SECOND/STARTER KITS
Whether you’re starting to maintain a classic car for the first time and need a set of tools or wish to equip yourself for a second garage or a project away from home, it’s not so easy to devise a list of tools that cater for every possible job. Typical of many DIY classic car enthusiasts is that tools are accumulated over several years or decades, along with an assortment of hand-me-downs. And they rarely get thrown away unless they break, so most of us are guilty of hoarding and being reluctant to part with a single spanner or screwdriver, just in case they may come in handy. However, if you make a note of all the tools used over a month or two then you’ll probably be surprised to discover the list is short and simple, consisting of several spanners and sockets, a couple of screwdrivers and maybe a pry bar, plus the occasional use of a hammer and a wire brush. Maybe we don’t need so many tools after all?
The following pages aim to outline the many aspects of the tools and equipment required to work on classic cars and help draw a shortlist of the essentials.
TYPICAL JOBS
Instead of trying to think about all the tools and equipment you may need, a better starting point is to look at the range of jobs you complete on a classic car to help determine what you need.
