If you have an old car that is just sitting in your garage collecting dust, there is a good chance that you have a diamond in the rough. If you take the necessary steps to properly restore it, you could end up with a vehicle that is worth a large amount of money to a collector. However, when you are dealing with a vehicle that is literally decades old, you can’t treat it the same way that you would a much newer vehicle. Since your classic car is potentially very valuable, great care must be taken during the entire restoration process. Here are some tips you can use for antique car restoration.

1. Who will do the restoration?

This is a very big decision. Choosing the wrong person or company to handle your vehicle restoration project could end up causing your vehicle to be damaged and reduced in value. Ideally, you want it to be restored by someone who has many years of experience restoring old vehicles from the same era as your vehicle. In other words, don’t take our 1960s Mustang to a guy who primarily works on vehicles from the 1930s. While he might do a nice job on your vehicle, it is best to err on the side of caution. Get references and look at examples of a company’s work before agreeing to let them restore your vehicle. Also, make sure the person or company restoring your vehicle is licensed and insured. This will protect you in case they do serious damage to your vehicle while they are restoring it.

2. How much restoration will be done?

In many cases, the amount of restoration a person has done depends on their budget. You will need to figure out what exactly is going to be restored. Do you just want it to get a fresh paint job? Do you want the upholstery to be replaced? Do you want it to be completely overhauled? Once you have decided what you want, you can negotiate the price with the person who is doing the restoration.

3. Monitor the process

The restoration process can take anywhere from several days to several months, depending on how much work you are having done. It would be in your best interests to stop by the shop on a regular basis to see how the work is progressing. This will allow you to correct anything you do not like.