Tips for restoring a classic car

Thinking about having your classic car restored by a professional? It can be very daunting the first time you commence such a project, not the least of which is selecting a restorer.
Recently we spoke to Rob Ephgrave, owner of Adelaide Hills Panel Works, about the priority issues you ought to consider before you select a professional restorer.

CONCOURSE OR DAILY DRIVER?

One of the most critical things to get right is to decide what you want done and to what level of quality. It seems simple enough but when someone says `I want my car restored', Rob asks what they mean by `restoration', because everyone has their own definition of `restoration'. For example: is it to be restored to concourse condition or as a daily driver? A lot of Rob's time is spent agreeing what the end product will look like. He suggests that this is where many restorations go wrong. If the client and the restorer have different perceptions about what the end result will be, then it can only end in tears.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH , RESEARCH!

Speak with current and former clients about the quality of work done by a restorer. When considering any restorer, insist you see photos of cars being restored and question the techniques used during the restoration. Ask about the problems which were encountered and how they were resolved. All of this ought to be willingly provided by any restorer who is proud of their work.

HAVE A PLAN

Have a plan which breaks the restoration down into its major components and decide the cost limits on each major aspect of the restoration. For example: decide how much you will spend on the interior versus rust elimination. In this way, you can manage it more effectively.

LIMITS OF AUTHORITY

Set the limits of authority , and stick to them. Rob says it is very critical to know what can and cannot decided without referring to the client. This ensures everyone involved has clarity about what they are doing and minimises confusion.

GET INVOLVED.

Decide how much you will be involved in the restoration. Will you do any of the work? If so, what? Will the restorer allow you into their workshop? Make sure you get this sorted. Rob encourages involvement by the client in his restorations. "It helps with problem solving and decision making when the client in actively involved in the work" he says.