How is classic auto repair different than restoration?

Many owners of classic and vintage vehicles ask us for restoration when they just need classic auto repair. Often, auto body and paint work or mechanical services are what’s necessary to get the vehicle back into good working order. In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between the two options.

• What is classic auto repair?
• What are the different types of classic auto repair?
• How much does classic auto repair cost?

What is classic auto repair?

Classic auto repair is the process of returning a vintage or classic vehicle to it’s pre-damaged condition. It’s different from restoration which requires more extensive work throughout the vehicle.

Instead, classic auto repair is focused on correcting smaller scale problems. These include things like damage to:

• exterior body panels (dings, dents, etc.),
• paint (scratches, dulling, chips, etc.),
• interior (missing parts, broken pieces, rips, tears, etc.),
• and mechanical (broken parts, missing components, maintenance, and service) parts.

Owners of classic vehicles can easily confuse the kind of service they need. That’s because many of the steps to repair a classic car or truck are similar to those a shop will follow if they’re doing a restoration.

What are the different types of classic auto repair?

There are three main areas where classic auto repair is often needed:

• auto body and paint
• interior
• mechanical

Auto body and paint repair

Scratches and dents are some of the most common classic auto repair request we have. Common cases include scratches during a car shows, falling tools or objects in the garage, and door dings from careless other drivers. In other, more extreme cases, we’ve fixed classic car auto body and paint problems from transporter damage, collisions with other vehicles, and even accidents with animals.

This Porsche 356 speedster came to our shop for classic auto repair after the driver had a collision with a bear.

In all but the most extreme collisions, a full auto body and paint restoration will not be required. However, auto body and paint repair will follow many of the same steps. Those include:

• looking for hidden damage
• evaluating damaged parts
• sourcing replacement parts
• adjusting the parts and how they fit
• matching paint to the original (or custom) specifications
• blending paint

In some cases, the best way to repair a classic vehicle’s paint is to perform a full body paint job. Because of this, repairing paint work can often cost more than the vehicle is worth. This can be surprising to owners who are not expecting high costs for body or paint repair (see How much does classic auto repair cost? below in this article.)

Interior repair

Many classic autos have damage to interior parts like carpeting, seats, dashboards, and various trim pieces. In most cases, this kind of damage does not require a full restoration. However, there are some important things to consider. For example, if you are having trouble with interior mold or standing water, there’s a good chance you’ve got other structural issues with the body. Those might include rusted or compromised cowlings, fenders, or frame components.

In most cases, interior repair just consists of finding replacement parts and installing them in the vehicle. Our classic auto repair services do not generally include interior repair. We only handle this kind of repair when we are managing an entire restoration project that includes a full tear down and reconstruction.

Mechanical repair

One of the most comment classic auto repair requests we get is for mechanical service. Because we are primarily an auto body and paint team, we do not provide mechanical auto repair services for things like alternators, engine overhauls, powertrain, or drivetrain maintenance and repair. We work with a small number of highly trusted mechanical shops that are local to our Fuquay-Varina, NC shop. In some cases, we can make a referral for you to a shop we trust but, unfortunately, we aren’t able to make recommendations outside of our local area.

How much does classic auto repair cost?

Classic auto repair costs are influenced by many of the same factors that affect restoration. You can read more about the cost of restoration in our article on the cost of classic car restoration.

An estimate is always required to start the process to determine how much your classic auto repair will cost. Many people ask if they can get an estimate by sending us a picture. Photos are a good start. However, we need to physically see the vehicle before we can write an estimate for your repairs.

Classic auto repair cost is influenced by many different things. They fall into two main groups:

Safety

Our first concern in any repair is to ensure the vehicle is safe for return to the road. Depending on the age of your vintage or classic vehicle, we may identify unrelated structural concerns that will cause your vehicle to be unsafe to operate. In some cases, we will need to decline work on your vehicle even if the repairs you are asking for are not related to the structural concerns. If you decide to have us perform these structural repairs, your estimate will include both types of work.

