Innovative Restorations is a classic car restoration shop in Wallingford, Connecticut, about 15 miles north of New Haven. For owners in New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, Branford and the shoreline towns, that puts a full restoration facility with a paint booth, machine shop and car rotisserie a short drive up I-91 or the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
Restoration Services for New Haven Area Owners
- Classic car restorations, including full frame-off restorations
- Restomods that pair classic looks with modern drivability
- Painting and refinishing in factory or custom colors
- Mechanical upgrades such as brakes, air conditioning and wiring
- General service for classics and daily drivers
Getting Here from New Haven
Our shop is at 50 Capital Dr., Suite B, Wallingford, CT 06492. From New Haven, take I-91 north or Route 15 north toward Wallingford. The drive is usually around 20 to 25 minutes. Get directions from New Haven. We are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Part of the Local Car Community
You may have seen us close to home. We have attended the Yankee Chapter Buick Club show in Wallingford, and we are proud to support the Jaguar Club of Southern New England Concours d’Elegance at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield. Our guide to Connecticut classic car shows has more events worth a visit.
Paint and Body Work Close to New Haven
Paint is the most visible part of any restoration, and it is one of the main reasons owners come to us. We use BASF materials and mix color in house, working from a database of new and antique factory color codes. A typical paint project runs through disassembly, repair, prep, color matching on test panels, refinishing, and wet sanding and polishing before final assembly. If you are not sure your car needs a full repaint, our guide to paint correction vs. full restoration explains the difference.
Projects from Our Gallery
- 1961 Corvette restoration
- 1968 Ford Mustang paint and refinishing
- 1956 Ford Thunderbird restoration
Common Questions
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. Scheduling starts with a few questions about your vehicle, and we usually contact you within one business day to set a time.
Do you work on daily drivers too?
We do. Alongside antique, classic and muscle cars, we provide general service for daily drivers, including diagnostics, scheduled maintenance, brakes and air conditioning.
How do estimates work?
We give you an initial estimate before the build starts. Once the vehicle has been disassembled and stripped to its bare substrate, we provide a second assessment, because that is when hidden problems appear. Pricing is based on the time, materials and parts the job needs. Our article on classic car restoration costs has more detail.
Start with a Conversation
Every project begins with a few questions about your car and your goals. We provide an initial estimate before work starts and keep you updated throughout the build. Contact us or call 860.852.3275 to talk about your vehicle.
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.




