The process of restoring a car is much like most other things in life. You need to know where you are going and how to get there. Therefore you need to make a plan and stick to it as much as possible, to avoid extra expense and a less-than-satisfying result. Still, it's almost never possible to completely plan everything out to the last detail. The inevitable and unforeseeable events, that always accompany a project of such magnitude, make planning a challenge for even the most experienced restorer. Anybody who says otherwise is dreaming. No two cars are alike; no two projects are completely alike. Most of all, no two people are alike and what each person wants out of the restoration, and has the means to accomplish, is the single largest factor in determining its ultimate success. As the saying goes, any journey starts with a single step. When it comes to restoring a vehicle, the first step is to decide what you want to end up with.

This is simultaneously a simple and a comlex question. It starts with what you'd like to do, but continues on to what is reasonable to do for the condition of the vehicle, progresses on to what resources are available, and ends with what can actually be done under the circumstances. I get into all of these particulars in detail throughout the book, but first things first. What would you like to do? The answer to this question may not be simple either. There are different levels of restorations, which range from a relatively minor refreshing to a full-on concours level in which money is not object. I don't cover minor refreshing or a complete frame-up restoration but, rather, the middle range. This covers most restorations. For the sake of simplicity, I break things down into three classifications: daily driver, weekend cruiser, and show car.