Start your engines for the easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners.
My grandpa was really into cars and even got my dad into race car driving for a little while. My dad drove quarter midgets, which is basically just a small version of a race car. Because of this, cars were a big part of both of their lives. My dad still fixes cars and even bought a car to repair and make brand new. He was primarily in charge of changing the oil in my car when I lived at home and changing tires because I wasn’t going to do it and it was cheaper than taking it into a shop. Car knowledge or knowing someone with adequate knowledge is pretty important if you’re a car owner.
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Car restoration is a tough hobby, but it’s one that comes with great reward and you could make a living with it. You need to know a lot about cars in general and all the parts that go along with them, but also the history of car parts and what goes into specific models during certain time frames. These vary greatly from car to car and year to year. You should probably start with relatively inexpensive and easy cars if you’re getting into your first restoration project, but of course, you should research before picking what you want to work on. Since you’re likely into cars, you should check out the most expensive cars of all time.
In order to create this list of easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners, we found help from various sources like Jalo Pnik, Wilson Auto, and Hemmings. We took the cars that were mentioned the most across sources to create our list. These are in no particular order, so you can just take the ones that interest you the most with regard to your skill set and aesthetic preferences. All in all, each option is a great car to start with.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners.
11. 1964 –68 Ford Mustang
The best part about Mustang restoration is that you’re not likely to run into a parts shortage. Mustang enthusiasts will probably always exist, so you’re always going to have someone around to give you tips and tricks. If you manage to restore the Mustang to all its glory, you’ll have buyers on standby if you want to sell it.
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10. 1964 – 65 Ford Falcon
The Ford Falcon shares inner structures with the Mustang, which means it has almost identical braking and suspension systems. This also means there are a lot of spare parts lurking around. The Falcon is simplistic, making it ideal for a new builder.
9. 1967 – 69 Chevy Camaro
Just like Mustangs, Camaros also have a huge fan base. All the parts you need for a Camaro are available from the get-go. Camaros can be made into a powerful muscle car if you find the right modifications, too.
8. 1968 – 70 Chevy Nova
The Chevy Nova is a prolific classic car. Over a million were produced, so you’re likely to come across one that’s in good shape for a low price. Try to avoid the four-door variants, as the demand is much lower. Overall, the Nova makes a pretty good first project for a beginner.
7. 1968 – 72 Oldsmobile Cutlass
If you have your eyes set on an Olds 442, you might want to consider the Cutlass, as it’s a lower price and will provide the same performance and looks. You can swap out any parts with GM A-body vehicles, so you’ll find the parts pretty easily. The exterior might be a challenge, but it’s not impossible.
6. 1955 – 57 Chevy Bel Air
The Bel Air is still affordable to buy and restore, but this means it’s quite popular and will eventually become harder to work on. As of now, it’s a solid choice for one of the easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners.
5. 1971 – 72 Chevy Chevelle
GM’s line of A-body cars enjoys similar facilities to the Mustang when it comes to market and spare parts. Chevelle has a body-on-frame construction, meaning you’ll have an easy time restoring it from scratch. You could make a pretty decent profit when you’re done as well.
4. 1928 – 31 Ford Model A
This may be the oldest car on this list of easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners, but it’s by no means obsolete in style or performance. You can practically build this entire thing from scratch because all the available parts are on the market. There’s also a huge array of aftermarket parts if you want to make it a serious roadster.
The Corvette doesn’t really need much of an introduction. The demand for these cars restored to original specifications has been increasing rapidly. You can still find these in good running order and there’s plenty of online advice for restoring. And now, let’s see the top two on our list of easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners.
If you’re a fan of a muscle car’s grunt but a tuner’s looks, the Dodge Charger is a great pick. You can pretty much find any mechanical part as well as body and trim. The resell value is almost always good because many enthusiasts swear by the Charger as the best muscle car ever built.
1. 1964 – 70 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac is long dead, but the best performer, GTO, is still kicking. When it was introduced in the 1960s, it dominated drag strips because it was more powerful than both the Mustang and the Camaro. It was also expensive, so expect to pay a lot for this choice. However, you’ll find a lot of parts and the resell value will be high if you ever want to get rid of it.
That concludes our list of the easiest old classic cars to work on for beginners. If you’re looking for your next project, you should definitely start with one of these.
