Looking for classic car restoration near Hartford? Innovative Restorations is about 25 miles south of the city in Wallingford, a straight run down I-91 that usually takes around half an hour. We work on antique, classic and muscle cars for owners in Hartford, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Glastonbury, Farmington and the surrounding towns.
Everything Under One Roof
From tune-ups to full restorations, the work happens in our own facility, which includes a paint booth, machine shop, car rotisserie and multiple lifts. That means the same team that takes your car apart is the team that paints it and puts it back together. Learn more about our restoration process, engine rebuilds and metal fabrication.
Make the Most of a Short Driving Season
Anyone who owns a collector car in Connecticut knows the season passes quickly. Many owners schedule larger jobs for the colder months so the car is ready in spring. Read why winter is the best time to schedule mechanical upgrades, or see our mechanical upgrades and general service pages.
Hartford Area Car Shows
The Dream Ride Experience in Farmington is one of the largest car shows in the state and a good place to see what a finished build can look like. If you are preparing a car for show season, our painting and refinishing team can help it look its best.
Engine and Mechanical Work for Hartford Area Classics
An engine rebuild starts with inspection and teardown, where we evaluate wear, compression, oiling and cooling before building a plan. From there the work can be factory correct or performance focused, with options such as electronic ignition, aluminum radiators and EFI conversions. Beyond the engine, we handle brakes, steering and suspension, wiring harnesses, and heating and air conditioning.
Projects from Our Gallery
- 1971 Buick GS 455: a full nut and bolt restoration of a car its owner has had since 1974
- 1970 GMC Pickup restoration
- 1964 Chevy Malibu restoration
Common Questions
How long does a restoration take?
It depends on parts availability, the quality of replacement parts on the market, the type of build, and whether you want an original restoration or a restomod. Every project is different, and we will talk through the factors that apply to yours before work begins.
Can I supply my own parts?
Yes, as long as it does not hold up progress on the build. Please note that we cannot be responsible for the quality of customer-supplied parts or absorb labor costs if one fails. We work with vendors we have chosen carefully and can stand behind.
Will you work on a car you did not build?
Absolutely. Even if it is not one of our builds, we are happy to handle maintenance and repairs and treat the car as if it were our own. See our FAQ for more.
Directions and Hours
50 Capital Dr., Suite B, Wallingford, CT 06492. Open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Get directions from Hartford, then contact us or call 860.852.3275 to schedule a visit.
The Auto Restoration Service Process

Disassembly
Vehicles are fully disassembled, parts condition is assessed and parts are labeled.

Metal Repair
Vehicle body is measured and braced, mounted on vehicle dolly, and then all necessary parts are media blasted to its bare substrate.

Epoxy Prime
Vehicles are then epoxy primed, then sent over to the metal shop for structural and nonstructural repairs.

Test Fit
While their body panels and trim are test fit on the vehicle to ensure a smooth final assembly

Body Work
Onto the body shop for body work then two stages of priming and blocking.

Paint
Once body work is completed the vehicle is fully disassembled, prepped, tapped and painted.

Wet Sand & Polish
Next wet sand and polish.

Assembly
Lastly, final assembly for delivery.
What Customers Say
Be sure to choose, “Submit A Review” from within the drop-down menu of the form.
Trusted Partners
We don’t just focus on performance and skills, we also use quality parts and services to ensure our customers are always getting the best. Here are some of the trusted companies Innovative Restorations is proud to partner with.




