Restoring beauty

Car restoration, especially of vintage cars, is just like restoring art. The skill and passion involved, not to mention the cost, are comparable. For example, the cost of restoring old Porsches ranges from P1 million to P2.5 million. The older the car model, the more expensive it is to restore.

"While there are a lot of new cars available in the market, there are certain individuals who have an emotional attachment to their old cars. These cars may have been owned by their grandfather or father," said Porsche restorer Martin de los Reyes.

An old car can be considered of value if it is at least 30 years. Most collectibles or vintage cars are European made and are known for their sleek designs, elegant interior and powerful engines. A few Japanese cars such as the Datsun 240Z, the Fair Lady and the Toyota 2000GT are becoming collectibles.

Much like a valuable painting, the price of such vintage cars is not pegged to the existing market value. There have been instances where a car was purchased for four times its market value of P2 million.

Sentiment – it reminds the buyer of their dream car or a wonderful experience when they were much younger – plays an important factor in the value of the car. Another factor is the car’s provenance or who its previous owners were. A car once owned by John Lennon, for example, would have more value to a Beatles fan.

Lots of TLC

There are no specific deadlines for restoring vintage cars. Much of that time is spent is looking for original spare parts. "I try to involve the owner in the search for the missing spare parts. The Internet has made my job easier," said de los Reyes. "Some people do not want you to touch the interiors. It is like they have become so used to seeing it the way it is. The attachment is there," he said.

At his shop in Taguig, Rizal, de los Reyes has restored Porsche cars that have been around for the last 43 years. Unlike Japanese cars, which have names, old Porsches have numbers. The Porsche no. 356, for example, refer to the 1959 and 1963 models and the 911 Porsche is the 1965 model.

Once restored the car is normally put on exhibit in car shows. Although there are instant bidders for the car, the actual sale takes place only if the price is right and if the buyer is acceptable to the owner. "It is important to the seller that the car will be taken care of and that it will be provided a nice resting place," said de los Reyes.

The car restorer is, of course, talking like a car lover.