An inventory about all parts of the car and what state they are in, is as important as one about the parts you will need, either because they are completely missing or need to be replaced.

After this inventory you have to find out where and if you can get the missing parts. Sometimes this can mean a lot of research work on the car and its history, but it is very important.

Some parts might be easy to get, others might not be available at all. Parts you can’t get, you might be able to reproduce yourself or maybe you can get them from special workshops. Getting these parts might be the most expensive and tedious part of the whole restoration of your classic car, and if it is getting too pricey you really have to think if your car is worth it.

And you should find out as much as you can about manufacturing methods and materials used, too. The inventory can be the basis of a documentation of the whole restoration project. It is so easy to take photos and write down the main points of every step you take. You can use it in the end for further restorations or to find out where possible mistakes were made. And you can of course help others who are facing the same problems.