How to get into the Profession of Restoring Classic Automobiles
How to get into the Profession of Restoring Cloassic Automobiles
Dedication of your life profession to Classic Automobile Restoration is a daunting task as is any such undertaking where a plethora of knowledge is required. The profession may not be as daunting as becoming a doctor or lawyer, however it does require a commensurate amount of dedication to learning as any complicated profession.
One should look at a beginning as one would investigate and arrive at a profession in any trade; electrician, carpenter, sheet metal worker or welder. A simple auto mechanic in today's market requires certification in many aspects requiring classes and hours of labor to learn working portions of autos, including: brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, suspension, engine and bodywork. With current technology many aspects of auto repair have been reduced to quick electronic diagnostics with the computer relaying enough information to allow untrained mechanics to find problems and faults, replace a part, and fix the problem in minutes.
When dealing with classic cars of 50, 60, or 70 years ago an entire different mindset and amount of training is required. True talent in classic car restoration requires knowledge of that marque in a depth not known by many. For that reason it is imperative the applicant make him or herself as knowledgeable as possible of an age and particular car brand as is possible. Research is the key, finding all that is written down regarding a vintage auto, and taping into lore and common knowledge of enthusiasts and owners of classics.
Restoration of classics can involve woodworking, yes, wood, many old, old makes started out in existence being manufactured by coach builders from the horse and buggy days. Actually some vehicles such as the Morgan are still manufactured with wood frames today. Restoring an old REO or Rolls-Royce can involve much wood repair or replacement in frame, wheels or trim.
Power plants and drive trains of long ago included many clever and inventive propulsion methods and due to limited production many one off or surely less than 50 cars of a breed were manufactured parts are not available as a simple replacement off the shelf, the restorer must be capable of making such a part, be it forged, welded or cast from scratch. This entails training in many fields particularly in working with metals from welding to machining. One flaw or deviation from original can be costly if the end product is to be considered in any concours or classic car show. Where each nut and bolt is examined for authenticity. Owners demand perfection and of course to produce maximum value all the numbers must match be it a classic Corvette, Cobra, Mustang or Ferrari.
The professional car restorer must have complete knowledge and should dedicate to particular brand or age of classic car(s) in which they want to specialize. This is not your everyday body shop, a mis-step in antique restoration can cost $10,000 to 1 million dollars or more.
Another aspect of professional car restoration is specialization; each segment can be rewarding and profitable and a living can be made with dedication to a single endeavor. Shops are in existence doing only top and trim, providing interior work for seats, carpeting and convertible tops. Others are engine rebuilders who service only high end motor systems from Bentley or Aston-Martin or specialty engine makers Coventry-Climax, Cosworth, or Offenhauser used in may highly prized race machines commanding big price tags when restored.
To become a professional classic car restorer there is no one school or training facility, there are however many good shops in existence where one can apprentice and learn the trade. Regular mechanic schools and trade schools from community college can prepare a student in fundamentals and groundwork.
If a particular marque is desired join as many clubs or organizations dedicated to that vintage. Subscribe to newsletters and annuals and obtain books and articles from the experts and other societies to amass a data base on that field.
Many individuals as a hobby or full time profession can turn over several cars a year and make a livable wage working from a small shop or garage and farming out the specialty items to other locals. This path takes dedication and devotion and a lot of patience as some restorations can be painstakingly slow over a period of several years. Many owners have limited funds and are in no hurry, they have fixed budgets and only need a portion done; brakes this month, engine next year and so on. The biggest problem with this method is reputation and growing a business very slowly. Vintage, classic and other restorable cars are constantly turning up, picked up by restorers and hobbyists who once restoration is complete almost always find a collector or similar buyer.
It can be seen there are a multitude of ways to enter the profession of Classic Car Restorer, to me it seems there is no wrong method. But one undeniable factor is knowledge, a background in auto mechanics is a must, even if you never intend on turning a wrench. Hiring the right people can be one method to accomplish the grunt work, but you must still be the most knowledgeable kid on the block to promote and accomplish a successful restoration. Once the background is laid, the study, learning and complete learning of a library of history, theory of a vehicles lifeline is crucial to success. A shade tree mechanic can revive an old car but it takes a professional to restore a classic, and with any endeavor a professional must school himself to the degree needed to earn the title.
