Do you love to watch a vehicle auction, where rare and beautiful cars go under the hammer? It's amazing how much these vehicles can fetch and especially if they are unusual, associated with a particular manufacturer or have been lovingly restored. You may fancy the idea of owning a beautiful machine like this but are not sure if you can deal with the associated price tag, but if you're willing to put in a lot of work and have a degree of patience, you may be able to restore one yourself. 

Initial Research

To begin the process, join some online forums that are dedicated to this art. Do your research, and you may be able to find a vehicle that has potential but is in particularly bad condition. You may be surprised where you can find this type of vehicle, and you may uncover a gem that has been left to rot in somebody's field. While you know how much it could be worth, the current owner may not, and you may be able to strike a deal that is particularly advantageous.

Getting Underway

However, you will need to get down to work and invest some money in restoration. The frame of the vehicle may be in reasonable condition, but the body itself probably has certainly seen better days. To begin with, you will need to get rid of all of the surface rust and degradation and can use a technique known as sandblasting. This can be applied quite selectively so you can get rid of the worn-out paint and rust, while not causing any damage anywhere else.

To use this process, you will need a special sandblasting machine that can send tiny particles of sand under high pressure and at high speed onto the surface of the vehicle. This technique will automatically grind away the bad stuff and take your vehicle down to the bare metal. You can use different grades of sand depending on the severity of the damage, and you may need to use a soft sand for more lightweight panels or for areas that are more visible than others.

Replacement Items

Careful preparation is essential and especially if you want to use some of the trim and other elements during your upgrade. You must remove all of these items as you cannot simply tape over them as you might do when spraying paint. The pressure involved in the process will obliterate the tape and will certainly damage whatever is underneath.

Expert Insight

If you're not sure of your technique or would rather work with people who have done this before, bring in a sandblasting expert at the outset.