Buying a project car can be an incredible opportunity, offering a rewarding way to spend your time while building up your mechanical muscle. However, it\u2019s best to keep a clear eye on the road ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project cars are notoriously time consuming and can lend to things going financially awry if you\u2019re not aware of the practicalities of rebuilding, restoring or rodding a car. It can be an emotional journey too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that in mind, here\u2019s a few things you should know from the outset before setting out on your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep your eye on the dollars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We can’t stress this one enough, but set a budget and then add a little bit of fat for those impromptu decisions. They\u2019ll happen. Be realistic. Don\u2019t go into working on a vintage Porsche on the budget of a new Prius. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do your research. You\u2019ll need tools, and you\u2019ll probably need to draw on the expertise of paid professionals to really get what you want out of the project. Other things to think about include import costs, which have risen exponentially because of Covid-19. Are you planning to work on the car at home? Bear in mind, it\u2019s not always a quiet exercise in the workshop and you\u2019ll need to consider neighbours if you don\u2019t have a workshop you can access day or night. Search around, there are likely to be some great spaces in your area. If you\u2019re setting out on a project, you\u2019re most likely to have a car in mind that you\u2019ve always dreamed of rebuilding, doing it up in a way that makes your heart sing. Our advice is just make sure that car you dreamed of owning as a 10 year old still sizes up today. If you\u2019ve got kids now, maybe choosing the two-seater needs a rethink to get full joy out of the results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, depending on the make and model of your project car, you\u2019ll want to make sure you can access the parts without too much expense — see our comments above around international freight and import costs – duties, GST, and so forth all tally up quickly. Also, bear in mind like home renovations, they often work on their own timelines, despite your best efforts! Be prepared to not be able to get your car into the spray shop straight away, or that those tyres could say 6-8 months to arrive in New Zealand, and another 3 weeks to process. Don\u2019t be afraid to call in the experts<\/strong>
Not trying to take the fun out of things! Just remember, fun isn\u2019t always free!
<\/strong>Find a workshop that you can access all hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose your project car wisely<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Patience is key<\/strong>
Once you\u2019ve decided on your project car, do your research on what pats you\u2019re going to need. The internet is naturally a smart place to get started, and places like Autopart International<\/a> can give you an indication of what sort of costs you\u2019ll be looking at. Get in touch with local enthusiasts too. Car clubs are a great place to start, and you might have the good fortune of stumbling across some local know-how (or an extra set of hands!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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While this is the \u201cexpert\u2019s guide\u201d to project cars, real experts know when to call in other professionals to get the job done right. Whether you\u2019re dealing with a classic car, a hot rod or muscle car, or something even more unique, it\u2019s impossible to go into a new project without getting vehicle-specific knowledge, and that usually best comes from the people you meet along the way. It\u2019s also half the fun of an auto rebuild project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n