| Do you love old cars? Vintage cars are shown by | | | | mirror those used for a 1955 Chevy. A car that is |
| collectors throughout the country in shows and | | | | merely replaced with lookalike parts has not been |
| admired wherever they go. Owners of older cars | | | | properly restored. A vintage car can be worth quite a |
| that have been virtually brought back to life have a | | | | bit of money to a collector if it has been carefully |
| double sense of pride if they have performed the | | | | restored to its original condition. This usually means |
| restoration themselves. | | | | that you will have to do quite a bit of searching to |
| There is a difference between automobile restoration | | | | find parts and paint for your car. |
| and simple rebuilding. A rebuilt car can contain any | | | | Speaking of paint, you will want to use the original |
| type of part. True restoration, consists of getting as | | | | paint, if possible, to repaint the car. There are many |
| much authenticity into the automobile as possible, | | | | different places where you can purchase the original |
| right down to the hub caps. The car will only retain | | | | car paint, or one as close as possible. We will be |
| the value if it is restored back to its original condition, | | | | discussing places to purchase parts and accessories |
| not rebuilt into a different car. While "pimping" a car | | | | later in this book. You need to have patience, time, |
| may be popular at the moment, a restored car is | | | | space to work and money in which to buy parts and |
| supposed to take us back in time, not remind us of | | | | materials. Most important of all, you must have a love |
| the present. | | | | for cars. If you love old cars and do not want to see |
| The process of car restoration encompasses not just | | | | them put to rest in the junk yard, this is your |
| the parts of the car that can be seen by others, but | | | | opportunity to give them a new lease on life. |
| also the mechanical components should also be | | | | Although it can be costly, the restoration can be |
| restored to their original condition. Vintage car | | | | done over a period of time to accommodate your |
| restoration is an art form unto itself. It takes people | | | | budget. You will need a place to work on the car and |
| years to restore classic, vintage cars properly. | | | | storage for the automobile when it is not in use. |
| Vintage automobile restoration involves the process | | | | There are business that practice the art of vintage |
| of disassembling the entire car, cleaning and either | | | | car restoration. They can generally restore a vintage |
| replacing or repairing the original parts and then | | | | auto in much less time than you will be able. Those |
| reassembling the vehicle. In order for the car to | | | | who collect automobiles or do not have the time or |
| maintain its original value, it must be restored with all | | | | inclination to work on the projects often send their |
| of the proper parts. In most cases, the engine must | | | | cars to such businesses. Money can also be made by |
| be completely rebuilt. | | | | learning how to restore vintage automobiles. Once |
| A person who wants to restore a vintage automobile | | | | you have successfully completed one restoration |
| should have extensive knowledge about cars. | | | | project, you may find you miss your hobby. It is |
| Mechanical knowledge is as important as doing body | | | | common for people who restore automobiles to |
| work to the car. In most automotive shops, body | | | | continue with this hobby throughout their lifetime. As |
| work and mechanical work are two different trades. | | | | they can only use so many cars, they often sell |
| Someone who wants to restore vintage cars has to | | | | those they no longer want and make quite a profit. |
| know both aspects of car repair. | | | | Vintage automobile restoring is an art form unto |
| In addition, a car restoration includes the interior of | | | | itself. If you plan on doing this as a weekend project, |
| the car. It is usually more desirable to repair the | | | | it can take years. It is, however, well worth it. There |
| upholstery, if at all possible. Naturally, you will not be | | | | is nothing like revving up the engine in the car that |
| able to get a replacement seat for a 1955 Chevy, | | | | you loving restored back to life. |
| but you can recover the seats in materials that | | | | |