From beginner’s guides to articles warning you away from DIY, you can find a lot of information about classic car restoration. At JD’s Auto Repair, we know the joy and satisfaction that comes with working on a classic car. Working with your hands to restore a piece of automotive history is a profound experience. However, we want to ensure that you enter your classic car restoration prepared. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of a DIY classic car restoration.
The Pros of a DIY Classic Car Restoration
Let’s begin with the pros of doing a classic car restoration yourself.
Bragging Rights
It feels good when someone looks at your vehicle and says, “Wow, that looks really good!” The only thing that feels better is when you can respond, “Thanks. I did it myself.” Not many people have the ability to restore a vehicle, so being able to say you restored your classic car yourself is a worthy brag.
Utilizing Your Skills
If you’re mechanically inclined, a classic car is a great way to utilize your skills. You bring back a piece of automotive history and create a legacy that you can pass down from generation to generation.
Engaging in a Productive Hobby
We all have hobbies, but how many of them result in restoring something like new? Restoring a classic car can be an expensive hobby. However, if you’re willing to take time with your project, you can spread the expense out over time. Moreover, you can share the hobby with a friend or family member, turning it into valuable time to connect together.
The Cons of Restoring a Classic Car
As with any project, restoring a classic car has drawbacks.
DIY Restoration Requires Knowledge
If you don’t have adequate knowledge going into your DIY classic car restoration, you will end up costing yourself more money as you have to undo mistakes and redo work. Before you ever begin a restoration, you have to take time to research your vehicle, review specs, learn about equipment, reviewing skills, and look for advice to avoid pitfalls.
DIY Restoration Takes Time
Even if you’re not spreading out a restoration to minimize the economic impact on your budget, a DIY restoration still takes time. You’re likely doing the work in your free time, which limits how much time you have to work on a part of the restoration at a time. In addition, you often need to wait for parts. It requires patience, so if you’re looking to complete a restoration in a specific timeframe, you may want to hire someone instead.
The Biggest Mistake People Make with DIY Restorations
While a DIY restoration requires a lot of knowledge and time, it is a rewarding experience. The biggest mistake we see people make, however, is thinking that DIY means you can only do it yourself.
If you were remodeling your kitchen yourself but didn’t know how to do plumbing, would you attempt to replace rusted pipes by yourself? No! You’d call a plumber.
Often with DIY classic car restorations, however, we see people attempt repairs they don’t know how to do because they feel like they need to do everything alone. It’s important that you turn to an expert if you come across a problem that you don’t know how to fix. This is especially vital when it comes to a vehicle’s safety systems, whether or not you plan to turn your classic car into a daily driver.
Are You Embarking on a DIY Classic Car Restoration in Huntingdon Valley, PA?
Don’t fret if you encounter a problem, you can’t handle alone. Our experts are here to assist you with your DIY classic car restoration. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
