Cheap But Effective: Classic Car Upgrades That Work
If you’re looking for a way to give your beloved ride a glowup but don’t have cash to burn, there are plenty of affordable alternatives that will give her a new glint in her headlights. Here’s a handful to get you started!
LED Headlight Conversion
Halogen bulbs are a thing of the past - embrace LED bulbs and you will see your vehicle in a new light! They have a much longer lifespan (years instead of months), draw less power from the alternator and provide a huge boost to road visibility.
Upgraded Spark Plugs
High-performance iridium or platinum spark plugs are a subtle but meaningful improvement over standard ones. Not only do they provide better combustion, but they’ll smooth out your idling and make cold starts easier. You’ll even get a small boost to horsepower and fuel economy!
High-Performance Air Filter
Switch out your old paper air filter for a reusable high-flow alternative to boost your airflow and see better performance. Fuel efficiency goes up, money spent replacing filters goes down and it’s budget-friendly - $70 is a high-end estimation.
Modern Bluetooth Stereo
If you’re sick of trying to find unscratched CDs or unravelled cassette tapes, make the jump to modern tech with a head unit that connects you to the internet. It doesn’t even have to be flashy; you can get hidden units to preserve that retro-cool.
USB Charging Port
Having a classic car doesn’t mean eschewing technology. You can buy USB ports that use basic tools to plug into your vehicle, or just clip into your cigarette lighter. It’s clean, modern and you can keep your phone charged without sacrificing aesthetics.
Aftermarket Steering Wheel
Replace your bulky stock wheel with a personalized alternative for a better grip and sportier feel. You don’t have to get something garish - there are tons of retro, woodgrained or leather-wrapped ones out there to match your style, and it can modernize your driving position.
Seat Covers With Vintage Stitching
Who needs reupholstery to get a new interior look when you can just slip on seat covers? You get extra points for keeping in style with vintage patterns (two-tone, diamond stitching, etc.) They’re easy to clean, plus they protect your original seats from wear and sun damage.
Floor Mats With Custom Logos
Keep your carpet clean and your feet happy with a new floor mat (custom emblem optional). They add a touch of personalization without interfering with the OEM. If you prefer function with your form, some even come with heel pads and grip backing.
Sound Deadening Mats
Although they’re a little more complicated to install than standard floor mats, sound deadening ones make your ride feel more modern by cutting out road noise and engine rumble. They act as temperature insulation too - that means a cooler, smoother ride.
Throttle Cable Upgrade
When throttle cables get old, they become sticky, laggy and your acceleration feels jerky. Upgrade to a new one for a subtle glowup; you’ll feel an immediate difference, and you won’t have to wait for a response when you step on your pedal.
Hood Struts (Gas Lift Support)
There are some things that modern cars just do better, and modern gas struts is one of them. If your old classic car has one of those clumsy hood prop rods, these bolt-on kits will be a lifesaver (and a skullsaver) when you’re doing work under the hood.
Battery Relocation Kit
Relocating your car’s battery to a different part of the vehicle requires a bit of set-up with rerouting cables and proper grounding, but when you’ve finished you’ll have a showroom-clean engine bay (which is also safer for front-end collisions) and better weight distribution.
Performance Ignition Coil
When your ignition coil is lacking a spark you can replace your factory coil with a higher-output alternative for improved combustion for a small cost! You’ll have less misfires, but you’ll really reap the rewards if you’ve added other performance upgrades such as new spark plugs.
Cold Air Intake
Take cooler air from outside your engine bay and deliver it to where it needs to be for extra combustion and throttle response. Your car will breathe better and you’ll hear the difference in its roar; is there anything more satisfying?
Electric Fan Conversion
Engine-driven fans can cause drag, whereas a switch- or thermostat-controlled electric one can be set to run only when needed, giving you greater temperature control. It’s more energy-efficient and your car will run quieter; it’s like giving your vehicle a personal assistant.
Inline Fuel Filter Upgrade
Fuel Filters get crusty over time and the one in your classic car is probably nasty. Replacing it with a high-flow modern inline one keeps your carb or injectors happy, and if it’s clear you have a visual on how effective it is, too.
Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Brake hoses have come a long way since the old rubber ones; embrace modern technology with some nice stainless steel brake lines for a firmer pedal and resistance against corrosion (road salt, be damned). It’s not the flashiest upgrade, but you will feel it.
