Classic Auto Restoration
Auto Restoration
David asks…
moving to Portland Oregon area, where can i find a job restoring classic cars?
currently attending Nascar tech. in North Carolina. will be relocating to the Portland metro area in September. looking for a job in a classic auto restoration shop or on a race team. when i graduate i will have taken basic automotive courses followed by Nascar courses and ford factory training.
ET answers:
Don’t know about jobs, but in April we have the Portland swap meet, largest auto swap-meet in the western half of the US, should go check it out if you are into old cars, nothing newer than 25 years old is allowed in, lots of vintage and muscle cars, just a heads up.
Laura asks…
Your Preference for Classic Cars: Customization or Restoration?
I am somewhat of an amateur auto enthusiast. Right now, I find myself in a pretty good position to purchase a 60s-70s model fixer-upper to either customize or restore… but one primary concern is the car’s future value as it relates to my immediate choice of customization/modernization, or total classic auto restoration
My personal preference since I will be driving the vehicle often, is customization. I would like to modernize the interior, electrical, A/V system, engine, exterior, etc. I have no problem with restoration, but I just feel like customization/modernization is the best bet for me to be comfortable driving.
I have heard professional car customizers/installers say that CUSTOMIZED classic vehicles often do not hold value throughout the years… and often lose value beyond the cost of what was actually put into upgrades… but that factory-condition/RESTORED classic cars DO hold their value. Is this true?
What, if any, value loss am I looking at if I customize vs. restore?
Just to clarify… I am not doing this to turn around and resell… I am doing it to have a “cool” car to drive around.
But, I guess what I worry about, is buying the car for $3,000… putting $5,000 of upgrades into it… but only being able to get $4,000 or $5,000 for the vehicle if I ever DO decide to sell it (because it is custom vs. original condition).
I am just trying to gage whether the loss in value due to customization actually exists, and whether or not it is significant enough to impact my decision of taking on this project. 
FYI those numbers I threw out were just guesses… I anticipate spending significantly more the whole way around, but you get what I am trying to say (I hope).
ET answers:
Yeah I understand what you mean.. Myself I like custom.. I want what I want. The reason why I build my own is to fix the “probs” I see with OEM.. I ask a lot out of my car.. I want it to be lower weight, handle great, good acceleration and a low 1/4 mile ET, great driver, used for daily driver, get ok fuel mileage, etc.. The only OEM cars stock that can get me that is $45K plus Vettes lol
Your question of value will depend on buyer.. I used this before but its a good way to look at it..
Buyer A is a hot rodder, racer, etc
Buyer B is a #’s matching, OEM, all stock guy
Car is a pro street 71 Chevelle, 572, 8-71 blown powered beast with full cage, tubbed, ford 9″ rear, etc ..
To buyer A this is a dream car, dream come true.. To buyer B it’s a worthless pc. Of crap.. Buyer A knows the value of the custom parts and labor involved in building the car… Buyer B knows this car will never be able to go back #’s matching so in his eyes a die cast toy model 71 Chevelle is worth more.
Plane and simply… In todays times you WILL NEVER get your money back out of a car you build, restore or customize..
The classic cars are too high now, parts are not cheap, etc etc..
And let me point out.. You’re not gonna buy one for 3K then put only 5K in it..
If your buying a $3,000 classic and want to restore it.. You will be spending probably 10K to 13K doing so
Same goes for custom builds.
Heck I bought a 1988 Camaro for $550.. I now have a little over $14,000 in it 5 years later.
I say screw the “value”.. Just get a car you like and do to it what you want and what you like.. It’s your money, your time and you’ll be the one driving it.
Build it to like and enjoy it, not to get the value of it up.
John asks…
Best book to learn auto body repair?
Hey, im looking to learn how to START auto body repair. Learning from a book everything you know is just as good as going to school for it, and then eventually gaining hands on experience either from someone teaching you, or reading it and doing it yourself.
So i would like to know what the best book to begin my classic auto restoration progress on the body of my 82′ 280zx. I need to be taught how to repair rust, welding, and it has to be for beginners and through enough for me to learn every single step with good advice and guidance through each step. Is there a book out there any one would recommend for me to start and progress through the whole project and do a good job on especially for a DIY learn?
I have already looked on amazon for books that would be good, but the reviews i have read say that they aren’t the greatest books for beginners to learn each step proficiently with good detail. There was only one that looks as if it might be good, but im not sure. That book is called, “Classic car restoration” or something of that nature.
Thanks in advance for opinions!
Do you really think that an auto body shop will let me stand around offering “non-knowledgeable” services for something I’m trying to learn?
People don’t want to give their knowledge away for free. Of course i know i can go to school to learn, but in reality, that is not completely necessary. I am looking for the best book to buy to learn this. I hate receiving childish answers from teens that have no other better thing to do, but give BS answers to people who want good answers. Pathetic. I wonder if someone that is of good knowledge will answer my question on a good book to buy, instead of saying something that i already know and not answering my question instead.
ET answers:
I was recently playing around on the net looking for some help with this classic auto restoration subject, because I am about to get a 1975 280z, and it needs a lot of body work too. I found a cool video that can be purchased, which goes into, tools needed, techniques, and it seems to be in layman’s terms, so he makes it pretty easy to understand.
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Auto Restoration
Classic Auto Restoration
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I'm a former airline Captain and airline flight instructor, with a long life passion for classic cars. My swedish heritage gave me a weakness for classic Volvos
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Remember that onnwig or collecting classic autos doesn’t stop at purchasing them. It will not stop there : classic vehicles need plenty of loving and care. There is a Classic Automobile Lover in Everybody If you’re a vehicle lover, a mawkish generation and idiom fan, or just one who would like a cool ride, purchasing classic autos is your smartest choice. Not only do you get a moving, respiring, and cool work of art, you also get a very valuable property.
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