One of the choices you face when doing a "fix-up" or restoration is deciding what restorative methods to employ. Before dealing with our current topic, it’s worthwhile to consider what "restoration" means to you. Your definition may be different than mine. Purists will certainly differ with me on the legitimacy of replacing anything with non-original parts. Let’s consider some levels of restoration:

Light to Medium Restoration

1. Repair & Repaint: Basic mechanical work is done to put the original equipment components in safe working order. The vehicle receives minor body work and is refinished. The vast majority of “fix-ups” fall into this category.
2. Repair, Replacement & Refinishing: Mechanical repairs as above, but some components are replaced with adaptable modern units, including engines, drive train parts, brakes, etc. Body repairs may be performed with a greater level of detail and expertise. These modifications to original equipment will reclassify the car as a custom in some people’s minds.

Heavy Restoration

3. A variation on #2, except the project takes much longer. The vehicle is partially disassembled to remove rust and corrosion from key body parts. Drive train components, suspension and other underbody parts are cleaned, refurbished or replaced with rebuilt or aftermarket-”new” parts. Body restoration may include a close color match of original paint schemes. Some trim items may be replaced with original or aftermarket replicas. Some cars in this category are often garaged and exempted from everyday use (especially if it looks like rain).

Like New:

4. Just what those words mean. Every attempt is made to restore the vehicle to showroom glory, right down to window stickers, owners manuals and the “right” taillight bulbs. New-fangled repair materials (like body filler!) are not allowed by these most obsessive enthusiasts. Hair splitting abounds in their discussions (and arguments). Fiberglass body panels (except on desirable Corvettes) are scorned by these devotees.

Museum Quality

5. This category applies to almost no one. These vehicles are museum pieces-literally. They are restored to their condition as of a certain date in history (interpretive period) according to a qualified curator. Like I say, this applies to very few cars, but they are out there.