What to Know Before You Invest in a Rare Car Project
The first stage of any rare car project is the research stage -- arguably the most important stage. Whether you're a casual automotive enthusiast just getting into car restoration or the experienced and serious hobbyist undertaking their tenth rare car project, planning before a purchase is key to a fun and successful building experience. Do not rush this stage. Take your time, find the right car, make a plan, and get in contact with the right automotive restoration shop.
If you're still nervous about taking that first step and going from research to contacting a potential seller about a rare car project you're interested in, then consider the following tips or pieces of advice:
What to Know Before Investing in Your Next Rare Car Project
- Do broad then specific research before purchasing. First off, if you are going into this with the goal of showing off a restored vintage vehicle, then note that there is a difference between historic and hobby vehicles. Historic models are those models that have specifically made a difference in automotive history or are otherwise special due to some unique aspect of it. Hobby vehicles are models that are collectible but not especially rare. Once you have a specific car in mind, do your research to understand if it is historic or a hobby vehicle. Get all of the documentation, including VIN and trim tags and make doubly sure it has a clean title. You do not want to invest a ton of money into a car only to find it was stolen or improperly sold.
- Photograph the vehicle at every phase. Before you even purchase your vehicle, you should take photograph documentation of every angle and show it to the shop you expect to work with during the restoration process. Get their advice on any trouble areas you spot and make sure to have a trusted mechanic complete a pre-purchase inspection before you buy the vehicle. After purchase, whenever you do any job requiring disassembly, make sure to take photographs during both disassembly and reassembly. If you have any issues in either stage of the process or following reassembly, these photographs will help inform you of where things might have gone wrong.
- Choose your shop by specialty, reputation, and referral. If you are investing in a classic car, then you do not want to take that investment car to just any shop. The vast majority of your general automotive shops are equipped to handle basic repairs and modern cars -- not classic cars, vintage hot rods, or even Euro-centric models. Instead, ask around for shops near you that specialize in the brand and year model you have and who have great references backing up their work.
Ask For Our References
Once you've asked the rest of the shops, come and ask our team about our experience and past projects. At Customs & Hot Rods of Andice, our shop doors are always open and we are always eager to hear from new potential clients and fellow automotive enthusiasts. Check out our online gallery and shoot us an email or phone call about your rare car project today!