Car restoration is never cheap, but there are certain tips and tricks you can incorporate to keep the costs to a reasonable range. Whether your project is a classic muscle car for everyday driving or an old car you’d like to develop for shows, these tips will help you keep your costs down. You can save this money for a rainy day or spend it on other components for your restoration project.
1. Don’t Buy Parts Ahead of Time
If you’re looking to get your project done quickly, you may need to buy parts ahead of time. But, if you have time on your side, you may want to wait before buying parts for your vehicle. If you have parts sitting around in your garage, they may get damaged or worn, costing money if they need replacing. Additionally, you may find that you miscalculate the parts you need and overbuy without the possibility of returning them. Buying parts as you need them means you won’t waste money on unnecessary vehicle parts.
2. Make Some Money by Selling Old Vehicle Parts
If you intend to change out parts from your restored vehicle, you could sell some of the older parts to offset the costs of your project. Check out online forums and used parts stores to see if you can get anything for the parts you have leftover from your project.
3. Check Salvage Yards
One of the great things about restoration projects is that you can have fun visiting salvage yards and auto parts fairs on the hunt for great deals. Among all those piles of used parts, there may some real gems at a fraction of the price for what you’d pay in stores. If you have the time, make sure you check out salvage yards for parts. You never know what you may find!
4. Use Online Promo Codes
If you can’t find what you need at salvage yards, check to see if you can find promo codes for the parts you need. A quick online search could save you a huge amount of money, especially on the more expensive components of the vehicle. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for promo codes that could really benefit you!
5. Join a Local Car Club
Being a member of a local car club comes with lots of benefits including discounts for auto parts. You may also find that other members have ideas that could help you save money or even have vehicle parts to swap with you. Vehicle enthusiasts are a great community of like-minded people who are usually willing to go over and beyond for those with similar interests, so don’t miss out!
Restoration projects are time-consuming and can burn a hole in your wallet. However, there are some tips you can follow that could really help you keep the costs down. Follow these tips above to see if you could cut the cost of your restoration project or give us a call here at JD’s Auto Repair if you’d like some advice on ways you can save money with your project. Our dedicated auto experts have worked on numerous restoration projects and would be more than happy to help you with yours!