How to choose a classic car to restore

So, you’ve made that decision - finally; you’re going to restore a classic car. The garage space has been cleared, your funds readied and everything passed a-ok with the better half. But where do you start? If you’ve already given this some thought, you’ll know that choosing a classic car to restore isn’t particularly easy. There’s just so much choice and so many potential banana skins on which to slip. With that in mind, here’s our top five tips on how to prepare your mindset when choosing a classic car to restore:

1. List the top five cars you’d love to own

This is the fun bit and a chance for you to live out a few dreams. Grab a piece of paper, something that gives you access to the internet and/or a trade mag and make a list of the top five cars you’d love to own. Don’t hold back, either - forget the budget and go wild.

2. Time to be realistic: refine the list

Ok. Time to get serious. Take a look at that list of cars you’d love to own. There’s a good chance most of them will be unobtainable, but one might stick out. It’ll be the one which you know, hand-on-heart is within your price range, if you find the right example. If none of them fit the realistic bill, go back to the drawing board and list a few more.

3. Think about what you plan to do with the car

Your choice of classic car may depend on what you intend to do with it. Will it be a weekend weapon, something that spends most of it’s time in your garage or a vehicle you’ll take to as many shows as possible throughout the year? Do you intend to use it as a daily driver? Most classics will fit one of those scenarios perfectly, so work out what you want to do with it and look at your initial choice with fresh eyes. Does it fit the life it’ll lead under your ownership?

4. Consider how much work you’re willing to do yourself (and how much you’re willing to pay for)

If you choose a classic car that’s likely to require lots of work to be undertaken by someone who really knows what they’re doing, it could turn into a costly restoration project. That might not be an issue, in which case - great. If it is, though, you need to think about how much you’re willing to do yourself.

5. Look at the budget

Go on - this element isn’t going anywhere. It’s often the most sobering part of the process, but your budget will rule your decision. And, don’t overspend, because you’ll probably regret it later on. Instead, work within your budget and let it guide you to the perfect car that fits in with the amount of work you’re willing to pay to have completed.

Wrapping up

The above list isn’t foolproof and it doesn’t detail everything you’ll need to do when choosing a classic car to restore. You’ll also need to consider insurance and the likelihood of the car giving you significant grief whenever you take it out. You can’t do enough research when it comes to restoring a classic, so make sure you only pull the trigger when you’re one-hundred percent sure you’ve chosen the right vehicle. Image credit