Archive for category: Car Restoration

From Bare Metal to the Final Paint Finish

Restoring a classic car is very different from carrying out a standard panel repair or respray.

With an older vehicle, you’re often dealing with decades of paintwork, previous repairs, rust, body filler and modifications that may not become obvious until the restoration is underway. That’s why a good restoration starts well before the first coat of paint goes anywhere near the car.

At Coorparoo Paint & Panel, we’ve worked on everything from everyday vehicles through to classic, vintage and prestige cars. When it comes to restoration work, the goal is simple: take the time to do the job properly and produce a finish that suits the car.

So, what actually goes into restoring a classic car?

It Starts With Assessing the Car

Every restoration is different.

Some vehicles arrive in relatively good condition and mainly require body preparation and a quality repaint. Others need considerably more work, particularly if they’ve been sitting for years or have already undergone previous repairs.

The first step is looking closely at the condition of the body and working out what needs to be done.

This can include checking for:

• Rust and corrosion
• Dents or damaged panels
• Cracking or lifting paint
• Previous body repairs
• Excessive body filler
• Poorly repaired panels
• Paint deterioration
• Alignment and panel-gap issues

Importantly, what you can see from the outside doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Stripping Back Can Reveal the Real Condition

This is one of the reasons restoration work can be difficult to accurately judge at first glance.

Once old paint and previous repairs begin to come away, you get a much clearer picture of what you’re working with.

A vehicle that initially looks fairly straight may reveal areas that have been repaired several times over its life. There may be old filler, corrosion around joins, or repairs completed using methods that wouldn’t be considered acceptable today.

This stage isn’t about rushing.

It’s about finding the problems and dealing with them properly before moving on.

There’s little point putting an expensive paint finish over poorly prepared bodywork. Eventually, the problems underneath are likely to show through.

Getting the Panels Right

Once the body has been assessed and stripped where required, attention turns to the panels themselves.

Depending on the vehicle, this may involve straightening panels, repairing damaged sections, removing rust or correcting previous repairs.

This is where traditional panel beating skills remain extremely important.

Classic cars weren’t manufactured in the same way as modern vehicles, and working with older panels requires experience, patience and an understanding of how the car was originally put together.

Getting the shape and lines of the body right at this stage makes a huge difference to the finished result.

Preparation Makes the Paintwork

One of the biggest misconceptions about car restoration is that the paint is what creates the finished result.

Paint is certainly important — but what happens before the paint is applied is just as important.

The body needs to be carefully prepared so the surface is straight, smooth and ready for refinishing.

Depending on the project, preparation may involve sanding, filling small imperfections, applying primers, further blocking and sanding, and repeatedly checking the body under different lighting.

It can be a time-consuming part of a restoration, but it’s also where much of the quality of the final result is created.

A high-gloss finish will highlight imperfections rather than hide them.

Choosing the Right Colour and Finish

Colour choice can be a big decision during a restoration.

Some owners want to return the vehicle to its exact original factory colour. Others may have purchased a car that has already been repainted and want to bring it back to the way it left the factory.

And some owners simply want a different colour altogether.

There’s no single answer.

For a highly original or collectible vehicle, retaining or restoring the original colour may be important. For a car being restored primarily for the owner’s enjoyment, there can be more flexibility.

What matters is making that decision before the final stages of preparation so the complete job can be planned properly.

The Final Paintwork

Once the body is properly prepared, the vehicle is ready for painting.

At this point, all the work completed underneath the surface starts to pay off.

Primer, colour and clear coats are applied as required, followed by curing and finishing to achieve the desired result.

Modern automotive refinishing products and spray booth technology can produce outstanding finishes, but they still rely heavily on the experience of the person preparing and painting the vehicle.

There’s no shortcut around good preparation.

Reassembly and the Details That Make a Difference

A restoration doesn’t finish when the paint dries.

Depending on how extensive the project is, there can be considerable work involved in putting the vehicle back together without damaging freshly restored panels and paintwork.

Trim, mouldings, lights, badges and other components need to sit correctly against the newly finished body.

It’s often these smaller details that bring the whole car together.

How Long Does a Car Restoration Take?

There’s no standard timeframe for a proper restoration.

It depends entirely on the vehicle, its condition and how far the owner wants to take the project.

A body and paint restoration on a relatively sound vehicle is very different from restoring a classic that has significant rust, accident damage or decades of previous repairs underneath the paint.

That’s why it’s important to have the car inspected and discuss what you’re hoping to achieve before making assumptions about the work involved.

Restoring Classic Cars in Brisbane

For many owners, a classic car isn’t simply another vehicle.

It might be a car they’ve owned for decades, something they’ve always wanted to restore, a family vehicle with sentimental value or a classic they’ve recently purchased as a long-term project.

Whatever the story behind the car, a restoration deserves to be approached properly.

At Coorparoo Paint & Panel, our Brisbane workshop has been repairing, painting and restoring vehicles for more than 40 years. Our restoration work has included classic and prestige vehicles such as Porsche and Ferrari, alongside many other makes and models.

If you have a classic car that you’re considering restoring, bring it in and have a chat with our team. We can take a look at the vehicle, discuss what you’d like to achieve and give you a clearer idea of what may be involved.

Thinking about restoring your classic car? Contact Coorparoo Paint & Panel to discuss your project or request a quote.