Locating that perfect project car could be like kayaking down a serene river with headphones on. If you are not careful you will get caught with your oars out of reach when the white water arrives. Ok that may be a bit dramatic, but there are plenty of cars for sale that to the untrained eye look great, but to the trained eye are full of rapidly increasing costs and surprises.

Keep these tips in mind when looking for a project for car restoration:

1 Develop a plan. One must have a clear plan regarding the budget for a car restoration and the level of customization and upgrades in the project scope. If you are going to upgrade all the mechanical systems there is no reason to buy a car that is in excellent mechanical condition.

2 Decide on the years, makes and models you are interested in. Go to a car show and check them out. Go to a classic car retailer and actually sit in a few cars. The old Corvettes are cool but they sure are tight for space. Are you going to haul stuff, well consider a classic station wagon, like a Chevy Nomad.

3 Knee jerking is the first 5 of the 7 deadliest sins when it comes to finding that perfect project car. Avoid this at all costs. Take your time and do the proper research. Hire a restoration technician to look at the car or at least talk to the owner of the vehicle to make sure you have asked all the right questions. Many classic cars have been in accidents, previously restored or require extensive frame repairs. These hidden issues will cost big bucks when you get into the car restoration and the secrets of the vehicle are uncovered.

4 Don't buy a car from a friend. This may seem like a good idea, but only if that friend bought the car new and knows the complete history of the vehicle. This is a great way to ruin a friendship.

5 Documentation is King. The car that you purchase ideally will have a paper trail available. This can include the original build sheet, title, service records and restoration history. Depending on the car this isn't necessarily a deal breaker if the original paper work is not available. If, however, the owner is claiming a specific pedigree the paperwork better be available.

6 Carefully pick who you will buy from. There are good reputable project car retailers. Request, expect and follow up on references. If something isn't right walk away. Ebay can be a great place to purchase some items but is it a good place to purchase a project vehicle? It can be if you use caution and follow the guidelines described above.

7 Contact an automobile appraiser to get values before you start. Did you know that there is a National Organization of Automobile Appraisers? These professionals know their business. If you have a list of the vehicles you are interested in and the scope of the project an appraiser can help establish the right price to pay for a car. The appaiser will also be familiar with some of the specific issues inherent to that make or model.

In conclusion, there are plenty of good reliable resources to assist in locating a project car. This is a good starting point as you can find a car that already meets some of the specifications of your project scope. There are several restoration shops that can lend assistance and even locate the car for you. The bottom line is slow down, have a plan and use the resources available. Follow the tips above and you will not only have a great experience you will have a restoration that you will be proud of.

Mike Marino is the GM of Precision Restorations in St Louis MO. Known for the systematic approach taken to all aspects of Car Restoration, Classic Car Restoration and Muscle Car Restoration, Precision Restorations can be reached at 314-652-1966 or at http://www.PrecisionCarRestoration.com

This entry was posted on Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 9:23 pm and is filed under Classics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.