Wheeler Dealers host Marc Priestley has urged classic car owners to follow one tip if they are looking to restore a vehicle this winter.
The TV star has encouraged owners to do their research before taking on a new project, especially on a vehicle they have never owned before.
Collectors often buy historic vehicles in bad condition and then spend time and money to get them back on the roads.
However, classic cars are often rare and those who don’t know what they are doing could do irreparable damage to decades-old cars.
To prepare, host Mike Brewer suggested learning as much as possible about a historic vehicle was vital before jumping into projects.
He said: “My advice would be to fill your library before you fill your garage. Gather as much information as possible about the car you are targeting or interested in.
“That goes as far as joining the owners’ club of the car you’re interested in.
“So if you are interested in buying a Ford Escort Cosworth, for the sake of half a tank of fuel join the owners’ club first even though you haven’t got a car.
“They will give you the information so you’ll be armed with information and you’re more likely to find the car you’re looking for advertised within the club.”
Meanwhile, co-host Marc Priestley has claimed that simply watching old Wheeler Dealers episodes could be the easiest way to learn basic engineering skills.
The classic car restoration show is celebrating 20 years on screen with over 220 episodes broadcast since its inception.
He told Express.co.uk: “Watch our show. If you’re thinking about buying a particular car we’ve almost certainly done a show on it at some point over 20 years.
“Within that show, there is a huge amount of advice both on how to look after it and maintain it. But also how to buy it, and how to sell it.
“It’s almost a little encyclopaedia, an archive for almost every classic car out there, there is an episode of our show that will give you so much advice and tips.
“So go back through the whole lot and find the one that suits you best.”
Wheeler Dealers’ first restoration was to fully repair a classic 1983 Porsche 924 which aired back in October 2003.
Since then, the team have worked on iconic models such as the Audi Quattro, a 1995 Ford Escort Cosworth and a 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale.
In the most recent series, they restored models including the 2004 Audi RS 6, 1997 Land Rover Discovery and Mk1 1979 Ford Fiesta.
