Whether your car is a concourse...
Whether your car is a concourse show winner or a driver that you take to cruises or the track occasionally, there are many ways to restore your Mopar. Which one is right for your car?
Just like the term streetable, the meanings of the word restoration can be many and varied. To some, it means simply painting their car and replacing items as they can, making the car better than it was, while for others, restoration means a complete tear-down and overhaul, with each piece getting rebuilt or replaced. However you interpret the term restoration, there are decisions to be made regarding the direction you'll take with your project, likely influenced greatly by the car's rarity, condition, and intended use.
Even in Webster's dictionary, the word restore has several definitions, and the one we feel best fits our hobby reads, "to bring back to a former or normal condition, as by repairing, rebuilding, altering, etc." So, while the argument can be made on one extreme that a car isn't restored unless it's just like it left the factory, on the other side, the definition clearly says "repairing, rebuilding, altering, etc.," meaning a modified car still fits the definition. And just as either car can fit the definition, either can also make the owner happy so long as it fits their needs.
We agree that a certain number of rare and unique Mopars, especially those with odd options and low production numbers, should be kept in as-produced condition, reminding us of the history and technology of the day, but what about cars with a racing heritage? Should they be restored to new condition or to the condition of their best season? Again, it comes down to the type and level of restoration, but common sense would say to restore that type of car to its glory days, in full race trim. For each of these types, a collection or museum is where they generally end up, rarely being driven at all.
If you're like most of us and just have a cool Mopar that you want to drive around, show, race, and enjoy, your level and type of restoration will likely be completely different than the museum pieces mentioned above. With so many great aftermarket products for our Mopars, it generally doesn't make sense to search for the properly date-coded, numbers-matching carburetor for our non-numbers-matching Road Runner, especially since there are brand-new carburetors that will offer better performance for less investment. The same goes for the rest of the car as well, as restoring a car with 10-inch drum brakes and expecting adequate stopping performance in today's traffic will certainly leave you disappointed, while installing aftermarket disc brakes will stop your classic Mopar like a late-model.
A restoration is more than...
A restoration is more than just a paintjob, and you must first define the type of restoration you'll be performing in order to achieve your goals.
For rare and unique Mopars,...
For rare and unique Mopars, a full concourse restoration may be in order. Be forewarned, you'll spend a lot of time looking for the properly coded parts and duplicating the car's original condition right down to the paint runs and factory chalk marks.
Mopars with a racing heritage...
Mopars with a racing heritage are generally restored not to their original factory condition,...
You get the point. By first determining your Mopar's rarity, then determining what you'll do with it and what type of restoration will allow you to best enjoy the car, you're on the right track to a proper restoration. Now go out and start looking for that eight-track deck, Cragar wheels, and a set of traction bars for your '80s-themed high school dream car!
but to the way they looked...
but to the way they looked during a prominent point in their history.
ant your car the way it was...
ant your car the way it was in high school? You can still find those traction bars and Cragar wheels, and after rechroming they'll look as cool as they did when you first installed them.
Like to race? There's nothing...
Like to race? There's nothing wrong with restoring your Mopar for some drag racing, and people really dig seeing old Mopars at the track as well as the car shows.
Modern paint,...
disc brakes,...
and aftermarket suspension...
and aftermarket suspension parts are some of the many ways we can make our Mopars better than they were when new. So don't let the word restoration fool you. By definition it still allows you to build your Mopar just the way you want it.