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For a specialized classic car restoration, you will have specific criteria when choosing a body shop. While anyone who takes their car to a shop wants a perfect paint job and attention to detail on other aspects of the car, poor workmanship on a classic car has numerous implications: • If you show your car, it is judged on the paint job and on the authenticity of restored parts, so a bad job may cost you awards. • Depending on the value, it might be worth a lot of money, so a bad restoration job detracts from its value. • As a classic car owner, your car is your pride and joy. A botched paint or restoration job can be a devastating blow. To make sure you find a quality body shop for classic car restoration, there are few things to keep in mind. Find a Classic Car Specialist While some body shops advertise that they restore classic cars, many local body shops and garages do not have the knowledge and skill to do this type of work. Before you entrust your car to any shop, make sure that they have experience and proven track record restoring classic cars. Depending on what type of vehicle you have, you might want to seek out a restorer that specializes in your specific type of car. Don't Base your Choice on Price The normal way to shop for services is to consider the price. This can be a slippery slope with car restoration because each car is different. A shop owner who estimates your car might offer a quote in good faith, but then find underlying damage. To avoid having the shop come back to you with extra costs once you have exceeded the amount assumed in the estimate, be prepared to pay an hourly rate. While you might fear being overcharged, this is the best way to assure that the shop will be thorough. When paying by the hour, it is common to be asked for a large down payment and to set up a payment schedule. It is never a good idea to pay the entire cost upfront, but since the shop owner cannot afford to accrue the costs for the supplies used, he needs regular payments. A good shop sends a detailed periodic invoice that lists parts and labor charges to date. Make Sure you have a Contract Since the repair process is often lengthy, it benefits you to have a contract that specifically lists what will be done and how it will be done. Details such as the brand of paint and primer, the preparation work for all jobs, and the specific processes used in the restoration should be broken down. The work may be more extensive and time-consuming than you anticipated, but your contract should contain a ballpark estimate. Extensive repairs on classic cars can take months, so a written contract will prevent misunderstandings. Put Stock in Recommendations While finding a body shop equipped to handle classic car restoration can be difficult, a good place to start is by talking to other people at car shows. If you see an impressive restoration job, ask the car owner where he had the work done, how much it cost, and how long it took. By taking the appearance of the car and the recommendations into account, you will come away with a trusted reference to call about your classic car restoration.
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