Is a Classic Car Restoration a Good Investment?

Many car enthusiasts, old and young, dream of returning an old car to its former glory with a complete restoration inside and out. But is a classic car restoration a good investment?

We answer that and more in our guide to vintage vehicle restorations below!

A Car Restoration Can Be a Good Investment If Done Correctly

Cars, especially older vintage models, are always tricky investments to gauge because they depend on individual factors like condition, rarity, and desirability. 

But while every car project has risks, a classic car restoration can be a good investment if done properly.

Restoring a car is not unlike flipping a house—the right model, with some elbow grease and updates, can go from a junker to a valuable classic and dramatically increase its value. 

If the model is rare or highly sought-after, even some basic cosmetic changes can make all the difference in its value. 

But before you jump into a top-down complete restoration of an old car, there are some things to ask yourself first to ensure it's a wise investment.

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Restoring a Classic Car

What's My Project Budget?

First, you should decide how complete the restoration you plan on doing is and what budget you'll need to finish the project. There are four levels of car restoration, ranging from just making it drivable again to a complete restoration to make it look brand-new. 

The higher the level, the greater the investment and the potentially bigger payoff, so weigh the pros and cons of each level and figure out your needed budget from there.

Is the Car Worth Restoring?

Next, owners should consider whether the vehicle is worth the investment and restoration. Even with thousands of dollars invested into its restoration, a classic may still not be valuable if it's a common model and not interesting to collectors and enthusiasts. 

Research the car you plan on restoring, see what similar models are fetching for sales and auctions, compare it to your proposed budget, and weigh whether the car is worth restoring.

How Much Can I Do Myself?

Doing some parts yourself is a great way to save money during restoration and put it towards other areas of your budget. But you should be self-aware of your abilities and limitations—you can do more harm than good if you mess up and damage the car and restoration. 

You can do the project's smaller, less important aspects but leave the bigger issues to the professionals with the necessary equipment to ensure you don't damage your investment.

Final Thoughts

We hope you've enjoyed our breakdown of classic car restorations and their investment quality. Restoration is an excellent investment and hobby for many seniors, retirees, and soon-to-be retirees. 

So, if you've always wanted to rebuild a car from scratch, there's no better time to do it!

4 Ways to Cut Costs When Owning Large and Older Vehicles

If you’re a fan of classic things, there’s nothing like owning a classic vehicle. Unfortunately, owning an older vehicle, especially one that’s large, can come at a high cost. The good news is that there are ways to overcome these problems so that you can continue to enjoy owning your dream car.

Change Fuel Types

For the advanced tinkerer who owns an older car, you may be able to save some costs by converting your vehicle to run on alternative fuels. If you can convert your vehicle to run on ethanol, for example, you will likely save quite a bit of money when filling up your tank. 

Plus, depending on the type of fuel you use, you could help to significantly lower your vehicle’s impact on the environment, making this a win-win situation.

Do Your Own Repairs

Since most repair shops focus on vehicles made within the last 20 years or so, bringing in an older vehicle could be quite expensive. That’s why it’s important that you’re able to do your own repairs to help keep costs down. 

Of course, you can’t do your own repairs without plenty of Type 2 VW bus parts on hand at all times. Once you find a good supplier of parts, you can see if they offer bulk discounts for items that you have to replace often to help you save even more money.

Keep It Maintained

Some cost-saving measures apply to all cars, no matter how old they are. One of those cost-saving measures is proper maintenance. Regular oil changes, tire rotations, and other basic maintenance will help your vehicle perform well and help prevent major problems that would be quite costly to fix.

Make It Earn Its Keep

If your vehicle is larger than average, you can use your vehicle to earn some money to help it earn its keep. For example, a larger vehicle can hold quite a few boxes for performing deliveries for various shipping companies. 

With a larger vehicle, the possibilities are endless as long as you have enough drive and determination to keep after the work you do with your vehicle.

Show It Off

Older vehicles shouldn’t just sit around in a garage. If your vehicle looks good and sounds good, then it’s a good idea to show it off to others. When it comes to automobiles, there is a club for just about every type of car imaginable, meaning that there is someone out there who shares your enthusiasm for your older, larger car.