Disc Brake Conversion (Front Only)
You can swap front drum brakes with modern disc brakes - usually with a bolt-on kit - for a massive boost to safety and performance! Once it’s done, they’re easier to maintain, replace and make future upgrades (such as ABS retrofits) a smoother process.
Sway Bar Upgrade
Studier anti-roll bars will reduce body roll when your trusty car’s cornering. The cost-to-performance ratio is huge, and your ride will be much more fun. Even better, if your cornering is more efficient, safety is, too.
Polyurethane Bushings
Chances are your factory suspension bushings are the rubbery ones; they’re not the most durable, so switching them out with longer-lasting polyurethane alts is a budget-friendly step up! They don’t deteriorate like rubber bushings, and you’ll see an uptick in handling.
Short-Throw Shifter
A short-throw shifter is like a present for your gearbox that reduces the distance your hand has to move between gear changes. You get a lot of bang for your buck with these babies, particularly in older manual cars - you’ll feel like you’ve had a sports upgrade. Vroom!
Retro-Style Gauges
Retro chic is all in now, which is good news - you get to experience all the modern tech and convenience while keeping your classic aesthetic. That’s the concept with these gauges, too; they’ll still look the part, but they’re easier to read and more accurate than vintage originals.
Dash Pad Cover
Since dash pads experience severe sun exposure, they often end up cracked and damaged. These pads breathe new life into a baked interior by hiding any unsightly marks, and they’re cheaper than replacing the entire dash. You can even get textured options for a luxury feel.
New Door Weatherstripping
Wear and tear on door seals is inevitable - they get cracked or flattened and let in both leaks and win noise. Fresh rubber or foam strips are awesome replacements, though; they regulate cabin temperature more efficiently, plus they prevent water damage.
H4 Halogen Headlight Swap
You won’t realize how dim your old beams are until you change them out for modern H4 halogen alts. Most of them are easy-install on older cars, and while you keep the classic look you will experience brighter, wider and overall safer lighting on dark roads.
Low-Profile Antenna
There was a time when big antennas were all the rage, but these days it’s all about subtlety. Get rid of that horrible flag pole for a shorter, sleeker one; it’ll make less wind noise and if you get a signal-boosting one it will have a functional advantage, too.
Trunk Organizer or Liner
Whether it’s made from molded plastic or fabric, a trunk organizer is a practical addition that will prevent you from chasing groceries around after a shopping trip. Get one with modular sections and you can organize until your heart’s content.
Backup Camera With Rearview Mirror Display
Nothing pays respect to a car’s classic roots than a vintage-looking device with modern tech. This rear-facing camera - complete with a mirror-set display screen - does exactly that, while boosting your safety rating (especially if your vehicle has a large trunk and blind spots).
Shift Knob Replacement
Basic shift knobs do their job - sometimes - though you don’t have to settle for merely “functional.” Replace your old, cracked one for a custom alternative; they come in awesome styles (both vintage and novelty) to add a quick personal touch to your ride.
Wiper Blade Upgrade
Wiper blades are among the most basic upgrades you can get - they clip/slide on and off, and you can get rid of the old streaky ones for modern silicone edge or beam-style replacements. Newer ones last longer, clear water better and you can even preserve the vintage style if you shop carefully.
Classic-Style Alloy Wheels
Ditch the old steelies for modern ones with vintage vibes and modern convenience; it’s harder to find tire sizes for older alloys. You’ll get a small boost in performance from the lighter materials, and there’s a bunch of iconic designs to choose from.
Fuel Line Heat Shield
They’re not flashy and you won’t get a parking lot flex, but a heat shield for your fuel line will pay for itself by providing insulation and preventing vapor lock in warmer climates. You’ll also reduce expensive summer breakdowns; extra points for the ultra resistant, reflective silver shields.
Suspension Bump Stops
Polyurethane or rubber bump stops reinforce your suspension like a celebrity’s bodyguards protecting it from the road. They’ll protect your springs, shocks and control arms from any hard speed bumps or pothole hits, which is especially handy if you have a lowered car.
Modern Horn Kit
Classic car horns tend to whisper to the road as if they’re embarrassed to be heard. Modern ones need to speak up so they’re heard above noisy traffic, and that’s where horn kits come in! They’re louder, crisper and some have dual-tone options for extra class.
Chrome Trim Restoration Kit
Unlike the stick-on chrome trend of the 2000s, classic cars had real chrome where it counts, but it’s not immune from rust and degradation. Chrome trim kits are easy to apply and put a sparkle back on your dull trim - some even come with scrape repair tools.
