Factory Correct vs. Custom Restomods by City Classic Cars

There are two main ways to view full restorations: Factory Correct and Custom Restomods. Factory correct means restoring it to what it once was while a custom build means making it into something it has never been before. If you want your car on the stage of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance then a factory-correct restoration is the road for you. If you want your restoration on the stage of SEMA Battle of the Builders then a custom Restomod is the road for you. A Restomod combines aftermarket technological advances in a classic or vintage automotbile. Your desired design determines the direction of your restoration. We specialize in both categories so whatever your dream car looks like we're able to produce the intended end result. 

​

​

​

​

Complete In-House Restoration Process by City Classic Cars

No matter what restoration journey you choose we start with the same foundational approach. What happens at each step and each shop must be perfect so we stay true to the process in order to ensure no detail is missed.

 

Teardown

Following the discovery and design in Steps 1-2, we begin with the teardown in Step 3. Here the car is delayered, disassembled, and parts are documented and stored. Documentation is key as each part is assessed with an integrity grade that determines whether or not it can remain a part of the build process. If any part does not meet the criteria for safety and functionality then it is noted and will remain in storage until the completion of the restoration. This is not simply about taking the car apart as quickly as we can but is an essential precursor to the next step. 

​

Parts Procurement

Once the car has been examined, disassembled, and parts have been assessed we are able to begin Step 4, which is parts procurement. Based on the designs and parts documentation we're able to order the necessary pieces needed to keep the project moving without delay. Our research and knowledge of the build allow us to properly leverage our vast network of classic, vintage, antique, and exotic parts vendors such as American Autowire, Vintage Air, Wildwood, Moser Engineering, Classic Instruments, and more, to get the right parts on time.

​

Chassis & Metal Fabrication

Steps 5-9 of our process lead us to the metal. Restorations come to us in varying levels of condition. Some have slight levels of oxidation which shows up in what is called surface rust. Others have much higher levels due to years of inactivity and have a much more corrosive level of rust. The integrity of the metal is a key component of safety. Throughout these steps, the metal is gone over in excruciating detail to ensure there is no compromise in any piece. Once a thorough inspection is complete the chassis is able to move into paint and the coach of the car is able to move into bodywork.

​

Body

The difference between a vehicle that is able to compete at a local autorama and one that is on the world stage of a Concours d'Elegance, such as Pebble Beach or Amelia Island, is the bodywork. While we prioritize safety and functionality in our builds, we do not compromise on exceptional levels of beauty. It starts with the design. A factory correct restoration means that the bodywork will mirror the period-correct details of your car's original production. Research goes beyond a simple Google search and gets into books and newspapers from that year and even original designs from the manufacturer when available. A custom build means the designs are based on your ideas, our expertise, and the original. Even with a custom build, we believe the car should still be recognizable as what it is but unique enough to be unmistakably yours and never seen before.

​

Paint

Once a vehicle has completed bodywork it is now time for paint. The painter will complete a final block around the entire car, water sand it, and give it a final inspection. Here the doors, hood, trunk, and bumpers will be disassembled or repositioned in order for the entire vehicle to be masked properly. In our state-of-the-art mixing room, we're able to produce or reproduce iconic colors with varying levels of pearl and/or metallic. Whether you've dreamt it or seen it we can mix it. All custom colors are stored in our system which includes the paint color code as well as the proper measurements to produce the same color each time. At our paint shop we only use top-tier PPG paint and clear to ensure consistency throughout all of our builds. 

​

Electrical & 6V Conversions

Poor or aged electrical work on your classic or exotic is both incredibly unsafe and frustrating. Many of the vehicles that come to us were built pre-1955 which means that they still have 6V electrical systems. In order to ensure safety and consistency, we specialize in converting electrical systems from 6V to 12V. This gives you peace of mind in knowing that your car will respond consistently and also gives you the option to add creature comforts to your car like a radio or A/C. 

​

Upholstery

Upholstery doesn't just make the interior look good, it also is one of the main sources of comfort for you and your passengers. Our in-house team is well versed in making factory-correct more functional and making a completely new interior from scratch to make it a one-off, unique to you.

​

Handmade interiors make all the difference in restoration. We believe you should enjoy driving your vehicle and one way we ensure that is to make sure you are comfortable. Each interior is completely shaped to fit you. From the curvature of the seat to the amount of lumbar support, down to the colors and materials used. We don't depend on kits for the interior phase of restoration. Each piece can be reupholstered or completely made new from scratch.

​

Wood Working

Exceptional coachbuilding is what set your vintage car apart from the pack when it was first produced. Master woodworkers were an essential aspect of that process. The seamless that curve around the interior of the car determine whether or not it feels like luxury or ordinary/ We're happy to continue the tradition of coachbuilding with our team.

​

Performance & Engine Engineering

Whether you want to restore what was or build an engine that is completely new that matches what you need we're happy to provide the answer. Many restorations come to us with engines that have been sitting for quite some time. For us, a detailed inspection is always done to ensure safety and functionality. Our team of mechanics determines early on what can be restored, what will be unsafe and is able to build an entirely new engine if so desired by the client. 

​

Sometimes a new engine is the result of parts that are unusable but other times it's because you want the car to better fit what you need today. A change in engine type does not necessarily mean a compromise on what it means to have a restoration. Our team is well researched and will be able to recommend period-correct parts that keep the car grounded in its era while shaping it to fit you at the same time. 

​