For some people, dream cars are those equipped with big engine and cutting-edge navigational system or convertible sport with turbocharged engine. For others, however, dream cars are the historical ones; cars from the past instead of glimpses of the future. When you dream of owning and driving a classic car from yesterdays, you cannot just walk into dealership and get a new one. At the same time, purchasing a used car that’s been sitting in somebody’s garage for decades can present whole lot of problems. The exterior is expectedly stained, metals body is rusty, interior needs total replacement, and more importantly, the engine probably won’t start at all. It also means that the cost for purchasing a used classic car can be far less than the amount you must spend for restoring it to its original condition.

But if you have time, money, and passion about classic rides, restoration has always been good idea. Similar to most things, cars are not built to last forever. There are deteriorations in all parts including engine and interior, although they are perfectly covered by car’s outer shell. The good thing is that proper restoration can breathe new life into an otherwise neglected car and make it both run and look as if it just came out of the factory yesterday morning. Furthermore, if the car is a sought-after collectible, the restoration cost is likely worth the resale value.

Restoration is not simply about the look and spraying a new coat of shiny paint. It should cover every single part of the car and sometimes make it perform even better than the original. And in many cases, restoration means replacing many parts of the car including gauges in the dashboard, upholstery, windscreen, exhaust pipes, wheels, and probably many others depending on the condition and how well the previous owners maintained it.

Thankfully, with the help of Internet and online market, it is now easy to get new parts for old cars from around the country. Some companies even specialize in providing parts for cars that are no longer in production. The actual difficult process of restoring classic car is to give hours after hours of work, recalibrate everything, and make sure the car works properly without further major repair in the near future.

You may have the time and money to do the project, but classic car restoration is still a job best left to professionals. Whether you realize it or not, classic car restoration is a never-ending trend that has become a profitable business venture for owners. A restored classic is as cool as any new car with custom paint, body, and upgraded engines. A classic car may not be fast, but there is no point of driving fast when you want people to look at it and be amazed.