How Much? How Long?
Cost of a Restoration
The short answer is, it depends.
A total body reconstruction and drive line restoration or replacement can cost over $100k. A simple rust repair and full body repaint could be closer to $10k. The best thing to do is contact us to discuss exactly what you need, then we can tell you what it will cost.
BUT, we know you're looking for a number that's realistic but not a huge range, so let's go over the average project that rolls into our shop. Most East Texans have a complete car that's got quite a bit of rust (floorboards are see-through, quarters are perforated, vinyl roofs are soft, and windscreen corners are bubbling). It's not uncommon to come across some rodent-damaged wiring, and owners typically want to get away from resistor wiring, ameters and generators and upgrade to new wiring, gauges and higher amperage single-wire alternators. The interior typically needs a complete replacement. But the mechanical bits are all there and a simple rebuild (rings, bearings and a valve job) will do fine. We typically end up installing a new AC as well. In a scenario like this, you're going to end up investing about $25k in your vehicle.
How long does it take?
A nut and bolt restoration of a classic can take a long time. In some cases, we'll need a car for a year. It's actually pretty easy to dedicate 2,000 hours to a car that needs everything. In most cases, we can renew a car in less than 1,000 hours. If all your vehicle needs is a repaint, tires and brakes, then you should have it back, looking like new, in about a week! If you've got a car with several rusted panels that's been sitting for a few years, expect to leave your car with us for a few months.