 |
| Labour
of love-findin and restoring classic cars takes a lot of time,patience
and money but the end result more than justifies the effort |
Restoration
and maintenance is crucial if your ownership experience is to yield anything
but heartburn. Firstly, make sure you have a garage to keep your expensive
classic - keeping it in a parking lot that's exposed to the elements as
well as abuse is plain silly.
Though you should preferably go in for the best kept cars, it is not impossible
to restore cars - doing a self-restoration job can be fun and satisfying,
even if it takes years.
Collect as much information as you can and study restoration manuals and
workshop manuals of your car before you begin. The chassis and engine
numbers are a big help here. You will find most on the Internet. You can
also find people in related chat rooms and also international car clubs,
willing to help with tips and advice.
Vintage and classic car events are places to study similar cars. Ask for
permission from owners to photograph details of trim and parts. Fellow
hobbyists could perhaps advise and guide you on obtaining parts for your
car. Never over-restore a car. While choosing accessories, make sure to
choose the correct era and style. Old photographs of the car in new or
original condition can help a bit as can asking previous owners. Many
CKD cars that came to India, especially the 1957 model Chrysler and Studebaker
products, were not the same as those being sold in America. The Dodge,
DeSoto and Plymouth models in India had one standard engine and interior
trim with only the grille and few external features changed. |
January 2003