Whether your classic car is a family legacy or SEMA Show Car, you are going to need a shop that you can trust. Most people can’t complete a full frame-off restoration in their home garage. Legacy Classic Cars can come along side you and together we can build, not only a car we can be proud of, but also build a friendship. Below are four keys to a great restoration shop to build your car:

Shop Visit

After a priliminary phone call, make an appointment and go see where your project will be. As soon as you arrive start taking mental notes. Are there a lot of projects kept outside? Take a look at the organization of the shop. Ask where and how are parts are kept for each project. Make sure you get past the office into the actual shop. If you are looking for an LS swap or Coyote Crate motor upgrade, look for other projects that are in the same process. Look for dust on the cars which shows they are not being worked on. Specifically, ask how long has this build been in process.

The Team

Moving forward, You should meet the staff. I believe it’s important to be on a first name basis with the craftsman you are investing in to build your dream car or truck. If you are not introduced, introduce yourself. Is the staff experienced? Do they have some years of building custom or classic cars or have they only watched a ”You Tube Video”? Look at the organization and condition of the toolboxes. Organized and used is a good sign. Brand new tool boxes that cost more than your project not such a good sign. Basically, if there are thirty projects on site and only four to six guys working there….. your project is not going to receive the attention it deserves.

Finances

It has been my experience that full frame off restorations are a big investment. At Legacy Classic Cars we take this very seriously. Often, the investment is more than a customer paid for their first house. BE AWARE when shops ask for large investments up front. If a shop asks for 50% of the build up front, it can be a sign of poor build management. For example, you should receive a build plan that defines investment phases and time expectations for these phases. Don’t be afraid to ask for prior customer references.

Drivability and Performance

There are many shops that can build a car that looks good. During the build process, you should be happy with what you see during your shop visits. The real test is how functional and safe the car or truck is to drive. If you invest in Willwood disc brakes and a new ididit column but the project dosn’t brake or steer well in the end, your expectation isn’t going to be met. Building a custom car takes a solid build plan and craftsmanship to follow the plan through. There are so many diffrent systems in the project that have to work together and that takes experience. In conclusion, our goal at Legacy Classic Cars is you drive your dream car with confidence and reliability starting from when you walk up to the car, hear it fire up, and drive it like a hot rod should be driven. We want you permanently smiling!

Hope this helps.

Rich