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Car Restoration Costs Broken Down by TLC Restorations

By John Gunnell

The first question a typical restoration shop client asks is "How much is it going to cost to restore my car?" Most car owners want the shop to quote a flat price for the job. Most shops won't do so unless the price is extremely high.

Shops insist there is no "scientific" way to project restoration costs. They will quote an hourly rate for their time and tell the customer that they work on a "time and materials" basis. That means "X" many dollars per hour of time, plus the cost of parts and supplies. Most shops also charge for research time, shipping of parts, recycling, rags and so forth. Sales tax is also collected, too.

TLC Restorations of Milton, Wis., has tried to come up with a scientific way to explain restoration costs. TLC participated in the "Car Builders' Showcase" at the Race & Performance Expo, in St, Charles, Ill. Owner Robert G. Rippberger showed an almost finished Chevelle and a fully restored GTO. He dissected what a "rotisserie" restoration involves in terms of car disassembly, body work, paint, mechanical and electrical repairs and reeassemly.

According to Rippberger, the typical process and average time for a complete frame-off restoration of a mid-sized GM performance cars includes nine processes with a total typical time ranging between 395 and 550 labor hours. With average labor rates for all types of auto repair shops nationwide coming in around $77, that would mean a $30,415 restoration at the lower total hours or a $42,350 restoration at the higher number of hours.

Naturally, the cost would vary according to a shop's labor rate and parts costs. So it is virtually impossible to say a restoration costs "X" many dollars. Still, it is interesting to see how TLC studied the work involved and dissected what's involved in bringing an old car back to like-new condition. The following tables are based on the signs that TLC had on public display at the St. Charles show.