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You know how taking up ceramics or yoga can be therapeutic after a long, hard day's work? This can be applied to a slew of hobbies and activities. And some folks do that with more long-term projects, like car restorations.

Just think about it: you’re alone, for hours on end, pulling apart a car that was never supposed to touch asphalt ever again only to put it back together with new and refurbished parts. And then you drive it off into the horizon… hopefully, not into the nearest light pole because you accidentally connected the brake pedal to the accelerator.

#2

A Little Before And After. Paid $1000 For A '72 Ghia That Had Been Sitting In Yard 5 Years Under A Tree. High-Speed Wool Pad And Polishing/Cutting Compound

A Little Before And After. Paid $1000 For A '72 Ghia That Had Been Sitting In Yard 5 Years Under A Tree. High-Speed Wool Pad And Polishing/Cutting Compound

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Bike Angel
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🙋‍♂️ Sign me up for a buffing pad and polishing compound that adds wheels and body trim to a car AND relocate the antenna from one side to another...

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#3

1958 MGA Before And After

1958 MGA Before And After

flashdrivemotors Report

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Ace
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better with the original screen - the cut-down replacement just makes it look like a modern recreation or 'replica'.

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There might not be solid numbers showing just how popular car restorations are. But, the fact that everyone and their mother in the car industry keeps coming back to the topic—that alone is testament to how alive it still is today. Well, that and dedicated communities on Reddit.

While you might still see the classics on the road, today’s trends focus on more modern car models. It’s not so much the 1930s any more as it is predominantly the ‘70s, ‘80s, and the ‘90s.

#4

I Found A Rusty Morgunovka (SeAZ S-3A From 1960) In My Neighbor’s Garage, Installed A CVT And Made A "Candy" Out Of It ⁠

I Found A Rusty Morgunovka (SeAZ S-3A From 1960) In My Neighbor’s Garage, Installed A CVT And Made A "Candy" Out Of It ⁠

andrew1 Report

#5

This 1970 Chevelle Went Through A Full Restoration Process To Get Its Glory Back

This 1970 Chevelle Went Through A Full Restoration Process To Get Its Glory Back

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#6

My First DIY Post, But I Restored A 1969 Mustang In High School And I'm Very Proud Of How She Turned Out

My First DIY Post, But I Restored A 1969 Mustang In High School And I'm Very Proud Of How She Turned Out

glang25 Report

Gone (ish) is also the idea of backyard restorations. According to Rob Customs, an increasing number of people tend to turn to custom body shops and the like for help restoring whatever gem they’ve stumbled upon.

With that said, and considering the rich automotive history and the prevalence of the industry, folks now have greater opportunities and more options to take on car restorations. And it’s not just parts, but also expert opinion has proven to be invaluable with big projects that folks hope to drive one day.

#7

A Friend’s Aunt Gifted Me Her Deceased Father's Car. "If You Think You Can Get It Running, You Can Have It"

A Friend’s Aunt Gifted Me Her Deceased Father's Car. "If You Think You Can Get It Running, You Can Have It"

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Lennart
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huge upgrade, whole front redone and apperently also the undercarriage. 10/10 recommend as she looks a lot happier than in the 1st picture! /jk

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#8

The Original Car My Grandpa Purchased At 16 Years Old: A '31 Chevy 5-Window Coupe That Was Restored By Him And My Dad

The Original Car My Grandpa Purchased At 16 Years Old: A '31 Chevy 5-Window Coupe That Was Restored By Him And My Dad

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#9

Nysa 522, Photos Shows The Restoration Of A Polish Car ⁠

Nysa 522, Photos Shows The Restoration Of A Polish Car ⁠

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But, unlike most mainstream hobbies, like table top games or crafts, car restoration demands dedication. And seemingly loads of it.

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Dean’s Autoglass has a comprehensive list of things to consider before taking on something as big as this. And as is with most projects, this one starts off with a plan.

#10

Here’s My Father And His Before And After Pics Of His ‘65 Bus Restoration Project. He’s Very Proud Of It And He Spent 4x Of My College Degree To Make It What It Is Today

Here’s My Father And His Before And After Pics Of His ‘65 Bus Restoration Project. He’s Very Proud Of It And He Spent 4x Of My College Degree To Make It What It Is Today

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#11

1969 Karmann Ghia Before And After - Restored And Converted To Electric

1969 Karmann Ghia Before And After - Restored And Converted To Electric

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#12

Before, During, And After The 6-Year Restoration And Customization Of My 1967 Beetle

Before, During, And After The 6-Year Restoration And Customization Of My 1967 Beetle

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René Sauer
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

really good work. But I would have kept the two tone paint job. White alone looks a bit boring.

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The plan determines your aspirations for the project, the budget (and how plausible that is), figuring out the time frame and plan of action, as well as other smaller, yet equally important details like location, tools of the trade and professional opinion.

