Maybe you’ve got an old Corvette sitting in your driveway, just crying out for some attention. Or, perhaps you’ve seen an offer for a real diamond in the rough that needs some TLC: Tender Loving Customization. Before you start investing and making plans for that car, a little investigation will go a long towards telling you if this is a good investment or fool’s dream.
First of all, there are things you need to plan before committing to a customization – first and foremost, cost and budget. Remember that you are not only paying for the restoration, but a pricey insurance bill to cover it. And you’ll want full coverage – once you invest, you can’t risk anything happening to it. When your restored Corvette is back from the shop, you’ll also need a safe environment to protect her so take storage costs into consideration as well.
The next step is to evaluate the current worth of the car you own or are considering buying. Restorations are tricky – they can either give you a jaw-dropping return on your investment or completely ruin the value of your car. For example, if you have a ’67 Corvette 427 with a 435hp original engine with tank sticker, judged NCRS Top Flight, customization is the last thing you want do – and if you have one, let me know if you’re selling it! Customizing a car like that will certainly devalue it. On the other hand, if your ’67 Vette has the “wrong” motor in it – that is, not original – and has been customized to someone else’s taste, a restoration is your civic and moral duty! Well, not really, but it will bring up the value; as it is, it won’t be worth much to anyone. If you are still searching looking for that ideal car to customize, find one that has lost its original value through personalized customization, then do the work to restore it.
Once you’ve found that future car of your dreams, consider how far you want to take your restoration: do you want it to be fit enough to enter and win contests? Are you looking to recreate a museum quality piece? Or do you want a street-worthy classic car to tool around in and show off to your friends? Setting that goal will affect your budget, your shop selection and the level of detail you’ll need to invest in.
Finally, you must find a highly reliable shop to do an accurate and competent job. Restoration is a delicate operation and needs to be done properly, so take your time seeking out the right vendor. After you’ve located potential candidates, look at the bodywork they’ve done over the years. Talk to car owners who’ve used the shop for restorations in the past – 4, 5, or even 10 years ago – and see how the condition of their car is holding up. Your investment is only as sound as the expertise of those handling your customization.
The bottom line, though, is this it is your car and you have to do what you want. If doing a customization is your dream, then go for it. But keep in mind that restoring a classic Corvette close to its original standing may not only make you happy, but can bring a legacy of American culture into your driveway.
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