Classic cars are a blast to restore, drive and show off - in that order - but unless you plan to hire a restoration company, there are many phases to go through before your vehicle is ready for the road. Rebuilding the engine, while complicated, is fairly straightforward - parts manuals are available from a car dealer and on the Internet. Interior and body work, with their color and material specifications, however, can be more difficult. Here is a list of potential problem areas in the interior and body of your classic car:

Interior

Colors and Textures: Upholstery, carpeting and even the material of the dashboard must all be matched. Your best course of action to make sure everything is from the same dye-lot is to purchase everything from the same supplier and examine each piece side-by-side before you pay for them. Even the slightest variation will be noticeable.

Upholstery: Re-upholstering the seats of a vintage vehicle can often be one of the most contentious parts of a restoration. Anticipate spending six to eight hours per seat to get the material to fit smoothly, and look original. Also, consider vinyl rather than leather, as vinyl can be machine-shrunk for a closer fit. If you choose to turn this aspect of restoration over to a professional - and you should - be sure you see actual examples - not just photographs - of their work before you commit to using them.

Carpeting: While it may be tempting to match the existing carpet, if any, and only patch the worst parts, for a truly authentic look, you'll want to replace all of the carpeting in the car. This isn't a complicated job, as long as you have the proper tools.

Instrument Panel: The dashboard and instrument gauges can be tricky because they involve numerous wires that must be connected in exactly the right order. As with body parts, there are dealers who sell the faceplates for gauges, and there are also professionals who can do the electrical work if you don't feel qualified.

Body

Color and Texture: The trick with color is to match the paint, which may mean going to a specialty automotive supplier. Alternatively, you can repaint the entire vehicle in a color that is authentic looking, if not actually vintage.

Fenders, Running Boards, and Trim: Again, as long as you do your research first, there are any number of dealers, online and in trade magazines, that sell salvaged, restored parts, down to the chrome trim. You may have to refinish some of these parts, however.

Wheels and Tires: Check with salvage yards, as well as with online dealers to find matches for the wheels and wheel covers for your particular car.

These are not the only parts of a classic car where you have to be extremely careful about color and style matching, but these are the parts that capture attention at shows. If your car looks authentic inside and out, you'll have a far greater chance of any awards that may be given, but even if your restoration is for your personal enjoyment, paying close attention to these trouble spots will give you the satisfaction of a job well done.