There are a lot of variables and moving parts to consider, so documenting everything is key. A typical car has around 30,000 individual parts and you don’t want any of it to get lost in the works. Besides, you can document the progress and make a social campaign out of it.

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#13

1971 Dodge Charger Before And After

1971 Dodge Charger Before And After

Power-Wagon Report

#14

Just Over Two Years Ago I Started My First Major Project, A Non-Running 1967 Triumph TR4A. Here's A Before And After

Just Over Two Years Ago I Started My First Major Project, A Non-Running 1967 Triumph TR4A. Here's A Before And After

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Tamra
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's incredible that such cars can even come back from such a state of decay.

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#15

My '64 Falcon Build Before And After

My '64 Falcon Build Before And After

grumpy__robot Report

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Tostones
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A favorite from my childhood! It was old when mom bought her. We named her Ethel. She was green.

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Next up is the business phase. And by that, we mean you start work on the car. Stripping the interior, removing the wiring, taking out the gearbox, transmission and other necessary parts, removing external panels and windows—pretty much everything that won’t be painted on, or shouldn’t be painted as part of the main body. This phase is also good for keeping inventory and seeing what you are missing and need to order.

#16

Restored My Dad's Old '70 Camaro

Restored My Dad's Old '70 Camaro

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#17

I Can’t Draw But I Consider This My Art. Restored A Classic Stingray In My Garage

I Can’t Draw But I Consider This My Art. Restored A Classic Stingray In My Garage

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#18

Arkady Babich's Homemade Convertible "Leningrad" Has Been Restored ⁠

Arkady Babich's Homemade Convertible "Leningrad" Has Been Restored ⁠

wroom Report

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Ąåřţđęşịɠŋȿ
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That MF was a BOAT!. Nice f'n job. A family of five could live in that trunk!

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Phase three is pretty much cleaning the surfaces. So, gritting, removing sand and dents, priming, sanding, undersealing, stuff like that. This is all in preparation for a new paint job. While the guide doesn’t specify anything about the cleanup part, it recommends that the paint job be done by a professional car painter. But if you insist, then at the strict supervision of one.

#19

Sometimes It's Easy To Forget How Much Work You've Done

Sometimes It's Easy To Forget How Much Work You've Done

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#20

Completed Restoration Of My Dream Car

Completed Restoration Of My Dream Car

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#21

Rare 1967 Mustang GT500 Got A Second Chance At Life. And Women Say We Don't Cry Enough

Rare 1967 Mustang GT500 Got A Second Chance At Life. And Women Say We Don't Cry Enough

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Then comes time for the engine. Before doing anything, check it out and decide if it’s better to upgrade and refurbish, or to swap it out altogether. Whatever the case, it’s also best to take the opportunity—now that the engine is lifted out—to swap out the auxiliary parts as well as belts and water pumps and all that jazz. So you could sleep better at night.

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#22

Before And After Of My Dad's 2-Year Smokey And The Bandit Inspired Trans Am Project

Before And After Of My Dad's 2-Year Smokey And The Bandit Inspired Trans Am Project

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#24

Before And After Of A Project I’m Very Proud To Officially Consider Completed

Before And After Of A Project I’m Very Proud To Officially Consider Completed

One year ago I found a 1969 auto squareback in the weeds and bought it for $800. This afternoon I finished the final tweaks and it’s officially road-ready. Cheers!

dlatusek12 Report

Before the engine goes back into the car, fire it up, see how it works.

And if that goes well, reassemble everything else: the break system, the fuel system, the suspensions, the wiring, the gearbox, the cooling system, the rubbers and pretty much everything else that you need and want your newly refurbished car to have.

#25

Before And After From A Few Years Ago. I Work In My Family’s Glass, Interior, Sunroof, And Convertible Workshop

Before And After From A Few Years Ago. I Work In My Family’s Glass, Interior, Sunroof, And Convertible Workshop

We also rent a building across the street that houses a body shop and an auto repair shop. Our customer bought the car like this because he thought he could fix it for cheap. It fell off a car carrier. After we finished it over a year later. My brother had to make the back seat from scratch out of pipe foam. He went off a picture of the seat and went from there. One of our trimmers made the covers. Pretty much a VW seat.

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#26

1963 VW Dune Buggy Restoration Before And After

1963 VW Dune Buggy Restoration Before And After

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Arguably, the best part at this point would be the test drive. And that’s actually the last phase. It’s a reward for all the hard work you’ve done, but also a time when you can tackle any kinks in the car left over from the refurbishment process. The way it sounds, handles, accelerates—keep an eye (and ear… and other sensory faculties) on it.

#28

Before And After. I Spent 2 Years And Too Much Money On Her

Before And After. I Spent 2 Years And Too Much Money On Her

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#29

The Red Wheels With The White Walls Make The Look Of This Truck, Awesome

The Red Wheels With The White Walls Make The Look Of This Truck, Awesome

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#30

Before And After

Before And After

The original color is Crocus yellow. It's on the back seat panel, which you can see through the rear window. The car was built for the GM show car account and is the first Impala convertible built in 1965. SS package 327 with powerglide, power windows, tilt, and rear seat speakers.

