Celebrities are all about being seen and what they are seen in literally. To keep up their reputations they need to sport the hottest fashions, companions and of course cars. The exotic cars you always see them in are usually very flashy and most certainly worthy of a second look. After seeing some of these people with what seems like a new car for everyday of the week I began to wonder, “Can they possibly own all of these cars”? After a little digging I think I may have very well found my answer, behold the “Exotic Car Rental”.

In the last few years it seems as through Exotic Car Rental companies have been popping up everywhere, especially in the big cities. A good example of this can be seen in Miami, Florida. It is not uncommon to see Exotic Car Rental shops on every major street in Miami Beach and there is even an entire street near the Miami airport that has informally been named “Luxury Car Row”. To the layman these companies may seem like normal run of the mill car rental agencies but there is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to these types of car rentals.

that's right for you depends entirely on your expectations. It's time to do a bit of soul-searching now to establish your expectations. Your expectations will be the basis for achieving your restoration goal, so it's important to know what you're going for right from the start.

One of the best ways to save money and cut costs is to do as much of the work yourself as possible. Nobody works for free, so you can save a substantial amount of money on outside labor by doing your own work. And, because this is your own personal project, you have a vested interest in doing a good job, so the quality of your work is bound to be high. That's one way of cutting costs, not quality. But there are other ways as well.

Let's continue discussing the hood assembly to illustrate another point. Make sure that all of the nuts, bolts and washers that you take off to remove the hood assembly are put into zip-lock bags (one for each side) and attached to the hood assembly with baling (as in "hay bale," a "bail" is a bucket handle) wire or cable ties to keep them with the appropriate hardware. Label each bag with a marker that describes its contents; for example, "hood hinge bolts and washers, driver side." Even if these bolts and washers are rusted and you intend to replace them with new hardware, retain the old ones and identify them so that you can get exact replacements for them when you're ready.

Now you're getting down to the real nitty-gritty. You'll be doing actual hands-on work to the vehicle and that's when you'll start getting intimately involved with it. By removing rust, muck, and grime you'll be taking it down to its bare metal in many instances, and removing trim and assessing damage that will have to be fixed. But before you do any of these things, it's imperative that you document the vehicle as it sits, before any work is performed.

Many newcomers into the world of classic cars feel a bit intimidated or even a little embarrassed about their lack of knowledge. This is perfectly normal. After all, this hobby has its own jargon, and there are so many facets that it seems overwhelming, at least at first. Just remember that everyone involved with classic cars was a novice at some time. Car collectors are generally a friendly bunch and are willing to help out beginners by answering questions, giving advice, sharing their experiences, and recommending good service and parts providers. There's a wealth of information and knowledge to be gained by talking to folks whose hobby is car collecting, so by all means, don't be shy!

All too often we are myopic when considering a collector car restoration project and we only think about American iron. Some of the finest marques in the world were and are made overseas, however. Who could resist the allure of an Aston Martin, the understated elegance of a Bentley, the charm of a Karmann Ghia, the sultriness of a Citroen, or the fine lines of a Mercedes?

A very important part of business is to do some research, and the Internet is a terrific resource. You should find out as much about that particular year, make, and model as you can. You want to know how many were made, what the available engines were, what optional equipment was available, and what the original retail prices were for these cars. This information helps establish whether the car is a rare find or fairly common, a determination that affects such factors as the availability and prices of parts, the car's value in its current condition, and its worth after being restored.

Replacing worn, broken, or missing parts is a big portion of your restoration work. Parts come in several varieties and can be taken from a number of different sources.