If you’re into the cars of 60s’, 70s’, 80s’ or possibly even older, there are some things you should know.
One of the best ways to get more familiar with retro vehicles is to undertake a project during your spare time. Get a beat down Ford Mustang, a Plymouth Road Runner or a Fairlady 280Z and rebuild it to establish your status in the world of old-school cars. But before that, let us familiarise you with some things that are worth knowing about!
You need deep pockets
With classic cars, restoration costs are almost never less than five digits. This is due to the fact that most parts are really rare and quite expensive to get your hands on. Retro car restoration isn’t always profitable too. You could end up injecting 40 thousand USD into your project which would sell for less than 35 thousand dollars. So, all in all – whether you’re restoring an old or new classic, prepare to empty your pockets.
Individualisation is a great touch
If you can individualise some parts of your exterior or interior – that’s an awesome thing to do. Remember that it’s a project car which means that you can make it resemble a modification you saw in a movie or completely change everything to make it your own car. During restoration, an owner can order a custom leather or wood steering wheel as well as a dashboard with personalised inscriptions. However, probably the coolest piece of interior in retro cars that you should opt for are the wood steering wheels.
You don’t need to keep everything original and stock
Even though a lot of people believe that cars looked better in the old days, a lot of features of those cars were outright terrible compared to our times. Brakes, steering, durability, safety and comfort were nowhere near the standards of today’s cars. So, we recommend fitting your car with modern shock absorbers, a power steering rack, airbags (if possible) and modern brakes.
Safety matters
Let us expand on the topic of safety. A 70s’ Ford Mustang literally had no airbags, the 1950s Porsche 356 which James Deen drove had no ABS and stability control, and while it’s still legal to drive stock, unmodified versions of these cars, it’s not at all safe. If you’re rebuilding a car for driving and not just a showroom piece, please take note of safety before finishing up.
Don’t expect quick results
Finally – remain super patient. Classic car restorations can take months or even years. No quick results in this business!