Sinpala Report

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So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Do you now want to take on restoring an older car? Share which one and your stories in the comment section below!

And if you want more car goodness, both of the old and new variety, then you’re in luck.

#31

A Before And After Of My Father's '79 Vette That We Restored/Modified During One Indiana Winter

A Before And After Of My Father's '79 Vette That We Restored/Modified During One Indiana Winter

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#34

1968 Ford Mustang Restoration, My First Car

1968 Ford Mustang Restoration, My First Car

MustangGuy68 Report

#35

Got This Out Of A Hay Field. It's Been Sitting For A Long Time

Got This Out Of A Hay Field. It's Been Sitting For A Long Time

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Bill Swallow
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first car, when I turned 16 in 1970, was a 1962 Chevy Impala, 2 door, blue and white, with the 327 cid V8, 4 bbl carb, dual exhaust - and a 2 speed Powerglide automatic. It was a hand-me-down from my sister, and she had gotten it used. You have good taste in cars, and you do good work. (This isn't my car - mine never looked this good - but it is a good 'idealized' picture of it. 1962-Impal...555a58.jpg 1962-Impala-660b506555a58.jpg

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#36

My Brother Finished His Bird After A Few Years. Pretty Awesome

My Brother Finished His Bird After A Few Years. Pretty Awesome

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Ban-One
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have put the Screaming Chicken back on the hood after the restoration...

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#37

The Before And After Of Mine And My Wife's Project Car. 2015-2018

The Before And After Of Mine And My Wife's Project Car. 2015-2018

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Justin Rogers
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best grill of all the mopars. Dig the turbines and side pipes. Shaker hood is a must

#38

Some Before And After Pics Of My '68 Merc Cougar I've Been Working On For A Couple Years Now

Some Before And After Pics Of My '68 Merc Cougar I've Been Working On For A Couple Years Now

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#39

280Z Before And After. It Was A Lot Of Hard Work, But She’s Beautiful

280Z Before And After. It Was A Lot Of Hard Work, But She’s Beautiful

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#40

Before And After. My First Car I Bought 3 Years Ago For $700

Before And After. My First Car I Bought 3 Years Ago For $700

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#41

I Restored A 1977 VW Bus For Under $1,000

I Restored A 1977 VW Bus For Under $1,000

LifeWithAdd Report

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The Rogue Adventurers.
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

doesn't look done, and can't say im a fan of the split screen style paintjob on the non split screen van

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#42

It's Art And Requires Just Enough Passion

It's Art And Requires Just Enough Passion

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#43

Before And After Photos Of An E12 I Had To Refurbish In The Workshop Last Weekend For Our Exhibition

Before And After Photos Of An E12 I Had To Refurbish In The Workshop Last Weekend For Our Exhibition

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#44

My (Wife's) 1970 Fiat 500 L Before And After Restoration

My (Wife's) 1970 Fiat 500 L Before And After Restoration

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#45

Before And After. Still A Work In Progress. Next are Coilovers, GTI Wheels, And Bumpers

Before And After. Still A Work In Progress. Next are Coilovers, GTI Wheels, And Bumpers

Red__Sailor Report

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Glen Ellyn
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish they still made small pickup trucks like this. Most folks don't need the $90K hulks around today.

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#46

After 3 Years Of Work, I'm Calling This Project Done

After 3 Years Of Work, I'm Calling This Project Done

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Rob Stevens
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My MIL bought one of these new as part of her "mid life crisis". A couple of years later it burst into flames as she was driving. She barely made it onto the shoulder of the road and out of the car. It was a mess, as were many other things about her.

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#47

A 5-Year Project, And All The Work Was Done By Me And My Father-In-Law

A 5-Year Project, And All The Work Was Done By Me And My Father-In-Law

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#48

At The Ripe Age Of 22, I've Completely Restored A 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit. What An Experience

At The Ripe Age Of 22, I've Completely Restored A 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit. What An Experience

omgwutd00d Report

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René Sauer
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just put it up to a normal ride height again and it would be better. But still awesome work. BTW, It is still absolutely hilarious to me that the VW Golf is/was called rabbit in the US 🤣

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#49

I Don't Know If I Have Posted A Before And After Pic Yet. Top Is Before, In Case You're Wondering

I Don't Know If I Have Posted A Before And After Pic Yet. Top Is Before, In Case You're Wondering

General_Vodka Report

#50

My Very First Build. I Got The Car For The First Time When I Was 15

My Very First Build. I Got The Car For The First Time When I Was 15

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René Sauer
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, the stupid wheels ruin the whole thing. Make them straight again.

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Note: this post originally had 89 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.