Tackling car restoration is a big commitment. Add in maintaining the history and beauty of a classic such as a Mercedes Benz and it can seem a bit overwhelming or challenging. This guide will help you before and during the restoration process.
Figure out why you want to take on car restoration and what type of restoration you want to tackle
Whether you’re new to the restoration game or you’ve done it a few times, it’s important to know why you’re doing it. Do you want to drive this car, show it, or place it into a collection of classic cars? Once you figure it out, you will be able to determine the type of restoration you’re about to take on.
There are four types of restoration: driving condition, street show condition, show car, and Concours condition.
Driving condition includes replacing any damaged parts to get it back on the road and fixing a few minor cosmetic issues. If you’re taking on a vintage car, think about updating the safety equipment, like adding seat belts if there are none.
Street show condition is the next level up from driving condition. It’s in this step that you’ll repair all major cosmetic issues.
Show car condition will require the work of a professional and you probably won’t want to drive this once it’s done.
The highest level of restoration is Concours condition. The car restored at this level requires mostly professional work and will be stored in a private collection or shown in auto shows.
So basically, figure out if you want the car to be functional or just nice to look at, or both, and that’s how you’ll know which restoration level you’ll need to achieve.
Decide on what model you want to restore
You can be as personal or functional as you want. Maybe there’s a certain model you’ve always loved, or you want to restore for a show or collector. Either way, before you start your restoration process, you have to figure out which model is the best option for you.
Do your research – make sure you know what you’re getting into and that the parts are accessible
One really important thing you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing the right model is to make sure the vintage car parts and services you will need to restore it are available and accessible. Here at Haas Classic, we have a selection of quality parts for Mercedes-Benz W113 (Pagoda) and Mercedes-Benz R107. If you are unable to get your hands on vintage Mercedes replacement parts, this process is going to take much longer and be much harder to complete.
Another good thing to do before you get started is to check out different guides specific to the model you’ve chosen. Reach out to professionals and do your research before doing business with them. The last thing you want during this process is to find out that there’s no supply of the right Mercedes Benz vintage car parts to complete the job, or that the person or company you’ve chosen to work with aren’t familiar with this kind of work, or professional in any aspect of the process.
Be ready for obstacles
When restoring your classic Mercedes things are bound to happen. These things might result in needing additional time, an additional expense, or an additional repair. Be prepared for these things to happen and make sure you have room in your budget and deadline for them.
Make sure you are choosing the right parts and restoration professionals if you need them
Just because you did research once doesn’t mean you’re done. Things happen. You have to be flexible and ready to research additional shops and sellers to get the services and parts for your classic Mercedes as needed.
Pick up a guide or ask someone for assistance
When restoring a vintage Mercedes, you’ll want to make sure things are done right to preserve the beauty and history of the vehicle. So read the manuals and guide books.
Car restorations are big projects. At some point, they need more than one set of hands and eyes to get them done right. Bring in a professional for the tasks that you don’t know how to do, don’t feel comfortable doing, or don’t want to do.
Restoring a Mercedes Benz or any classic car comes with its own challenges. However, if done right, the result will outweigh the difficulties.
