We’ve got all the key information you need to know about vehicle rebuilding and custom restoration to your car’s specific requirements right here. And we mean it, too. Restoring your vehicle to its former glory can be costly and time-consuming if you don’t know where to go and who to go to. Plus, understanding the intricacies involved in vehicle rebuilding in the restoration process is key to achieving the perfect custom restoration. That said, the team here at the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center have the specialist expertise you need to get your vehicle from an old banger right back to its former glory. And it doesn’t matter how big the vehicle is; after all, we are in the land where everything is bigger. 1. Why You Should Consider a Custom Car Restoration Going into a custom car restoration means you’ve got full custody; you’ve got full control and you’ve got the full range for the future of the engine under the hood. And, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a 1970 Plymouth Cuba Convertible or that Pontiac GTO, you should definitely consider a custom restoration to get it back to its shiny glory and safe on the roads. In fact, there are a few different reasons you should consider a custom vehicle rebuilding project with the wheels of your dreams and your autobody shop: ● Driving becomes an experience ● Your car is your hobby ● You’ll be bringing a taste of history into the right decade ● It drives you into a new identity ● You can become part of a new club 2. What is a Resto-Mod? When it comes to going down the path of a custom restoration, you may have heard the term “resto-mod” being thrown around the car-enthusiast community. And, we’re not going to lie, it’s a bit of a controversial topic. Simply because it involves taking your vehicle rebuilding to the next level. After restoration, you could begin to add accessories, modifications and other modern bells and whistles you know and love. But, classic car lovers will always contest. While we’re “Switzerland” in the scenario, we suggest being on the more cautious side of things when talking about a resto-mod in your classic car clubs. That said, some of the most common examples of resto-mod projects we see through the doors at the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center include adding a V8 engine, a custom paint job and more. After all, you’ll want your car to be fuel-efficient and perform to the highest of standards, right? 3. The Four Levels and Types of Car Restoration When it comes to deciding on your restoration, ya’ll’ll need to know which type best suits your needs. And there are four levels to choose from: a. Driving Condition Restoration You need to ask the question; “Do I need to use my car to get from A to B?”. And, if the answer involves a road and you driving your car on it to the MPH, you’ll want to consider the driving condition restoration. Of course, as most classic cars in a custom restoration have old and rusted parts that are hard to come by, they generally lead to a resto-mod involving a few new accessories hidden under the hood. That said, vehicle rebuilding needs specialist parts and fine-tuning to get it to the level where it’s restored for the optimal drive. That’s why it’s worth knowing our professional technicians are on-hand to check the individual components needed to get your vehicle roadworthy and safe. b. Street Show Condition Restoration Going beyond driving condition, there’s the street show. This means you’ll need to not just consider drivability, but whether it’s dressed to impress the professionals. Just to give you a bit of an introduction to the world of street show condition custom restoration, it works on a 100-point system. And, just to be able to get onto the show, your vehicle rebuilding project will need to score in the range of 80-89 points. To get this, you need to make sure all the parts used are of a higher quality than the parts and accessories you’d need to install for a driving condition restoration. Plus, it’s good to have a keen eye for detail. c. Show Car Condition Restoration Heading up another layer of the specification and detail ladder, we’ve got the show car condition custom restoration. And every aspect of this custom restoration needs to be on-point if you want to get your vehicle to show car condition. For example, the high standard of parts and accessories we mentioned earlier needs to become the highest standard. Using the same points scale we mentioned earlier, in order to get your vehicle rebuilding project to show car standard, you’ll need to get at least 90 points. d. Concours Condition Restoration Finally, the fourth of the levels and types of car restoration surpasses the point of driving. In fact, concours condition restoration focuses simply on getting your vehicle into a condition where it can become a show model or marvel to look at. Often, this type of custom restoration is only reserved for cars that are never driven. For example, for auto shows or private collectors where the car simply becomes a showpiece. With that, you’ll need to get your hands on precision tools and professionally trained mechanics to get the level of restoration required for the vehicle rebuilding. But, when the restoration is complete, the investment will have certainly been worth it. Both in terms of sales value and achievement. 4. The 8 Steps Involved with Restoring a Vehicle Yes, you read that right. There are really only 8 steps involved with vehicle rebuilding and custom restoration, no matter the vehicle type. At least, these are the steps we’ll go through at the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center. Of course, it’s worth knowing some steps will take longer than others, so don’t be going into your restoration project thinking it’ll be ready to whichever of the four levels you’ve chosen in just a few weeks. a. The Strip-Down - This is where we’ll remove all the wiring, engine, gearbox, transmission and so on. You get the picture; it’s going to get messy as we take your vehicle down to its shell. b. The Sanding of the Body - Next, we’ll be removing all the rust and dents that have accumulated over the years. All before treating the arches and filling in the cracks. We’ll then be getting busy with that sander to make this paintwork feel as smooth as ever. c. The Paint Job - After all the preparation work is done, we can get down to painting your classic car back into its glory days. By the time the paint job is finished, you’ll be transported back to a time when the car rolled out of the dealer's showroom. d. The Engine Inspection - We’ll be meticulously checking that engine to ensure it meets safety standards. And, if we find anything that’s not quite right, we’ll be installing a new shiny one. Essentially, we’ll be making sure the engine purrs down the highway by the time we’ve finished with it. e. The Accessory Upgrade - This is where all the auxiliary parts get removed, checked and treated with some TLC. And, if you want to add some extras in there too, all you have to do is holla the team. Just know it’ll quickly become a resto-mod! f. The Reassembly Magic – Now we start the reassembly stage where everything comes back to life. Instead of just having the car body, we’ll have the windows and doors refitted so you’ll have the quietest ride in all of the Lone Star State. g. The Interior Work - Finally, we can get to work on the interior leathers to make sure they are fed, they’ll last and they’ll give you the most comfortable of rides through the city. After all, vehicle rebuilding is all about getting that smooth driving experience. h. The Final Inspection Time - All that's left is to fire up the custom restoration and check the ride using ASE-certified technician standard as we take it down the highway for a test drive. We hope we’ve helped answer some of your questions about vehicle rebuilding and how we, at the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center, can help with all your custom restoration needs and desires. So, call us on (972) 242-0092 to get to know your ASE-certified technicians. Or browse the website to see our full range of services and opening times. Alternatively, drive your wheels into the Dealership Autoplex Collision Centers to see the team here in Carrollton, TX.