration shops, shopsthe work that they do on your car, and you'll love
that I have met the owners of, and shops that Ithe outcome, and that is what matters in the end.
would take my own car to if I didn't know how to