The first question should be; "Is the vehicle in a drivable condition?"  This is a very  important point for the  first-time restorer.  Unless you have a lot of space to store a vehicle during the entire process, look only for drivable candidates.  Even if you have the space, you should consider only drivable vehicles for your first restoration.  The reason we suggest this for the first-timer, is that an inoperative project sitting in your garage will become very unpopular in a short amount to time.  A vehicle that you can drive and restore at the same time will be much more satisfying.  I can’t tell you how many projects that I have looked at for sale in people’s garages.  Most are due to the loss of interest or the fact that the individual took on too big a project for their time and/or pocketbook.  Save the frame-off projects until you build some experience.

Don’t get sucked into "Basket Case" vehicles.  These types of vehicles fall into several categories.  The first is a vehicle that does not run and needs absolutely everything replaced to get to the final product.  Next, is the vehicle that comes in many boxes. Usually these are projects that others have given up on.  Missing parts is the biggest concern here, not to mention trying to figure out where all the pieces of the puzzle go.  Leave these projects to the die-hard restorer.  Most professional restoration shops won’t take these types of projects on and the ones that do, want a blank check when you drop off the parts.  Another good thing to kept in mind about "Basket Case" type restorations is that they eat up a lot of time and cash!   I would rather be working on a vehicle than chasing after a ton of parts. Look for solid, complete vehicles when choosing.  The more you start with the less you have to buy new or hunt down.

This process will include requesting parts catalogs from vendors dealing in parts for the vehicle you are considering.  Educating yourself about the cost of parts is a good idea before you actually make a purchase.  Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to tell whether a vehicle is in your budget and if there are adequate parts available to complete your restoration.

This information also helps a great deal when looking to buy.  You will be able to better judge a vehicles condition by know which parts are missing and the cost of replacing those parts.  If you see a missing part and you know its not available in reproduction, that could be a deal breaker or a bargaining chip.  You can then use this information to leverage the seller into adjusting his or her price.  Information is powerful, so learn and save.