Help! Five Jobs it’s Okay to Ask the Pros to do!

We all like working on our cars, that’s a given. In fact, it’s all part of the classic car experience, right? But just because it’s part of our world doesn’t mean we’re all master mechanics or craftspeople. We might want to learn, and such a mindset is admirable. But in reality, there are some jobs we just can’t do ourselves. Happily though, as we covered in last year’s article about the size of the classic car industry, there are thousands upon thousand of businesses out there ready and waiting to help you out. And there is no shame in taking them up on it. Some jobs are just not for those of us who are working from a home garage. Plus, by bringing in the professionals, you’re helping to prop up and justify the vast and talented world of specialists. It’s a win win. With that in mind, here are five jobs you might want to consider calling in the experts for…

1) Paint

I say this as someone who has laboured over painting a wing today. Not a crusty, bent one either. A brand new one. It was a dusty, arduous, messy affair and despite having a decent respirator, my lungs now don’t work. The kicker? The resulting paint job is, at best, okay. Paint, if you have a car you truly care about, is something best left to the professionals. They won’t have primers and paint that react, they will have a spray booth in which to keep all the dust out and an oven with which to bake the paint on. They’ll have decades of experience, and they’ll deliver your car back to you looking resplendent. We all want to have a go, and if the car has a bit of age to it, or a low value, then why not? But if it’s a prized classic, a pro is the way to go.

2) Fabrication

It’s just a bracket, or a wee hole, you might think to yourself. But it never is. Then, even if you are masterful with cutting the metal back, creating a new bit and getting it in place, there is still the issue of welding it. Welding can be easy, if you have the know how and the experience. It can be fun, too. Not to mention deeply satisfying. But, if you get it wrong it could all quite literally go up in flames. Or, you could do it wrong. What if you get something structural incorrect, what if you compromise the integrity of the car? It’s scary stuff. The happy medium would be to do the messy, dirty work – the cleaning back and cutting out, then send the car off to a pro who can deliver it back to you as good, if not better than new. You’ll get the peace of mind that comes from knowing the job has been done well. You can’t put a price on th… okay, the fabricator will, but money well spent.

3) Electrics

Now this might just be me, but I hate dealing with electrics. Frankly, not only is it all way above me, it’s also deeply intimidating. I can do basic stuff – lights, change radios, that kind of thing – but that’s about it. If your beloved classic needs a complete rewire, there are experts out there ready and willing to help. Not only can they help, they’ll be able – if you require – to add in all kinds of modern niceties. They’ll ensure the wires are the right gauge, that everything is fused and earthed as it should be, that it’s safe. Electrics can be frustrating, but if a classic car has had years, decades even, of cuts and tweaks and bodges, it could be dangerous. Get a pro on it.

4) Engine Rebuild

Classic cars and their engines are simple, right? Well, no, not really. Even with the most basic of machines, there are still hundreds of parts that need to work in harmony. If you want to rebuild your engine, or any engine, why not get a scrap lump to take apart first? Something that poses no risk or danger. Something safe. If you want to have a go at your own engine, you need to be supremely confident in your abilities. Bona fide classics boast simpler units, yes, but more into the ’80s and ’90s and you’re in a world of ever more complicated electronics and the like. Research, learn, have go if you feel confident enough, but never be afraid to ask a pro to take over. It’s what they’re there for, and they may discover and fix things that an unexperienced eye could miss.

5) Upholstery

Car upholstery. It sounds so simple, so basic. In some cases, it can be. For example, I replaced the headlining in one of my cars, and I have also retrimmed my door cards on another car. But that was basic, flat panel stuff. I had Craig Hughes of Salvage Hunters repair my driver’s seat and I watched in wonder as he teased, tweaked and twanged the leather into apparently willing submission. It is an art. One that needs skill and experience if you’re going to get it right. This is the help we should be seeking. The upholstery matters, it’s the bit we interact with the most and it’s the part that provides comfort. Plus, there is no less pride in having someone else do it, trust me. Plus, do you really want to be covered in foam and glue with heavy duty needles sticking in your fingers? No, of course not. Get the help you need. It’s what these talented people are here for.