What is a Rotisserie Restoration?

Written by

CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

Updated on November 11th, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Summary
  • Rotisserie restorations are a method of car restoration that has technicians mounting the vehicle on a rotisserie capable of rotating 360 degrees.
  • The advantages of a rotisserie restoration include 360-degree access, total rust removal, better paint jobs, and more precise restoration.
  • The downsides to rotisserie restorations include high costs, tremendous effort, and large space requirements.

Despite the name, rotisserie restorations have nothing to do with cooking chicken. Rotisserie restorations are one of the most thorough and effective methods of car restoration. This technique requires technicians to disassemble and mount a vehicle on a rotisserie that allows them to rotate it to access parts with ease.

So how exactly does a rotisserie restoration work, and what are its advantages?

How Rotisserie Restoration Works

Rotisserie restoration is a meticulous process capable of transforming old, worn-out antiques into fully functional masterpieces. It’s a lengthy process that requires thorough inspections. There are four steps to any rotisserie restoration: disassembly, sandblasting, mounting, and restoration.

Disassembly

The vehicle is disassembled. Every part is removed and laid bare, allowing the technician to thoroughly inspect every component and determine what needs to be repaired or replaced. This ensures every part of the vehicle is accounted for.

Sandblasting

With the vehicle disassembled, the technician strips away the old paint by sandblasting it. Any rust, grime, and corrosion is also removed. This is done to prepare it for restoration, allowing the technician to apply a new coat of paint.

Mounting

The vehicle’s body is mounted onto the rotisserie, giving the technician 360-degree access to every part. This makes it easier for the technician to inspect the vehicle and restore it properly.

Restoration

The technician may begin restoration work after the vehicle is mounted on the rotisserie. Inoperative components are replaced and the vehicle body is painted, transforming an old hunk of junk into a roadworthy vehicle once more.

What are the Benefits of Rotisserie Restorations?

Rotisserie restorations come with a lot of advantages. For example, they provide technicians with 360-degree access. This makes it easier to fix rust and corrosion damage and allows technicians to provide complete, even paint jobs. Rotation also means precise and meticulous restoration.

360-Degree Access

The most common reason people opt for a rotisserie car restoration is because it provides technicians with complete 360-degree access to their vehicles.

By using a car rotisserie, components and systems that would normally be difficult to access can easily be reached and worked on, greatly reducing the risk of incomplete restorations.

Total Rust Removal

Getting rid of corrosion and rust damage can be difficult, especially on components normally hidden from plain sight.

Car rotisseries make this a problem of the past, allowing technicians to access corroded components for rust removal. This strengthens the vehicle’s frame and prevents further corrosion.

Better Paint Jobs

Another benefit that comes with using car rotisseries is that they make it easier to paint all the surfaces of a vehicle. Total coverage makes for clean, even paint jobs.

The best part is that the rotisserie also makes painting a vehicle significantly faster since the vehicle body can be rotated. Parts that are normally difficult to reach and paint such as rocker panels can be covered quickly and effectively. 360-degree coverage also means the body and additional parts can all be painted and cured at the same time.

More Precise Restoration

The biggest advantage of a 360-degree restoration is that technicians are far less likely to overlook specific details. Total coverage means meticulous and high-quality restoration, reducing the likelihood of structural weaknesses and ensuring that the vehicle has a strong, solid foundation.

If the foundation is strong, the body panels of the vehicle can be aligned properly. This improves its overall stability and reduces the stress on the vehicle’s structure.

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What are the Drawbacks of Rotisserie Restorations?

Despite their many benefits, rotisserie restorations don’t come without drawbacks. They’re incredibly costly and require a lot of time and effort to perform. Drivers interested in getting car rotisseries for their garages also need to sacrifice a lot of space.

Can be Expensive

The cost of a rotisserie restoration varies depending on whether or not it’s done at home, or if a professional is hired. DIY restorations require sandblasting, work on the body, paint, and part replacement. This means costs will likely range from $30,000 to $60,000.

On the other hand, hiring a professional to disassemble and reassemble the vehicle with replacement parts might cost between $50,000 and $100,000. If you’ve got money to burn and want to opt for a complete high-quality car restoration, you might have to spend over $200,000.

Requires More Time and Effort

A complete rotisserie restoration takes several months to complete. On average, it takes roughly six months for a total restoration. Some might take up to a year depending on how much work needs to be done. The more meticulous and precise the restoration, the more time it takes to complete.

Requires Lots of Space

Though this is more of a problem for drivers who want to own car rotisseries, it’s important to know that this metal structure needs a lot of space. Rotisseries likely won’t fit in the average garage, meaning you’ll need a large dedicated workspace.

Written By CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.