A Quality Restoration

For those of you out there seeking a restoration shop to restore an old car or truck, here are some ideas to help you get the best quality with the fewest number of problems.  Before your search begins, you must decide how you want your car restored.  Do you want a concours-perfect automobile or a nice street restoration?  You should visit a few different shops during working hours.  This will give you an idea of how a restoration shop operates and the skill level of its work force.  Take a look at the work being performed on the cars undergoing restoration.  Always keep in mind that restoration shops are not body shops, and body shops are not restoration shops.  They are two different types of businesses and the fact that we have both in one location is a plus for any consumer.

It is important to inspect a couple vehicles that the restorer has completed.  We also store vehicles at our facility (which we have restored) and that makes it quite easy to inspect our work.

Being charged an hourly rate is the most expensive way to pay for a restoration, but if you want the absolute highest quality possible, there is no alternative, particularly from the restorer's perspective, since he will have to put in endless hours of labor until every single aspect of the car is perfect.

Be skeptical of the shop that will restore your car for a price that seems too good to be true.  Once they have your car apart, if the work is much more extensive than they anticipated (and usually is), you can be sure they will cut corners in places you won't notice.

Irrespective of your car's value, or its rarity, carry full insurance coverage on the car while it's being restored at the shop and while it is being transported.  Take photographs of the entire restoration.  This documentation will be extremely valuable when you need to substantiate your claimed ground-up restoration should you decide to sell the car at a later date or to make an insurance claim.

West Coast Restoration takes photographs all the way through the restoration process and does give them to the customer at the end of the project.

Prior to delivering your car to any restorer's shop, you should take inventory of each and every part and note whether it is good, broken or missing.  Take note of the condition of the glass (if it will be used).  This will help in avoiding any misunderstandings.  During the restoration, if you have any questions regarding the shop's invoices or anything for that matter, inquire at once.

While your car is undergoing restoration, keep in touch with the shop and try to visit as often as possible.  Be friendly to the folks who are restoring your car and let them know how much you appreciate their work.

When the restoration of your car is finished, it should be handed over to you after the restorer has given it an extensive road test to see if everything performs as it should.  There should be no problems at all.

You should get a professional appraisal and have it properly insured.

Mustang Trivia

• Born in April of 1964
• Cars made before September of 1964 are considered 1964 1/2
• 1964 1/2 models included only the convertible and coupe
• Fastback was introduced in the 1965 model year
• 1964 1/2 through 1966
  • Carroll Shelby introduced his GT-350's in fastback model (six convertibles exist from '6 6)
  • Engine options were:
    • 260 V-8 (early)
    • 200 Six Cylinder (4 lug wheels)
    • 200 Horsepower 289 (C-Code)
    • 225 Horsepower 289 (A-Code)
    • 271 Horsepower 289 (K-Code) (aka Hi-po 289)
  • GT package is second only to GT-350 in desirability and value today
• 1967 through 1968 (they were a little bigger)
  • Shelby GT-350 was joined by the GT-500 (big block) in this era
  • Shelby also added a convertible to his offerings
  • Largely due to consumer outcry started in Hot Rod magazine, a 428 was added in 1968
  • 428 Cobra Jet was a success and one of the fastest things on the street
  • You could order a Mustang and have the dealer put a 427 into it
  • The age of the "Specials" arrive: California, High Country
• 1969 through 1970 (even larger this time)
  • Mach I is introduced
  • Boss 302 is introduced
  • Boss 429 is introduced, women pick up children off the street
  • Shelby's get completely civilized, Shelby himself turns the program over to Ford
  • Body styles increase: Sportsroof, Coupe, Grande, and Convertible
  • Options go ballistic: GT, Mach, Boss, Grande, Specials, etc. etc. etc.
• 1971 through 1973 (REALLY Big!)
  • Boss 429 and Boss 302 are replaced by Boss 351
  • 429 is normal engine option
  • Shelby Mustangs are no more
  • The age of the classic Mustang is drawn to an end (sniff)

West Coast Restoration

Snohomish, Washington

(360) 568-8948

westcoastrestoration@msn.com