In some cases, the repairs you need may require parts that are no longer available. In some limited cases, we can fabricate parts. In other cases, we may need to search for a donor vehicle. If we cannot create or locate parts that will return your vehicle to the road safely, we may not be able to take on your classic auto repair project.

Our shop does not repair totaled vehicles but you may be able to find another shop that will.

Budget

Depending on the amount of damage you need repaired, the cost of repairs can often exceed the value of your classic or vintage vehicle. Some of the customers we help are willing to spend more than the vehicle’s value because the car or truck is rare, has historic connections, or has sentimental value. In many cases, however, the current value of a classic auto means that the North Carolina statutes for “totaling” a vehicle may mean it’s not worth the money to repair.

Replacement Parts

Replacement parts can account for a significant amount of your classic auto repair budget. As we said in the “Safety” section of this article, we may be required to purchase a donor vehicle in order to obtain a specific part or set of parts.

In other cases, the supply of parts may be so limited that the one or two places we could get them are charging “market rates” for them. If there are few options, you may be required to pay what the seller demands.

For some common classic autos, repair parts are not difficult to find from original manufacturers, aftermarket suppliers, or salvage yards.

Storage and Transport

Our team will bring your classic auto in for repair only after we’ve been able to source all the required parts.

In some cases, you may need to store your vehicle for an extended amount of time. This usually happens before the repair is scheduled and while we are working together to locate parts that will work for the repair you need. If you don’t have a place to store the vehicle while you wait, you may need to secure a location because we do not provide vehicle storage.

In rare cases, we may discover hidden damage that was not visible at the time of our initial estimate. If you choose not to continue with the repair, you will be responsible to pay for transporting your vehicle from our shop. If you are unable to arrange for transport within a few days, you may be responsible to pay for storage at our facility or a location we choose on your behalf.

Labor

Paint related labor is often a significant source of time. Some classic vehicles use older painting materials and techniques. Modern paint and application methods will not result in a matching repair area. In many cases, extra steps will be required for prep, spray, and finishing to achieve a pre-damage look and feel.

Parts related labor can also be a major factor in the cost of your classic auto repair job. Depending on the type of damage and repair, our experienced technicians may be be required to spend additional time adjusting replacement parts so they will be usable in repairing your vehicle.

How to get a classic auto repair estimate

Every classic auto repair is different so we always write an estimate based on a physical inspection of your vehicle at our Fuquay-Varina NC shop.

If you have an insurance policy like the ones Haggarty offers, you should contact your insurance company first and determine whether or not it is a covered event. If it is, you should work with your insurance carrier to understand their process for estimating the damage.

If damage was caused by a third-party (for example: a transporter, a towing company, another shop, or another motorist), you should start with their insurance provider. Their policies may not cover damage to classic automobiles and their limits on covered repairs may not be enough to properly repair your classic or vintage vehicle. You will need to work closely with them so they understand the unique nature of your particular vehicle and what is required to return it to a pre-damaged condition.

Our team is happy to assist you with your claim but we usually cannot coordinate the claim for you.

Important: North Carolina law allows you to use the repair shop of your choice. You are not required to use the shop or any other shops on the insurance company’s “approved” list. This is especially important for classic auto repair decisions.

About Automotive Collision Specialists in Fuquay Varina, NC

Do you want your classic auto repaired correctly? We do too. That’s why we stand behind all our work with a limited lifetime warranty. We need to be sure your vehicle is repaired correctly when it rolls out of our collision center.

If you’re trying to find an experienced classic auto repair shop near you to help, please give us a call. We’ve been serving neighbors in and near the local Fuquay-Varina, NC community for more than 30 years.

We’re ASE and I-CAR certified and offer a limited lifetime warranty on all the work we do. Call us today at 919-552-0333 to see how we can help!