We often get asked, “How much does a restoration cost?” Well, that depends on a multitude of factors – including the year, make, model, condition of the engine, body, interior, mechanics, not to mention what type of restoration you want to achieve.

When Restoring A Classic Car, Where Do You Start?

First and foremost, consider your budget and timeline. Whatever these are, increase them by at least 20-30% to allow for any unforeseen problems. If you somehow manage to come in below budget or ahead of schedule, you will be delighted. Whereas, if you are half-way through the project but completely out of funds, you’ll be greatly disappointed. At that point, chances are, the project will sit idle for months or years before you decide to finish it. By then, some of the repairs you made will need to be revisited, repair prices will have increased, and the vicious cycle starts anew.

Have you done your research to know what your restoration is going to cost? Or do you just have a certain amount of money set aside to improve your car’s performance and/or appearance? Which type of budget you decide is important to keep your goals realistic. Whether you want to get your car up and running so you can tool around the neighborhood, or if you want a full restoration to make your car Show Car ready, knowing what you want the end product to be is key to setting a realistic budget. You will want to make a detailed plan, including your budget for each restoration category, which we detail below, as well as a reserve budget set aside for those pesky unforeseen complications.

Another key factor in determining your restoration budget and timeline is the current condition of your vehicle. Does it run? Does it need body work? Your car may look nice, but what lies beneath the hood, behind the paint, and under the upholstery may tell a different story. Ask any restoration shop and they will most certainly have horror stories of customers bringing in a vehicle only to discover the car is in much worse shape than anyone could have imagined by just looking at it.

Main Categories of a Classic Car Restoration Budget

Breaking down the restoration into categories may help to focus your energy. Making a checklist of your vehicle’s needed repairs and the upgrades you want and categorizing everything may help you decide what gets done and when.

  • Mechanical
  • Electrical
  • Body
  • Upholstery

Mechanical Budget

Are you planning an upgrade or engine swap? Sometimes the labor involved in sourcing and installing parts of the existing engine outweigh the benefits of an upgrade. This is something you will want to discuss with your mechanic to make sure you are getting the most for your money. Together, you can determine which parts need to be replaced. But at the very least, you will want to have new seals and gaskets to prevent leaks.

Modern mechanical conveniences and safety equipment should be considered, for example, power steering, disc brakes, and safety belts.

Electrical Budget

Let’s face it, cars of the past were built to a different set of standards. While that means your car has a level of style which many of today’s cars can’t touch, it also means that it doesn’t have some of the electrical advancements of the past few decades. Hemmings reminds us that “the joy of an old car is in the driving.” There are many changes that can be made that will not take away from your vehicle’s classic appearance. You might want to consider upgrading to a 12-Volt system or alternator, or from points to an electronic ignition.

Body Budget

Bodywork can be quite an undertaking. Oftentimes, you will not know how bad the condition of your car’s body is until you strip away the paint. Bad patch jobs, lots of filler, DIYs by previous owners can be revealed. You might have a moment’s thought to just slap some paint over it because it looked good before. But it would be a disservice to your restoration to not address these issues. Plus, a good paint job on a bad body will not last, so, you’re really wasting your money by not doing it right the first time.

Chrome – glorious, shiny chrome – can be another pricey undertaking. Depending on the rarity of your car, restoring your car’s trim can consume a considerable amount of your budget, whether you’re refurbishing trim pieces or sourcing replacement pieces.

Upholstery Budget

The upholstery is often the last component to get updated, as it’s usually an ‘all in’ update, can be very expensive, and isn’t always given a lot of attention. But the quality of your upholstery determines how comfortable you and your passengers will be during the ride. Uncomfortable seats can ruin even the nicest trip. Nevertheless, the cost of upholstery restoration depends on the type of materials, the amount of material required, custom designs, trim detail, and the upholsterer’s fees. Be sure to ask plenty of questions, get references, and view portfolios of previous jobs. Good upholsterers are often booked up to a year out, so start your search early and have those conversations in order to adjust your timeline as well.

But how much Does It Cost to Restore a Classic Car?

Still wondering what a typical classic car restoration costs? An average restoration can run around the $40,000-$60,000 range, but can go to $100,000 or more, depending on the labor and materials needed and the type of restoration you want.

Regardless of which type of restoration you choose, one of the worst things you can do is rush the process or use inferior materials. For instance, if metal work is done poorly, it’s more likely to rust quickly and could ruin the time spent on repairs. There is something to be said for the saying, “You get what you pay for.” But, spending a ton of money does not guarantee high quality, either. That’s why you need to do your homework, learn everything you can about your vehicle, and what your goals are for the restoration. Then you can start your restoration with confidence.

When you have made your checklist, and have a good idea of what you want, give us a call. We would be happy to discuss your restoration with you.