What do the Best Classic Car Restoration Shops Have in Common

Picking the right shop to restore your classic car is a big decision and a can be a huge finical commitment. The choice of a shop can be as important as deciding which car to buy. When a shop does an exceptional job it will return a classic vehicle to its former glory , like it rolled of the assembly line. The final product will delight everyone involved in the process, and meet all the expectations of the vehicle owner.  It is imperative for classic car owners to partner with classic car restoration shops they can trust, feel confident in and are comfortable working with to bring their vision to life. Fortunately, all of the best classic car restoration shops have these  things in common:

This may seem  apparent , but the best places to get a car restored should specialize in the restoration and rebuilding process. There are tons of solid auto repair shops out there, but not all of them deal with classic cars on a daily basis. This may seem like a non issue but there is a HUGE difference between late model cars and classics.  Make sure the professionals you decide to trust your vehicle with have experience dealing with style and vintage of your car.

It is pretty obvious that an excellent car restoration shop will deliver an outstanding project. The ugly truth is that every shop will say they offer the highest quality service and sell themselves as an expert in the field. To help ensure you are dealing with an expectational shop make sure to read their client reviews, tour their facility and ask to speak to previous clients.

One of the easiest way to tell if a classic car restoration shop will prove to be a good fit is to talk with the people working there. Professionals who love classic cars , resto mods and anything in between can not help but converse about anything with wheels …. it is a disease ( a good one ) You should be  able to tell if they share your enthusiasm, love and drive for classics. Every car guy or gal has the disease we automatically can tell when we are in the presence of cindered spirits.

I mention this with a grain of salt ,some shops try to take advantage of their customers and overcharge for parts and/or services but the old saying is true “you get what you pay for”.  While classic car restorations , resto mods and updating classics can be expensive and a lengthy project, a trustworthy classic vehicle restoration shop will charge fair prices and choose parts based on the over goal of the project.  It’s worth saying that sometimes restoration projects end up costing more than initially projected , unanticipated damaged arises , additional work could be needed.  A reputable shop will have good reasons for making those choices and those sorts of decisions will be communicated as soon as they are found.  They should also be one hundred percent transparent about their concerns, rational for the changes and offer suggestions to resolve the issues as cost effectively as possible.

It’s an understatement to say that classic cars are an investment and sometimes extremely sentimental.  It is completely understandable for car owners to be concerned about their car  particularly if they’ve never had a vehicle restored before. That being said, the best classic car professionals are also great communicators before , during and after your project is completed. The shop should update you on progress based on your needs, we update clients usually weekly on everything from progress , to parts delays and arrival of parts. Most clients have spent thousands of dollars and communication goes a long way and pictures of their new parts never hurts.

You want a shop that welcomes your drop-ins, involvement and encourages you to check on your vehicle’s continual progress. Please be respectful if you stop in and the shop can not drop everything to assist you right away if you did not make an appointment.  How can you be sure that the shop is maintaining your vision, or requests without being involved with the restoration process?
Having step-by-step photographic evidence of your vehicle’s journey will not only be a nice memento, but may be an advantageous selling feature one day.