Tune in to any car show on TV and you’ll see all kinds of classic car restorations – from mild to wild. You may ask yourself, “What’s the different kinds of restorations?” or even, “What’s makes a car a ‘Classic’?” When you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, there are four main levels of restoration, of which most car restorers will agree. Determining what qualifies as a classic car is a whole different can of worms.

The Difference between Classic and Vintage Automobiles

According to West Coast Shipping, a car is designated as a classic if it’s more than 20-25 years old. Antique cars are those over 45 years old, and the term Vintage can be applied to any car built in or before 1930. Not everyone in the automotive industries agrees with these exact years. Many states even have their own definitions and date ranges for classification, and some don’t distinguish between classic, vintage, and antique. For instance, according to California’s DMV, if a car was manufactured after 1922 and is at least 25 years old, it is considered a Historical Vehicle, without any further differentiation between classic, vintage, or antique. Many insurance companies, including Hagerty have their own guidelines for classic and antique cars and trucks, and go further with classifications such as modified rods and replicas, racing cars, military vehicles, and ‘Collector’ cars (those manufactured in 1980 or later.) The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) defines “a Full Classic as a ‘Fine’ or ‘Distinctive’ automobile. American or foreign built, produced only between 1915 and 1948” and were built in limited production numbers.

Automobiles built in 1895-1915 are considered Vintage. This era is referred to as the “Brass Era” due to the use of brass fittings. They also feature large wheels, bench seats, no roof, and a lack of safety features, like seat belts. Examples include the Ford Model A, and the St. Louis Gasoline Buggy. Vintage cars, in particular, can be especially valuable among collectors, however there are plenty of rare classic and antique cars that are valuable and highly sought after by collectors as well. Of course, just because a car is old doesn’t mean it has a lot of value. Many factors contribute to an automobile’s value, including age, rarity, condition, and desirability. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when you embark on a restoration project.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to our restoration types.

What are the Different Types of Classic Car Restoration?

  • Driving Condition – The goal of driving quality is just that – make it safe to drive. These drivers may not care about car shows, they just want to drive their classic car. It may even be their daily driver. This restoration is more about creating safe and comfortable driving conditions, with more reproduction parts and modern amenities.
  • Street Show Condition – Attention to detail is key – for the bodywork and the mechanical workings. It needs to run well and look good. Classic Car shows use a 100-point universal system to judge a car based on looks, quality, and condition. Street Show condition aims to get around 80-89 points.
  • Show Car Condition – This type of restoration ups the game from Street Show Condition and is meant to impress the professionals – in looks and performance in every aspect of the vehicle. Taking the competition to the next level, these cars often score in the 90-95-point range for higher-end, professional restorations. These usually require a frame-off restoration and generally performed by a professional car shop, like Visions.
  • Concours Condition – The ultimate restoration. Rarely (if ever) driven, these exceptional vehicles are usually part of a private collection, or you may see them at national car shows. A significant amount of research is done to obtain original parts, components, finishes, etc., so that the finished vehicle is flawless. They look brand new, as if they just left the factory floor.

What is a Resto-Mod?

Restoration/Modification – or “Resto-Mod” refers to restorations in which modifications are made, which can include mechanical, body, or interior elements, usually to integrate modern safety, drivability, or performance features. Classic Car Purists may not like resto-mods, but when driving these cars on today’s roads, there are some modifications, such as aftermarket disc brakes, power steering, seat belts, etc., that make a lot of sense. On the other hand, if your car is extremely rare and in near-factory condition, you’ll want to carefully consider which modifications, if any, are a good idea. Any modifications can affect the car’s value as well as insurance coverage.

What Factors Influence How or When to Restore a Classic Car?

Rarity of the Vehicle. Prior to 1948 most cars were made in limited quantities, not mass produced like modern classics, making them rarer (making replacement parts more expensive.)

  • Model Factory options, trim package, popularity/desirability of the year/make/model.
  • Condition If your car is not a rare model, you will want to consider if you’re putting more into it than is prudent.
  • Intended Use If this car is going to be a daily driver, it does not need to meet Show Car quality standards. It would be better to focus on performance and safety first.
  • Value Most people understand that they will sometimes spend more buying and restoring a car than they will get when selling it. For some, it is nearly impossible to estimate the value of their car free from sentimentality. They are not restoring the vehicle to make money. Their restoration is a labor of love, and they have no intention of parting with it when it’s finished. Either way, it’s important to know what you’re getting into and what you intend to get out of it.

Let us know when you are ready to begin your restoration project. We would be happy to bring new life to your vehicle.