Restoration Versus Personalization: Which One Is Better For Your Classic Car?

A common question among classic car buyers is what to do after acquiring that vintage gem: Restore it or personalize it? Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here we will cover the different aspects of restoration and customization to help you decide which route to take for your car.

Restoration: authentic is beautiful

Restoring a classic car means finding the original parts and options for a particular model. This means that if you own a Cuda with a broken Hemi engine, you must find a stock Hemi to restore it. Painting is a different matter. While the authentic paint of a certain brand may not exist today, there are several car services that offer the color of that brand so it still looks original.

The advantages of restoring a classic

1. Restoring poses a greater challenge, so there is so much more love between you and your car. It can be a bit easy to find a stock engine, but looking for the small parts like the starter will be a bit of an adventure. Once you finish restoring, you are sure to find a stronger bond between you and your car.

2. Fully restored classic cars increase in value. Because so much more effort and money goes into restoring, you can easily increase the price of the car once you decide to sell it. A perfectly restored vintage car can be valued at more than $ 100,000 at professional auctions.

3. You have the opportunity to have an authentic car. There is nothing more advantageous than that.

The disadvantages of restoring a classic

1. Parts are difficult to find and therefore expensive. Unless you’re involved in a scavenger hunt and looking for auto parts in junkyards and auctions, parts in stock can be a bit pricey. The reason for this is simple: Car companies no longer produce those parts, which is why most people would consider them uncommon, just like a classic car.

2. Safety, efficiency and comfort are sometimes compromised. A car from the 1950s may not yet have proper airbags and seat belts. The engine probably doesn’t save fuel and the suspension may wobble a bit. And if you decide to go cheap and recycle a used engine from a spare car, expect it to break down at least once due to stress.

Personalization: comfort coupled with funkiness

Customizing a classic car means adding or changing some parts and details that are not originally included in that brand. This could include a better engine, suspensions, and more comfortable seats. The painting can also be customized. You may have seen a Mustang with burning tracks on the sides. That is customization.

The advantages of personalizing a classic

1. Security and convenience are the main advantage of personalization. Upgrading your car with more fuel efficient engines and better seat belts and airbags will make your trip much smoother and safer.

2. Parts are easier to find and sometimes much cheaper. Engines are much easier to find, but still challenging. You will have to find an alternative engine to suit your classic car. Still, you can find smaller parts more easily.

3. You have the opportunity to have great additions to your liking. Original hydraulics, superchargers, and lights are among the many options you can add if you customize. Cool blazetrails too.

The downsides of customizing a classic

1. The value of your classic car will go down. A heavily modified car will be worth less than one that is simply restored. If you plan to sell your car in a few years, your best option would be to restore it.

2. If you plan to sell the car, you may have a hard time finding a buyer. Most classic car buyers look for one that can be easily restored. Therefore, a dusty and rusty vehicle is much preferred because some original parts included in the car can still be used.

The best indicator in determining whether to customize or restore a classic car is knowing what your dream car looks like. The great thing about this is that you can easily combine customization and restoration. Restore everything under the hood and get fresh glows on the hood. Your preference is king.