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Restoring a car is a great way to take an old or less-than-exciting vehicle and inject a little fun into it. Some vehicle types are easier to modify and restore than others and they make great project cars. Finding something for a little bit of money that has a lot of potential can be incredibly exciting and offer a great opportunity to learn and take pride in your car. Knowing some of the best project cars to restore will help you make the right choice for your restoration.
Top Classic Cars For Customization
Ford Mustang
When you think about classic American muscle cars, you most likely think about the Ford Mustang first. This is an excellent option for your project car due to its iconic legacy and wide availability of parts. Any time you restore a car that was as popular as the Mustang, finding replacement components and skilled craftspeople to do the work is fairly easy.
Chevrolet Camaro
Like the Mustang, the Chevy Camaro is one of the best cars to customize for your restoration project because of its popularity. There is a strong community of Camaro enthusiasts out in the world, which means there is plenty of support available for sourcing parts. They are also an excellent platform for customization so you can create something truly unique.
Dodge Charger
If you want to restore a vehicle and increase its power, you can do no better than the Dodge Charger. With a wide range of engine options, including the iconic HEMI V8, you can drop in a whole new powertrain that will blow your hair back. Plus, these vehicles have a high resale value, making them a good investment.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental was one of the first widely available vehicles with a true luxury pedigree. This means that it is one of the best project cars if you want to take one of these icons and bring it back to its former glory. Their collectability and smooth, drivable reputation make them a great choice if you are just getting into vehicle restoration.
Volkswagen Beetle
For beginners in the restoration game, the Volkswagen Beetle is a perfect project car idea. These vehicles are simple, approachable, and relatively affordable. With very few moving parts, they are a great opportunity to learn some skills and create something beautiful.
Top Modern Vehicles For Customization
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is one of those vehicles that warrants the phrase “if you know, you know.” The Wrangler is a great project car idea because of its passionate group of loyal fans. Any questions you might have about the customization can be easily answered by one of this vehicle’s faithful community members.
Ford F-150
Modifying or customizing a Ford F-150 is a great project car idea simply because there are so many of them. As the best-selling truck of all time, it is far from difficult to find parts and advice related to your project. Plus, they are such iconic pickups that have a lot of potential including lift kits, oversized wheels, and powertrain upgrades – even superchargers!
Subaru WRX
The Subaru name might be more synonymous with reliable, practical vehicles but the rally prestige of the WRX makes it one of the best cars to customize. It has a massive amount of aftermarket support and plenty of customization options. On top of that, it comes with a stock turbocharged engine, which is ready for high-performance mods right off the production line.
Honda Civic
If you are looking for a vehicle that will be affordable and reliable for your customization project, the Honda Civic is a great option. The simplicity of these vehicles makes them incredibly popular for modders and tuners and you might be surprised at the amount of power you can get out of them. The balance between practicality and performance means you won’t have to spend more time under the hood than you want to.
BMW 3-Series
The BMW 3-Series has a performance-oriented platform already, which means it is incredibly easy to mod and tune. The 3-Series can be track-ready with very few tweaks and it has such a deep legacy in motorsports that the options are almost endless. It also has a sporty stance and a wide range of body mods that are available so you can help it look the part as well.
Choosing The Right Project Car
Before you decide that you want to take on a car restoration or modification project, you need to consider a few things. Not every vehicle will be right for your specific project, so you should take the time to figure out which one will be best for your needs. Some of the things to think about include:
- Budget - Your budget is one of the most important factors in determining what kind of project car ideas you should be taking on. It is easy to underestimate how much a restoration is going to cost, so planning ahead is crucial.
- Project Goals - Think about what you want to get out of a project car. If the goal is to take something old and neglected and bring it back to life, this will require time, money, and expertise. If you simply want to mod your vehicle and get a little more horsepower out of it, that is going to be quite a bit simpler.
- Car Condition - Before you decide to restore a car, consider its condition. A vehicle that has been long neglected in a backyard out in the rain might have rust, deterioration, and other serious problems. The better the vehicle’s condition is, the less you will have to spend on restoring it.
- Aftermarket Support - You want to be certain that aftermarket parts are readily available for your vehicle. This is especially true if you are restoring an old car. Old, original parts can be incredibly difficult to come by, so good aftermarket support is crucial.
No matter what kind of restoration or modification project you are working on, JEGS has the selection of parts and tools you want. Whether you are doing a complete rework or a simple mod on your vehicle, you can find everything you need and have it delivered straight to your door.
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