MCCM is often contacted by phone or email to provide estimates/quotes on restoring vintage Mustangs, or to "Ball Park" the cost. It is difficult to prepare an intelligent estimate not having the vehicle at hand. Without evaluating the current condition (structural/operational/appearance) & without discussing the owner's goals & intended end use for the car, developing a projected restoration cost is near impossible.

A complete Mustang restoration encompass all of these major areas:

• Frame, floor & cowl reconstruction.......................................19%
• Engine, drive train & exhaust..............................................22%
• Brakes (parking & hydraulic systems) & tires..........................05%
• Suspension, steering parts & related components.....................05%
• Body work, sheet metal & exterior paint................................29%
• Electrical (battery, ignition, lights, lamps, & instruments)...........05%
• Exterior (chrome, trim, emblems & weather-strips)..................05%
• Interior & soft trim (upholstery, carpet & trim)........................10%

COSTS-

As a general rule, the cost breakdown to restore the average 30+ year Mustang is 60% labor & 40% parts & supplies. Mid County Classic Mustang's shop rate is $80.00 per man-hour, plus parts, shop supplies & related materials. The Mustang restoration is usually a sound investment, in that the FFMV (Future Fair Market Value) of a vintage Mustang historically tends to appreciate each year rather than depreciate as a new car would. This is true because demand for vintage Mustangs remains consistent & the supply of available vintage Mustangs is decreasing as the years pass.

RESULTS-

Our primary focus is on producing Mustang street restorations, defined as a high quality: attractive, mechanically reliable & safe vehicles. Equipped & properly installed with a combination of high quality reproduction, dependable after market replacement, & Genuine Ford service replacement parts.

Show cars would have all correct OEM (original equipment manufacturer) dated components, be detailed & refined to "like new" or "showroom" condition. To take a Street restoration to Show level be prepared to add another 25-40% to the basic restoration cost. Of course each restoration project varies, depending on the specific model's optional equipment, the vehicle's current mechanical condition & the degree of wear/deterioration.

1968 Mustang GT Restored for Les Charnock by MCCM in the Spring of 2008

RESTORATION PITFALLS TO AVOID

1- FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A RESTORATION WILL REALLY COST- If you have a Mustang with lots of rust, body damage, and extensive mechanical repairs it can get very expensive. Restoration costs are all about time and materials and a proper restoration can take a lot of time and a lot of materials.

2- DISCARDING PARTS YOU MAY NEED LATER- Take off parts should never be discarded or sold until the job is complete. Parts can be useful in determining how things go back together or to be rebuilt later when suitable replacement parts can not be located.

3- NOT TAKING PICTURES- Developing a library of pictures before during and after restoration, a having a photo gallery of our vehicle will make re-assembly easier and be of assistance in properly restoring your Mustang.

4- BUYING THE SAME PARTS TWICE- You must have strict organization in your restoration project. Parts should be cataloged, marked with date purchased, vendor and kept in their original cartons until the time comes to detail and/or install them.

5- NOT STICKING TO A BUDGET AND A REALISTIC TIMELINE- If you are faced with a tight budget and limited resources, be ready for a long term project where you can take things one phase at a time. Stay close to your budget by recording the costs and revisiting your monetary outlay a regular basis.

6- FAILURE TO REALISTICALLY PLAN- Each restoration project must have a plan, an order of priorities and regular milestones of progress. If you don't know where you are going, how do you know when you get there?

7- STARTING A RESTORATION WITHOUT REFERENCE MATERIALS- Purchase reference literature (sales brochures, shop manuals, assembly manuals, recognition guides). Without reference materials you are flying without a flight plan, a sure recipe to crash and burn.

8- USING PARTS THAT AREN'T UP TO TASK- Choose your Mustang parts and accessories dealers carefully. There are different grades of parts and it is tempting to buy low cost parts to save money, only to see them fail prematurely and have to spend again to replace them.

9- FITTING THE BODY PANELS BEFORE PAINT- The best time to adjust or fit-check the body panels is after they are in primer. If you are using original fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid consider drilling 1/8" holes through hinges and into the sheet metal to allow for 'drift pin' alignment when re-assembling the body.

10- PAINT REFINISHING- There is no such thing as a good low-priced paint job. Proper body preparation, high quality automotive paint materials, and skilled application are the elements of a quality paint job that will last. There is simply no way to get outstanding body paint results without spending the necessary money.

Footnote- Resist the temptation to customize, retro fit and/or over restore. Non-original restorations have less future value than factory original restorations. Making the car perfect, better than factory standards only hurts the finished product, after all these striking classics were not perfect when they were built.

SUMMARY-

Restoring a vintage, antique or collectable automobile can be a time consuming & sometimes costly undertaking. The end result is a unique combination of the restorer's experience/vehicle knowledge, quality of the workmanship, management practices & the owner's commitment to the project. A professionally restored Mustang is a thing of beauty to be driven, admired & enjoyed for many years to come. The experience of watching a tired, worn out automobile come "back to life" is long remembered as well as the time, care & concern that went into it.

We hope this outline offers some insight & answers to your restoration questions. Payment terms & any additional areas of interest can be directed to us by phone or email 24/7. Complete written detailed estimates are available for a refundable fee.

PJ Vassallo
Owner/Manager
Mid County Classic Mustang