So youve sunk a whole load of money into an old car with the intention of lovingly restoring it to its former glory. But its only now that youve started looking for car parts that youre beginning to wonder what on earth have you let yourself in for. Whether youre in it for the money or for the sheer fun of it, any car you restore is only going to be the sum of the car parts you put into it. So before you start building from scratch, here are a few points to consider.

Cars arent that complicated to understand, right? Well, theres a world of difference between replacing the odd car part here and there and refitting the insides of an empty carcass like a jigsaw. Before you commit financially to any project, be sure to ascertain honestly what your ability is, and also how much time and effort youre prepared to put into the project. A fancy paint job and new upholstery can be as much fun as installing the most basic of engine parts, if that is where your technical comfort level is. Consider what youre prepared to put in, before you start ripping those old car parts out.

Once youve decided upon the type of project you want to work with, be sure to wait for the right car with the right parts. Of course you can learn as you go along, and that might even be part of the fun, but dont invest in a car minus parts you havent the interest in learning to find and fit. You might love that make and model at the time of purchase, but a few weeks of sitting in your front yard without the final missing part will be enough to sour your relationship forever.