An antique car is a treasure, but many collectors acquire vehicles after they have been sitting outside or parked in a garage for years. Restoring a classic car is often a challenging and time-consuming endeavor, and it can be hard to figure out where to start. These should be your top priorities.

Get a Professional Opinion

First, you should have the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a mechanic who has experience repairing and restoring classic cars. You need to understand your antique vehicle’s current condition and know what types of repairs will be needed to get it running and make it safe and comfortable to drive. Once you have a list of necessary repairs, you can prioritize, budget, and look for parts.

Find Parts to Restore Your Classic Car

If your antique car needs mechanical repairs, it might be challenging to locate parts, especially if it’s a rare model. Your local vehicle salvage yard and recycling yard could be good places to start. You might also be able to find some of the parts you need online.

Deal with Rust

Rust is common on antique vehicles, especially ones that have spent long periods of time outside. If your car has rust, it will need to be addressed to prevent further problems. Fixing rust damage is often difficult and time-consuming.

If your vehicle has minor rust, it might be possible to sandblast rusted areas. If your antique car has widespread rust, you will probably have to sandblast the entire chassis, remove sections that can’t be fixed, and buy replacement panels from aftermarket manufacturers or weld new panels yourself from sheet metal.

Give Your Car a Fresh Coat of Paint

Once you have taken care of any rust on your antique car, you can paint it to make it look like new. Before you decide on a color and spend money to have your car professionally painted, think carefully about the shade you want. A particular color might seem like a great idea in theory, but the end result might not be what you expected or hoped for.

Get Expert Advice and Assistance

Innovative Restorations in Wallingford, Connecticut, can help you restore your antique car. Whether you need help with simple mechanical repairs or a complete restoration, our team is up to the task. We can inspect your vehicle to figure out which mechanical components need to be restored and then make repairs using original, rebuilt, or ungraded parts. We can also paint and refinish your vehicle using quality paint made by BASF. We utilize an in-house mixing system and color database that can create the exact color you want.

Contact us today to discuss your antique car restoration project and to get an estimate!