Your first task in a restoration project is to document your car with pictures. Don't think that because you have a restoration manual with all kinds of glossy pictures in it, that you don't need to exhaustively photograph yours. The type of pictures you'll need will seem extremely boring to take, but we have found ourselves wishing for more close-ups of a nut or bolt in almost every restoration project we've done.
We suggest taking your photos with a digital camera because you can immediately know how the picture will look and if it isn't any good, you can erase it and take another. Another advantage is that most computers have photo software with which you can lighten, darken, enlarge or enhance the image when you are viewing them on the computer. Digital images can also be sent to your suppliers when ordering parts. This can save valuable time in trying to describe the part and alleviate delivery mistakes.
You should cover just about every part of the car with good, crisp, clear and overlapping pictures. Complete side, front and rear shots of the car should be complemented with close-ups. For example, zoom in where pieces of trim come together, how the clips for the fender skirts mount and which way around they are fitted. It's really about capturing the details.
Restoration projects can take years and you will find parts you don't recall seeing before. A quick look through your photo library will refresh your memory. Don't take a wrench to a nut without photographing every part before and after its removal and documenting how it is stored. For example, when removing your brake drums, take a detailed picture of the entire backing plate with the shoes and all the springs and clips in place. Once removed, lay everything out on a newspaper and photograph all the parts. Wrap, bag, label and box everything up and put it away. This can save valuable time when putting the brakes back together.
Also take pictures throughout the entire rebuild. We find this to be one aspect that most restorations, amateur and professional, severely lack. If you think showing a "before" picture of the rust bucket you found and an "after" picture of a now presentable car is valuable proof of your work, you're highly mistaken. Without a photographic documentation of how you repaired the car, especially what's underneath the paint and carpet, its market value will be lower than similar vehicles that do. If you are going to take the time to restore a car properly, then take pictures every step of the way.
