Keeping classic vehicles in shape in modern times is an ongoing battle between man, machine and father time. Thankfully, new techniques are found and implemented seemingly every year to help keep vintage cars on the road and looking as good as the day they were rolled out of the factory. Still, modern vintage auto body repair is a lot of work. The fact is, the older the car is, the more work it will need and technology, no matter how advanced, doesn’t look like it can save us from all tough work anytime soon.
Still, the modern auto body repair techniques that are being utilized by some of the most experienced classic car restorers are effective and yield stunning results.
Soda Blasting
Soda blasting, as opposed to sandblasting, has been heavily favored in the past decade or so. This is partly due to the greener, more eco-friendly nature of soda blasting. Soda blasting is great for cleaning classic chassis and exposing any previous auto body work. It will not warp the metal of the chassis but will remove all dirt and grime and prepare it for the next typical step in modern classic car restoration.
Chemical Stripping
Chemical stripping is the most effective way to remove rust from an old classic car chassis. Rust removal is critical in classic car restoration, as it will make possible a smooth and gorgeous new paint job.
Plasma Cutting
Sounds futuristic right? Actually, plasma cutters operate fairly simply. Gas is blown through a nozzle and passed through an electrical art that ignites it, turns it to plasma, and plasma is hot enough to cut metal. This is used for precision fitting of classic car components like floor pans, fenders and trunk panels.
All of these techniques can be found in the most up-to-date classic car restoration garages. Insist on the latest techniques and technology to ensure great restoration work for your project car.
