Oldtimer restoration
Anyone with a certain love of cars usually also likes a nice old-timer. Many people buy a classic car and then restore it. It is of great importance, however, that the necessary passion goes hand in hand with this. The restoration of an old-timer is not always as premature as many people would expect. Passion is therefore very important. Another aspect that is also important is that you strive for a realistic goal. The final goal is different for everyone. Many people want to be able to enjoy touring with an old-timer that they have restored themselves with complete conviction. Actually, before you start the job, you should already make a rough plan for yourself of how the job should go in general. Take a good look at what you really want to do.
A few general tips in advance.
First of all, we have some general tips before we really get started with the article.
- Take a good look in advance at what exactly needs to be done to the car, realise what the end goal of the project is. This makes a difference in drawing up the approach.
- Don't be afraid to spend more. It is better, and often simply wiser, to spend just a little more on a car that is currently in better condition. After all, you can work these out during the restoration process. As a result, you will probably incur fewer costs later because there are parts that are in poor condition.
If you do this because you want to work on a car that still needs a lot of work, do not take this into account. - Do everything step by step, part by part. Do not do all kinds of things at once, first finish one thing before you start another. Tick off that checklist item by item. This is really important to get the restoration done faster.
- We mentioned it briefly earlier, but it is important to remain realistic. Keep this in mind. There is also a lot to learn with each new job, even for the greatest expert. If you can't work something out, first check how everything should be done, work with care and don't rush. Learning is often the most enjoyable part of the job process.
- Finally, a tip for those who also want to be able to drive while doing odd jobs. Make sure you make it possible to continue driving the car as much as possible. That way, you can enjoy your car again and again while doing the odd jobs. And you will gain more and more satisfaction from seeing the car gradually become more advanced.
Enough space is essential.
When the car has been selected, the actual search for a suitable space can begin. With some cars you need a lot more space than with others. There is quite a difference between the Ford Cresline and the Citroën 2CV. However, enough space is essential for every handyman. It's also worth it to put down some more money, because pleasant work makes for more fun and less stress. For some cars, you may need up to twice the amount of space than the actual size. It is not sensible to sacrifice space and we strongly advise against it.
Be oriented.
It is important to know what you are going to do before you start a job. You want to know what to expect, how much time and effort it will take. And, of course, what you will need for the job. This not only makes completing the job more enjoyable, but also gives you more satisfaction with the end result.
So do some good research on the internet and read some books. Perhaps you have some connections who can give reasonable advice, and you can also use social media to ask around among fellow car enthusiasts.
Setbacks lie in wait.
The chance of a major setback is always present, but you do not necessarily have to prepare for it. The aim is, of course, for the job to go as smoothly as possible and for there not to be any setbacks. But you do have to take into account the fact that the chance of it happening is there. If you derive satisfaction from the work process itself, you will probably not mind the chance of a setback. When the end result is finally there, it just makes it more satisfying. Then you can think, I've done a great job.
Be prepared.
Make sure you read up well, try to find a job space that meets the necessary requirements for your job. Also the order should not be forgotten. And fundamentally, consider whether the original technology should be retained or whether the car should emerge from the restoration in a more modern form.
Preserve or modernise technology?
We mentioned it briefly earlier, think carefully about the technique of the old-timer. Do you want to keep it as it is, or do you want to add new parts to the car to modernise it. So you have to think about such things as a new engine, air conditioning, a more modern radio or possibly a completely new interior.
When there are many changes, you should definitely inform the car insurance company. When you have a WA + limited casco old-timer insurance, you can have the damage to your own car reimbursed by the insurer. With only WA insurance, this is not necessary.
Long-term job? Suspend the licence plate!
Do you have the idea to go for a long-term project? Then there is a good chance that it will be some time before the car can actually be put on the road. In that case, you may want to consider suspending the registration number. This will eliminate the road tax that would normally have to be paid. Some old-timers older than 40 years are also exempt from road tax. In this case, the car no longer needs to undergo an MOT test. You can then also stop or suspend the car insurance. This is a very good option to consider, because it can save you unnecessary costs.
How do you deal with the components?
Many people already collect parts during the overall restoration process. It is wise for everyone not to buy everything at once. This saves a lot of money. You have more time to search for a better offer, and maybe some parts for your car will turn out to be useless in the end. You may think, it is very unusual for this to happen when you have thought everything through beforehand. Believe us when we tell you that this happens much more often than you think.
It also saves a lot of space in the workplace. When you finish a certain part, it is on the car and then there is space again for other parts.
Even one month makes a world of difference.
The year and month of manufacture are also very crucial to take into account. Many people make mistakes here or think too easily. Parts for the type of car can differ from year to year and even from month to month. Some parts do not work properly, and sometimes not at all on a particular car when they come from a different build month. So don't just focus on the type number, but go a little further.
Also a checklist for the parts.
Just as you should make a checklist of the stages of the job, you should also make a list of the parts you need. Spare parts can be bought everywhere. There are special web shops for this, but also e-Bay and Marktplaats can often surprise you with what nice parts you can find there.
What do you really need? Do you go for the used parts, or do you go for the new ones? A car has so many parts, and everything has to be matched to each other.
Saving on tools is not worth it.
When you are going to do odd jobs on a car, if you are going to do any kind of odd jobs at all, then having enough and good tools is essential. Here too, economising is definitely not worth it. If you love working on cars, you should not shy away from spending a little more than you had planned. Quality is important with tools, and it is simply not worth it to cut corners.
Visit a specialist shop!
It is certainly worthwhile visiting a specialist shop. They can often give good advice for your project. Many bolts and shoulds in an oldtimer will soon rust. When the tools are inferior in quality, the job does not go as smoothly. This leads to frustration, and often worse, damage to the car that also costs money. So go for quality materials. You may have connections where you can borrow tools,
What exactly do I need?
Which tools you need depends entirely on the job you are doing. Which equipment and tools you buy right away is entirely up to you. You can also choose not to buy parts one by one, but also the tools you need for certain parts only.
What is needed depends entirely on the job in hand, so do some more research on the internet before you start, and if necessary ask for advice again from people who are more specialised in this than you are. You often come a long way with advice from specialists. Certain things, such as a standard toolbox, a tyre pump, the right bolts and nuts, a jack set and a grinder are always useful. And specialised tools for other parts can always be purchased later if you don't have the money for them right away.
Valuation is always useful.
After all this time, you have finally finished restoring the car. Is it finally time to take out car insurance again and lift the suspension of the vehicle registration?
Or are you going to resell the car and simply want to know how much it is worth now, or is this a request from the buyer?
In any case, it is always a good idea to have the old-timer valued after each project. After the appraisal, you will receive an appraisal report. Some insurers even make it compulsory to have an appraisal report drawn up by a recognised appraiser.
Always have a report drawn up in case of a major transformation!
When a lot of changes are made to an old-timer, there is a chance that a valuation report will have to be submitted to the insurer. This may be because the value of the old-timer has risen considerably, and in the event of damage, the insurer will have to pay a higher amount. Valuation is therefore also important. As an insured of a limited-casco all-risk or WA+ insurance, you are often obliged to hand over a valuation report.
In this way, a realistic premium can be calculated that is based on the new value of the car. Often, a new report has to be drawn up every three years anyway. This is because the value of a car, especially an old-timer, can always change. When you do not meet these requirements, and therefore have not submitted a valuation report, you will be paid the current value instead of the new value of the old-timer.
A valuation report is not necessary if you only have third-party insurance. This only insures the damage you cause to others.
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