The right order of work on a full restoration

Most restorations go wrong not because of bad workmanship but because jobs are done in the wrong order.

1. Strip and record. Photograph everything before it comes apart. Bag and label fasteners by assembly. You will not remember where anything went in eighteen months.

2. Assess the structure honestly. Media blast or chemically strip the shell before you plan a budget. Rot hides under filler and underseal, and the shell decides whether the project is viable.

3. Structural repair first. Chassis rails, sills, floors and closing panels before anything cosmetic. Fit doors, bonnet and boot and set the gaps while the shell is bare metal.

4. Paint before mechanical rebuild. A painted shell is easy to keep clean; an engine bay full of a fresh engine is not.

5. Mechanicals, then trim, then chrome. Bright work and trim go on last so they are not damaged during assembly.

6. Sort brakes, steering and fuel before the first drive. Get an MOT booked early — it flushes out problems while the car is still easy to work on.