Know what you're looking at. If you're uncomfortable making a judgment, take someone along who knows these cars and what to look for. If you can't look at the car yourself, try to find someone who can. Dealing long distance, based on pictures and broad owner descriptions, may not get you what you want.
It's essential to have a good idea of the values of these cars. Do research and get advice on prices. It's usually a good idea to look at several cars and pass on the first one. Of course, that's not an absolute as emotions often cloud good judgment.
Consider the cost of transporting a car. We've been fortunate to find cars reasonably close and have transported them ourselves.
Outlining A Detailed Project PlanYou've already outlined an initial budget and high-level plan for an overall idea of what's involved and estimated costs. Now we'll get into the finer details of the tasks, time, and resources involved. We've provided a sample plan developed by using Microsoft Word, but you can go further by using project management tools such as Primavera (www.primavera.com) or www.autoresto.com. Count on changing your mind along the way. The extent, format, and detail of your plan depend on what works best for you. Most people benefit from a detailed planning approach.
Break the plan into sections to help guide you through each of the major tasks. We break the plan into six phases: Research & Planning; Initial Budget & Plan; Car Search; Detailed Project Plan; Disassembly/Ordering; and Construction. The Construction phase is broken further into five areas: Chassis/Brakes & Suspension; Engine/Accessories & Drivetrain; Bodywork & Painting; Interior; and Miscellaneous. Within each section, list the major tasks, responsibility, target date, status, and a section for notes. The format is up to you, but this has worked for us.
There are at least two ways to approach any project. One is a linear approach, which takes one area at a time through to completion before moving on to the next. This can add to the length of a project. Another approach is to identify those areas that will take a long lead time and get those underway first. That might involve getting the bumpers to the chrome shop, ordering the major components in advance, having the body and paint work underway while you focus on the mechanical aspects, and so on. Doing things simultaneously can shorten the overall length of your project.
A good plan allows you to manage all the things you have underway, anticipate the next steps, and keep track of the status of each component. Our plan identifies each item as: ordered; received; scheduled (with the date); completed; or needs further research. This gives you a sense of progress and helps keep you interested. Toward the end of a project, many final tasks remain. A "punch list" (see sidebar), helps you avoid missing something important. Checking off items gives you a good feeling of your progress and reminds you you're almost there.
Retain all the company names, contacts, phone numbers, parts receipts, and notes in a project folder. Ours is divided into the same categories as the project plan.
Major Project StepsWe won't list each step of each phase. Rather, we'll focus on the major areas. A project like this involves the restoration as well as the conversion you plan. As a result, it can be more involved and take more time finding parts. You also have to factor in making custom pieces.
Disassembly/Ordering ComponentsTaking a car apart can be fun. Take pictures before disassembly, and bag and label each part as you remove it. This is the best time to make the list of the restoration parts and major components for the project along with part numbers and sources. You probably won't be able to identify every nut and bolt at this point, but you should be able to determine the majority of the parts needed.