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A Regional Website for the Classic Car Enthusiast

Education

Education
Auto Restoration 101
This is a series of articles (PDF format) that I have written to help the auto enthusiast who is collecting and restoring classic cars.

Articles of Interest

An Interview With Nuccio Bertone >>

Metalshaping Seminar With Fay Butler >>

Alfa Romeo Owners Club Tech Session in Ypsilanti >>

These handouts will provide you with knowledge and some of the skills required to successfully manage and perform an automobile restoration or fabrication project. With this overview and new knowledge, the number of mistakes and bad choices you could make may be reduced.

Peter Pleitner

Automobile restoration and hot rod fabrication are costly and time consuming projects which always exceed the most sober estimates. Rarely is a special interest automobile reborn or born without the collaboration and scheduling of experts, extra time and funds. The value of the finished product typically does not equal the cost with the notable exception of rare cars ― and particularly race cars with history ― whose value usually exceeds the cost.

There are a few instances where an automobile in very good original condition is best preserved and not restored. When you seek advise and ask an owner who has undertaken a similar restoration or fabrication/build for their estimates of time and expense, they typically underestimate because memory tends to improve upon history, except when they are selling their project or completed car. A large part of the reason for this pitfall is that you will be doing things you have not done before and you do not really know the scope of the project until it is a pile of parts.

Why Are Restoration Projects Getting More Expensive?

Greater scarcity of original parts
Ever higher standards of restoration
The cost of higher quality reproduction parts
Increasing labor costs at restoration shops
Regulatory compliance ― costs are increasing for painting and electro-plating due to the significant escalation of raw material, safety, and disposal costs placed upon the service provider by OSHA and the EPA

Restoring an automobile ― or building and fabricating a unique hot rod as they used to be built before complete kits became available ― is a collaborative effort involving many experts and specialized facilities, and the ability to network with and manage experts. A significant part of the cost (time and money) involves what is commonly recognized to be the roll of the general contractor.

Review or Download Handouts (PDF Format)

Philosophical Choices >>

Defining Your Approach to a Restoration or Build

Essential Tools and Facilities >>

An Overview

Project Preparation >>

Preparing Your "Head" for the Project

Project Organization >>

The Organization and Steps of a Restoration Project

Project Management >>

No Car is Restored Without a Lot of It!

Restoration and Fabrication Costs >>