Book Review: Restore Your Collector Car
Review by Russell Purcell
There is always one book that seems to find its way onto the shelves of virtually every car guy (or gal) who likes to get a little greasy and turn a wrench under the hood of their car. One such title is author Tom Brownell’s ever popular How to Restore Your Collector Car. First published in 1983, this perennial best seller still stands as a worthwhile reference, but due to the enormous advances in this field over the last quarter century it was time to publish an update. The team at MBI Publishing has remedied this situation with the recent release How to Restore Your Collector Car 2nd Edition. The book is now an integral part of its ever-expanding Motorbooks Workshop series of shop guides, and has been thoroughly revamped to include the many new techniques, tools and resources available to those enthusiasts looking to restore their automotive dreams.
Tom Brownell is back at the helm to deliver his helpful how-to tips and wealth of technical knowledge, but he is now joined by automotive writer and wrench man Jason Scott, who was asked to collaborate on this edition in an effort to widen the scope of the book to include information pertinent to later model domestic and foreign collector cars. Much like Mr. Brownell, Jason has penned several other books in this series, primarily targeting the restoration of the Chevrolet Camaro, as well as other popular muscle cars.
This talented duo delivers a concise, easy-to-read book that covers virtually every aspect of the restoration process from start to finish.
After a brief discussion as to why someone would want to take the time, effort and money to restore a decrepit collector car to its original glory, the book leads the reader from the initial selection process, to disassembly, body and component restoration, followed by a look at finishing, mechanical, wiring and interior work.
The automobile has been with us now for over a century, but it didn’t really become fully intertwined with the masses until the second half of the 20th Century. As a result, we soon learn that “cars built in the 1950s and later” are rather abundant, with many unrestored, moderately priced cars readily available if you are willing to put in the time and effort to look for them. Traditional hunting grounds continue to include swap meets, car clubs and auctions, but the internet (with its wealth of forums, bulletin boards, and other resources) allows you to scour a much wider area with relative ease.
Many of the same resources help with the next step of the restoration process- researching the history of your project vehicle. The author(s) points out that the more details, documentation (build sheets, dealer invoices, maintenance records, etc.), and even photographs you can unearth help give your car a “personality.” As an added bonus, these materials usually also help increase the car’s perceived value. Unfortunately, this latter fact can lead more unscrupulous individuals to create bogus versions of more-prized models by carefully crafting elaborate, seemingly documented stories about a vehicle, and can even go as far as tampering with the car’s VIN and various code numbers. Chapter 4 looks at a variety of resources that have proven to be the most helpful for the authors during their own research periods.
A typical restoration job requires adequate space to actually work on the car, as well as to spread out, catalog, and store parts, tools and components. In a perfect world you should have enough space to keep things tidy and organized, not to mention secure. An entire chapter is devoted on how to set-up and equip a shop to meet your individual needs.
The most important lesson I gleaned from this book is that “the disassembly process needs to be slow and deliberate.” This is so you have time to document every step, keep the job from getting ahead of your enthusiasm and financial resources, and reduce the chances of breaking things that may be hard to replace. Sounds like good advice to me.
Apparently, if you don’t take the time to document the disassembly, putting the car back together will be a chore. It is suggested that labeling and tagging parts be backed up with careful note taking and a prodigious use of photographs. This will be your safety net.
The book introduces the concept of a 7-step sequence that should be followed to keep things moving along, as some phases of a restoration take longer than others to complete (e.g. re-plating chrome pieces). You are going to have to buy a copy to get this helpful advice.
Throughout the text the author(s) stress that “any restoration project will cost three times the original amount,” so you can always save some money by doing various prep work for yourself, whether it be taking a component apart, cleaning, or stripping parts. One area that has made huge advancements since the first printing of the book is abrasive blasting, now commonly referred to as “media blasting.” The careful selection of media blasting materials depends on what type of metal, body panel or glass you are working on, and after reading the chapter dedicated to this process you will no doubt be more comfortable making your choice.
Metal repairs have become much simpler in recent years, as a wide array of reproduction panels is readily available. Should patch metal repairs suffice however, this book will help you plan your attack strategy and get the job done.
The mysteries of painting are examined in detail, with particular focus on primer coatings and their role in the painting “system.”
Mechanical entries include sections on overhauling a car’s braking and electrical systems (read: wiring), as well as the restoration of major mechanical assemblies – steering, suspension, engine, transmission and driveline.
This book will prove invaluable if you are planning to tackle a restoration project of your own.
www.motorbooks.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3541-3
CAN$32.95
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