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PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part VII

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Troy Catrone

Pontiac Grand Prix-1962

The Pontiac Grand Prix from 1962 is considered a full-size muscle car. Out of all of the Pontiac’s from days of old, this is the favored. The popularity never seems to wane. These are easily half the price of a GTO and is also powered by a 389 cu. in. V8. You can buy all of the mechanical and electrical parts readily, even performance enhancement parts. All parts for the interior, door panels, and trim have been reproduced as well. These sixties-era cars were the most favored when looking for something new and different. They have a very handsome styling and racing heritage that make these the first-year Grand Prix best. There were 30,000 made so their availability is there which means that they will not be hard to find.

Cadillac-1965-’66

Oh how the Cadillac made a splash back in the day. They were the Big, Bold, and Beautiful cars of their time and were called land yachts. These offer the best bang for the buck of any sixties-era collector. You can quite literally find every single mechanical part and all at reasonable prices. Some of the trim parts are a bit hard to find and replacing body panels will have to be done with used parts, but on the positive side, when they are used they are cheaper. Of course that is one way to look at it but in truth you can’t get new panels, no matter how much you pitch a fit. The engines on these car have plenty of power and the spacious interiors can accommodate a family of six, unless of course everyone was really tiny, then I would say a family of eight. Let’s just say they didn’t get their nickname of land yachts for nothing, of course here and now we call the size a big tuna boat. These age old beautiful dinosaurs are going to be within you budget as they are far more affordable than you would think, especially since the brand Cadillac is ever growing in precision and beauty.

PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part VI

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Troy Catrone

Chevrolet Camaro-1967-’69

The Chevy Camaro is probably, outside of the Mustang, one of the most memorable vehicles ever made. That is of course as they pertain to muscle cars. Both are sleek and eye catching. Also, both you can easily find all parts for which includes the panels, trim, mechanical, and electrical parts. the 1969 Camaro is unanimously recognized as the go to hot rod of its day and ours. There will always be a huge demand for these cars which is the good news and the bad. If you can find one, completely rusted out and basically useless, you will not pay less than $2,500. They are just that much in demand. But if you do find one there is a huge aftermarket for performance parts for them. You could not ask for more. This car will go down in history as one of the most sought after cars, ever. I could tell you stories for days about these cars. Oh, the good old days.

Dodge Challenger-1972-’73

The Dodge Challenger has been given second bill compared to the first choice which is the Cuda. Mopar fanatics seem to prefer the Cuda but the Challenger is actually the better car. With its detail and more upscale look, you would think that this would have won the challenge hands down. The reproduction of parts continues to grow, making even the rustiest project car salvageable. The later models have the small-block V-8’s are the most affordable to buy and the easiest to find. The E-bodies have grown in popularity and therefore the demand is outrageous. There is one thing to consider when restoring this vehicle, they must be restored to factory-original or else the value of the vehicle isn’t worth the effort.

PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part III

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Troy Catrone

Moving on, we do have 32 to get through after all.

Chevrolet Bel Air-1953-’54

The fifties era Chevy’s have long been cars of the past that conjure up amazing memories for the Baby Boomers. The reproduction parts continue to increase in selection, and the prices are pretty good too. If you have a need for mechanical and electrical parts, these too are easily bought. Not only are these parts available but you can also easily find disc brakes and other high-performance upgrades, all for a very reasonable price.

Pontiac GTO — 1971-’72

The GTO is one of the most favored vehicle’s to own and restore. They are only truly affordable in the 1971-1972 models. The GTO’s before that, say 1968, are almost untouchable when it comes to affordability. The good news is that there are tons of body and trim parts that have been reproduced and a lot of go fast goodies too. However, values will continue to rise but only for the factory correct cars, and only those that have been restored well. So as tempted as you may be to make a hot-rod out of the GTO, if your purpose is for resell value, then you will need to keep it close to the cuff.

Ford Mustang — 1964-’68

The Ford Mustangs are the most common reconditioned vehicle there is. It’s popularity is insurmountable. Every single part on a Mustang has been reproduced and available in dozens of catalogs, shops and online. If you find a Mustang in its earliest years, you will find that you will get nibbles on your add almost as soon as you hit the enter key. Getting a 64-68 will not cost you an arm and a leg and yet will make you money hand over fist when you have completed the restoration. Again, it must be noted that restoring it to its factory perfection will yield you more money than to try and figure out what is popular and making it a muscle car. Stick with the basics when restoring any vehicle.

PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part I

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Troy Catrone

In the PDR profession you should be visiting car shows and speaking with car enthusiast’s from all over. Your expertise fits perfectly with these Classic fans and you want to be sure that you are giving them as much contact with your business as possible. The only way you’re going to succeed with this plan is to be where they go and know what you are talking about. Knowing what you are talking about may be the hardest part of this equation, but I am here to give you 32 quick lessons on what cars are the best to restore. This will be important when going to work with a fan of classics. If you know your limitations from the beginning, then you will know how effective you will be when supporting the Classic enthusiast. It’s not always the concern of the Classic Car Enthusiast with regards to how much it cost’s to recondition a vehicle. Many of the wealthy have no concern for the cost and delve into an unlimited bucket of funds. But, for the rest of us, restoring a Classic is a long and hard struggle, as the funds are not so easily available. Imagine that you are reconditioning a vehicle and discover that parts for the vehicle of choice are not readily available and if you can find them, the cost of said parts is prohibitive. The only solution to such a problem is to have knowledge of which classic vehicle’s have the exact opposite affect on yours or your potential client’s wallet. Being in the know is impressive and could very well launch your career as the ‘go to’ for all things Classic. Let’s get started on making economic sense:

The obvious allure of restoring a classic car is to see its transformation from an abandoned rusty bucket to a dazzling vision of beauty. You can’t help but fall in love with the process and the car. It becomes your baby and you are bound by its every need.

Follow me to Part II as we continue our journey.

PDR Technicians: What Does Factory-Certified Mean? Part I

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Troy Catrone

Certified used vehicles affect you and your business on a few levels. If you’re working at a dealership, it will be paramount that you understand what is expected of you while working in the body shop of a used car dealership. Whether you are there full-time or just swing by once or twice a week, during your time working there, you must uphold the law and do only what you are allowed to do on a vehicle. There was a J.D. Power and Associates study that showed that the sales of certified used cars have increased 46% since 2000. Certified used cars have become affordable alternatives to a new car. These certified used cars feature warranties that extend beyond the initial “when new” coverage.

To be a “certified used” vehicle, the warranty has to be backed by the vehicle manufacturer. The original manufacturer takes this quite seriously and uses its dealer network to inspect the car, determine if it is worth certifying and then offer support for the vehicle for a period of time beyond the original warranty. It’s important to note that not all used cars can qualify for certified pre-owned programs, and terms are not across the board for all vehicles, they vary from one brand to the next. If you find that the car you or a customer are buying is not qualified to be certified, well then the dealership should still be able to provide you with proof of a 100-point inspection of the car. During the inspection of the car, if the car presents problems, the factory trained technicians will fix it or disqualify the car from the program. In addition, the certified warranty protection is typically implemented once the vehicles original factory warranty expires. When the used car warranty begins, it is usually good for a number of years or miles, whichever comes first.