Restomod Buying Guide - How to Buy the Restomod of Your Dreams!

The Restomod Buying Guide simplifies the process of buying a classic car restomod.

Restomod Buying Guide – How to Buy the Restomod of Your Dreams!

When it comes to an old car, it can sound scary to think about buying or having one built. There are different types of fixing one up and restomod is one of the most common ones. Most people choose this one because it upgrades an old car with all the latest features.

This is what makes it stand out from most old car restores. Before buying a restomod, consider these factors. This is a simple breakdown of some things to watch for.

Why a restomod?

Simply put, a restomod is a classic car that has been restored and modified. That is how this type of car got its name. Restomod is a mix of the words restored and modified, resto from restored, and mod from modified. It takes both of these to make a restomod. It must be restored and customized for the car owner.

How is it different from a restoration?

Restoring an old car means returning it to its factory condition, so no modern touches are allowed. However, a restomod is all about customizing it and adding modern conveniences.

How is it different from a hot rod?

Hot rods combine the best parts of many cars from different eras to create a beast. They do not always care about the look of the car because the performance is more important. A restomod is about looking the way you want it, which means it looks good not pieced together.

How is it different from pro-touring?

Pro-touring cars are modified old cars that perform better than new cars. However, it’s meant to look just like the original but is the best ever in performance. A restomod, on the other hand, cares more about just making it modern enough to fit your needs.

What are you using the restomod for?

It is always important to know what you plan to use the restomod for before you buy one. If it is your everyday car to take to the store, you do not want an overly expensive car. You will also need one with a good-sized trunk for your purchases. A flashy, expensive car is fine for cruising around.

Restomod Buying Guide - How To Buy The Restomod Of Your Dream And What Could Affect The Price Of A Restomod?

There are some very typical modifications that you might want on your restomod that can drive up the price of the car. We have broken them down into safety, performance, and drivability. There are multiple things in each of these, and some of the things can be very pricey but are important to consider.

SafetyThe safety of the car is very important, and a lot of advances that have been made in safety features. That means there is a lot that could need to be done on the car.
AirbagsA lot of the older models were not made with airbags, but they're a key safety feature that is needed. You want the most cushion between you and the dashboard if you get into an accident.
SeatbeltsA seatbelt is very important because they prevent you from flying through your windshield in an accident. They are also one of the easiest things to get installed.
FrameThe frame takes the most abuse over the years. And, it's most likely to be needing work if the restomod has not already been completely restored. One of the major problems is rust and its dangers that can make the car unsafe to drive.
BrakesOne thing when it comes to safety that's most important, and that's no different no matter the type of car. If you do not have good brakes, you could get into a very bad accident and should not be driving.
TiresTraditional tires lack important things that a modern tire has, such as stopping, cornering, steering, traction, and mileage prowess. The great thing is there are modern tires that look older to give the look but have advances in technology.
HeadlightsHeadlights are one of the first things people think about when it comes to the safety measures of a car. The older lights do not put out a lot of light, so you should consider some more advanced lights.
Backup CamerasA lot of people who are wanting to create a restomod want nothing to do with these cameras. That does not mean you can’t have them though if that is what you want in your car. They are actually very helpful, especially in a city or town environment.
PerformanceThe next thing that can make the price higher on your restomod is the parts that make the car perform. These are some of the most complex parts, which means they need to be checked.
EngineSome people love to have the most power possible in their restomod, such as 300 horsepower. This is by far one of the most expensive features in a restomod. The roar of the engine's what tells people the power that the car has, and older cars should sound powerful. Especially muscle cars.
TransmissionThe more powerful the engine you want, the better the transmission you will need. A great engine cannot work without a great transmission that can handle its power.
DrivabilityThis has to do with more of those technical things on your car to make it the best possible. You need to be able to safely and fully drive your car.
SteeringSteering is one of the most important things when it comes to being able to drive your car. If you cannot properly steer the car, you cannot drive it around. A lot of people prefer a power steering system because they are easier to control.
Air ConditioningPeople love the modern advances of air conditioning because it helps them stay cool on hot summer days.

What is a restomod worth?

There is a wide range of prices that can be attached to a restomod, and there are things that play into this cost. These things are the condition of the restomod, what has to be done to it, and if you want any customizations done to it.

Condition

If the car’s in poor condition, you can get it for a very cheap price. There have been cars bought for around $4,000 because they had work that needed to be done to them. If the car does not have problems though, the price’s going to be high depending on the model of the car. A simple restomod can cost between $50,000 and $75,000, but a more detailed one or harder-to-find one is going to cost between $150,000 and $200,000. If you are wanting to do a lot of customization on a car, especially a harder-to-find car, you might end up spending closer to $1,000,000.

Original Parts

A lot of original parts will raise the cost of your restomod, especially if you want the car as authentic as possible. The rarer cars are even higher in price when it comes to fixing because sometimes those parts have to be ordered from the people who originally made the car.

Customization

A lot of customizations are additional costs to what there already is on the car. Such as, if you want a custom paint job, you have to pay someone to do the paint job. Adding modern touches is a common additional fee for people because people like to have air conditioning in their cars.

What is the total cost of ownership?

There’s a lot that goes into the cost of owning a restomod. Most people stop thinking about the cost after figuring out how much it is to buy one or make one. This is not true though because there are a lot of other prices to be considered, such as storage and insurance. You might have to store the car away when the weather turns harsh, which means paying for storage that is temperature and air controlled. This means a lot of fancier storage places and more cost to store the car. Insurance on the other hand can be expensive. You want to have the best possible plan for your car because of how much it cost you to buy or build, and you do not want to have to be paying to fix anything that might happen to it.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide’s helped you think about and do before you go about paying for a classic car restomod. It should by no means discourage you just because you have to be careful when you go about buying on your own. There are plenty of places that can help you buy a restomod or walk you through in more detail what is needed when it comes to buying one. This was just a simple breakdown of some of the things to be kept in mind. One of these places to consider is Restomod Academy because they are well versed in restomods.