What the work should cost — before the quote arrives.
Sourced cost ranges for 200+ restoration jobs, by era, job type, and regional labor market. Every range cites a public source. The deepest data is on 1964½–1970 Mustang today; other marques are in development.
Drop the “is this quote fair?” guesswork. Cross-check the line items before you sign, and spot the number that's actually a red flag.
LA Pricing Multipliers
The strongest single signal in the dataset: how much more each kind of work costs in Los Angeles than the national base. Read it, sort it, sanity-check your own quote against it.
| A | B | C | D | |
| Work type | National rate | LA rate | LA premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General restoration | ~$125/hr | $145–160/hr | +15–28% |
| 2 | Concours specialist | $135/hr | $160–185+/hr | +18–37% |
| 3 | Paint / body | $85–125/hr | $150–200/hr | +60–76% |
| 4 | Engine rebuild | $115–135/hr | $135–175/hr | +17–30% |
| 5 | Transmission | $75–115/hr | $95–150/hr | +27–30% |
| 6 | Suspension | $85/hr | $130/hr | +53% |
| 7 | Brakes | $95/hr | $95–150/hr | up to +58% |
| 8 | Electrical | $100/hr | $100–165/hr | up to +65% |
Same job, three markets
A 15-hour job with $3,500 in parts, priced where the shop is:
Rule of thumb: plan toward the upper third in Los Angeles — 20–30% above national.
This is a benchmark, not a guarantee. Shops and regions vary; that's why every cell shows its source and date.
Thirteen tabs. One open above; the rest come with the System.
Sheet Metal
Panel-by-panel repair and replacement ranges, by section.
Paint & Body
Prep, materials, booth time, and the gap between finish tiers.
Driveline
Engine, transmission, and rear-end build costs.
Brakes & Suspension
Disc conversions, rebuilds, and alignment.
Electrical
Harnesses, gauges, charging, and accessories.
Interior
Upholstery, carpet, headliner, and trim.
Chrome & Trim
Re-plating, polishing, and reproduction part costs.
Glass & Seals
Windshields, weatherstrip, and channel hardware.
Wheels & Tires
Period-correct against modern fitment.
Fuel & Cooling
Tanks, radiators, lines, and pumps.
Labor Rates
Shop rates by region and specialty.
Contingency
The buffers that keep a restoration budget honest.
Included with the System
The database isn't sold alone. It comes with the System.
Buy the Shop Vetting System and the Cost Benchmark Database arrives with it. Founders' Edition holders keep getting every future release, free.