How to buy a car to restore without getting burned

Are you thinking of buying a car to restore? If so, here are some tips on what to look for, and more importantly, what to look out for.

If this is going to be your first restoration, take a knowledgeable friend along to help you size up your prospective purchase. it would also be a good idea to join the club for your make, in order to meet new friends, and find good sources for parts and services.

A restorer's number one enemy is rust. It's expensive and hard to fix, and in extreme cases, it can compromise a car's structural integrity. Unless it's a priceless classic and you have a ton of money, don't even consider a vehicle that has serious rust problems.

When you go out to look at a possible restoration candidate take along a magnet. People have been known to patch extensive rust with plastic filler, or Bondo which is not magnetic. Pass your magnet over kick panels, door sills and under trunk lids. If it doesn't stick, the filler is to thick. Look for another car.

Next, sight along body panels to see if they are flat and smooth. Look for the tell-tale bumps and dips of bad body work, and overworked metal. Also, look along the edges of body parts to check for proper fit. If a car has been in a collision, or has been reassembled improperly during restoration, the fit may not be good.

Key areas to check with a magnet...

Kick Panels	Rear Fenders	Around the Back Window
Under the Trunk	Around the Headlights	Rear Doors

Now let's look under the hood...