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Antique Car Restoration 101: How to Get Your Hands Into the Game

Are you dreaming of cruising down some scenic route in a beautiful vintage muscle car? Well, that dream can become a reality if you’re willing to get your hands dirty.

Car restoration is more than a hobby. It’s a rewarding experience that helps preserve and bring to life a little bit of history. That said, getting into antique car restoration is generally easier said than done — especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Are you thinking about bringing your dream car back to life but aren’t sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about how to get into the world of car restoration.

Choose Your Ride

Odds are, there’s a specific reason you want to get into antique care restoration: to rebuild your dream car. Most antique car connoisseurs have a favorite old muscle car or iconic model that is the crown jewel of their collection, but learning how to restore vehicles on your dream ride would be like trying to learn how to tattoo by practicing on your face.

If you want to get into car restoration, your goal should be to start with something small and cheap. Finding an old car that you can make mistakes on will help you learn a few basics without putting your ideal set of wheels on the line.

Do Your Research

Vintage car restoration generally involves more than a fresh paint job and new interior leather. If you want to start restoring vehicles, you’re going to have to dedicate a lot of time to research. You’ll need to know everything about your car, from its history to the inner workings of its engine.

When you take on a restoration job, you’ll find that there are quite a few jobs you’re not equipped to take on. So, you’ll also need to find professionals who will be able to aid you in your restoration without completely ripping you off or messing up the job — which is easier said than done.

If you’re serious about getting into vintage vehicle restoration, check out this post for more info.

Quality Is Key

Restoring an antique car can be pretty expensive. So, there’s a good chance you’ll want to cut a few corners here and there to save a buck. Remember that if you want a quality restoration, you need to invest in quality tools and equipment.

Before you start your restoration job, try to set up a budget and a schedule to help you balance and manage the expenses so you can properly invest in your vintage ride.

Find a Group

Finally, one of the best ways to get into car restoration is by connecting with people who are already in the game. Finding a local car club will put you in direct contact with people who already know the ins and outs of the car restoration world and can help guide you on your journey.

On top of that, by joining an auto club and befriending its members, you’ll gain access to special events, resources and probably get the chance to take a ride in some pretty pristine cars.