Reasons why you should restore an old Ferrari

As you may appreciate, old classics aren’t growing in numbers. As years progress, there will be less classics available as many get stored away, some lost to accidents and some just sit there and deteriorate. One thing is for sure, once they’re lost, they’re not coming back.

Now, should you make it a mission in restoring what they call the pinnacle of motoring? Well, most classics set the path to what we now call cars. In particular, lets look at classic Ferrari’s. Enzo Ferrari created many memorable cars, like the 250 GTO worth a cool $55 million dollars, 275 GTB, 330 GTC, 288 GTO, F40 and last but not least the Dino 246, just to name a few.

There’s a certain excitement behind restoring and preserving a classic car, that is, you relive the excitement that it would’ve provided the first owner. Now for me to portray that excitement in words is quite difficult, it is a feeling that needs to be seen and possibly felt in ones lifetime. If I were to sit down and reminisce on all the things that I’ve done during my life, restoring classic cars, for me, is the purist form of satisfaction.

Some may get a thrill of looking and sourcing parts, which now has become an international job that’s based upon staying up to early hours of the morning, phoning, and emailing international sellers and workshops in the hope of purchasing the few screws or parts that you’re missing. I personally enjoy doing this, it’s something that gets my blood rushing like a steam train on a roll, I just don’t want to give up and stop.

Ferrari has produced some of the most beautiful cars in the world, this might be opinionated but why would Ferrari be at the forefront of classic car values if this wasn’t so? Here I am in 2017, still restoring classic cars, no matter how much I say how difficult the task is and at times I say, “I won’t be doing this again”. Well again, I’m on my 8th project and I can’t see my future without researching and restoring cars to their original glory.

The pay off is great, if you select the correct car, the rewards at times seem lucrative. In saying lucrative, I mean, there are many classic car events, one that stands out for me is the annual concours. At concours, you display your pride and joy alongside other cars whilst judges then score your car for its overall condition, paint quality, restoration and originality. This is where your restoration skills and attention to detail can excel you to the podium.

I am forever grateful, having won 24 concours trophies and up to my 8th restoration, this to me has been a winning mix. With classic cars continuing to soar in value, one would ask themselves why wouldn’t you want to restore one. Well, here are a few tips that I live by when selecting the right project; Make sure that you select the correct make, model and most importantly ensure original production numbers were low, and you too could have a winning combination. Lastly, whether its Ferrari or any other make, make sure it drives passion and ignites that fire within you.

Restoration projects can be tough, but there is a sense of euphoria recreating something that 20 years from now will be enjoyed by the young (and us young at heart), as a piece of history representing a time and place of an era long gone. I today look back at these cars and wonder ‘what secrets do you hold? Where have you been and what did you see?’. To have my own name and story stamped on a piece beautiful history like this is a true opportunity to leave a mark in the world.

This is a continuation from a previous article which can by read by clicking on the following link. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/supercar-advocates/classic-cars--the-art-of_b_12153954.html

Click on the below window to watch the progress of my current restoration.

This article is written by Lecha Khouri at Supercar Advocates based in Sydney Austalia.