It’s worth giving yourself a budget and finding a car which suits it (in terms of the upfront cost and how much you estimate you’ll have to spend on it) rather than falling in love with a car and budgeting around it. That said it should also be a car that you feel excited about, as you’re going to be investing a lot of energy into it. To save on costs we’d recommend hiring these tools when they’re needed. Some of the tools require specialist skill and knowledge, so be prepared to get help with certain jobs or else invest in a training course to carry out the work yourself. Clean the headlights when washing the rest of your car to remove abrasive grit and acidic matter, such as bird poo. Even if an old car looks OK on the outside, you can almost guarantee there’ll be something than needs attention beneath the bonnet. When left to stand for a long period, moving parts seize due to corrosion and decay. Fluids such as transmission and brake fluid need to be changed at least every two years, or else the systems are liable to fail. If your old car has been left to rot in a shed for years, you might find you have to repair or replace most of its moving parts. Apart from the 2-in-1 Turtle Wax product, the kits above follow the same procedures for restoring degraded headlights. Once you have everything you need, you will need to:

The best headlight restoration kits - Car Magazine Products The best headlight restoration kits - Car Magazine Products

Once you have finished sanding, wipe clean and dry the headlights. Apply the polish, either by hand or with the drill pad provided in a circular motion to ensure even and full coverage. One wipe to new! Put a few drops on the included applicator, and wipe the trim or plastic. After just one wipe you will see the difference! Super easy to apply and will make your trim shine like new! A debate that has long raged in the world of classic cars is whether to restore a car to its original condition or add your own flair and personality to the mix.Assuming you’ve acquired a humble old ‘fixer-upper’ and have the space, tools, time and money to restore it from boot to bonnet, it’s time to think about what work is required to reinstate its original charm and showroom shine.

Car Restoring Spray, Car Restoring Liquid, Car Magic Foam Car Restoring Spray, Car Restoring Liquid, Car Magic Foam

Don’t polish headlights outside of using a restoration kit without applying a sealant on top. Polish is abrasive and will wear down the protective coating faster. So without adding a sealant on top, polishing alone is counterproductive. If you’re serious about mastering the art of classic car restoration, why not invest in a welding and metalwork course? Lending you the skills to sculpt brand new body panels for your car out of sheet metal, a metalworking course is a worthwhile investment if you want the satisfaction of completing the whole project yourself.Unless you plan to outsource your restoration project to a classic car specialist, the biggest outlay you’ll face is investing in the tools, equipment and materials needed to complete the renovation to a high standard — and that’s after you’ve found a space large enough to act as a workshop. What is my budget, and have I accounted for the complete cost?? If the answer’s no, it’s time to dig out the calculator and do some sums. Do I have the skills and expertise to complete the work to a high standard? Welding and metalwork are just two of the skills you’ll need to restore a car. Invest in training courses or outsource jobs to achieve a great finish. WARNING* This Stuff is Powerful! So we have to tell you; you need to wear gloves, mask and goggles with this product!

Car Magic Foam Cleaner 2023 New Upgraded Multipurpose EELHOE Car Magic Foam Cleaner 2023 New Upgraded Multipurpose

Sealant is a must too. In the same way that you apply a paint sealant or wax to polished paintwork to protect it, a sealant must be applied to headlights after using the polish. There may be a kit you quite like but does not possess a sealant but don't be concerned about this because you can buy appropriate sealants (recommended below) separately. STREAK-FREE FORMULA - Unlike other products, this restorer won't leave streaky residue after a rain shower or car washSanding. All the kits above come with a range of sanding pads with varying degrees of abrasiveness. Follow the instructions in your kit and work your way through the sanding pads, starting with the most abrasive through to the least. Both the sandpaper and headlights should be wet during the sanding process to keep the plastic cool and prevents grit build-up as you sand. Take your time and be fussy. This brings us to one of the hardest parts of classic car renovation — finding the right car to work on in the first place. Choosing a car that can be restored to a high standard while keeping costs down is a balancing act, so shop around and get advice from fellow enthusiasts on classic car renovation forums like OldClassicCar.co.uk. Tape around the edges of the headlights. This is very important because the tape will protect surrounding paintwork from sanding pads that accidentally stray from the headlight. In this guide, we’ll offer advice on what to consider when starting a classic car restoration project, and provide practical mechanical advice to help you get started. The guide is designed for people who’ve never restored an old car, to point you in the right direction no matter what your previous experience or skills. Classic Car Restoration: Laying the Groundwork

Neat Freakz Car Restoring Spray - as seen on Instagram

What is my timeframe, and how much time will I need to devote to the project each week? Make sure the project doesn’t conflict with your other commitments. Remember, a complete and thorough restoration could take a year or more. Equally, some kits are intended for use with a power drill and some by hand. The difference between the two is that the former comes with a drill attachment for the sanding and buffing pads.

Mechanical Considerations

Restoring a car is a big commitment, and it’s easy to underestimate things like material costs and the price of tools needed to carry out certain jobs. That’s why it’s important to do your homework before splashing out on an old car. Buying online can be a daunting task, so we want you to realize that there are zero risksin buying something and trying it out.