Restoration
Before you can restore your car you need to decide how to restore your car and define what a restored car is in your mind. In my opinion this is where most restorations go wrong. Before the first wrench is laid against your vehicle both you and the restorer should be on the same page as to what you expect and how the costs are figured out.
The words, "I have a restored car" seem to mean many things to many people. In truth there are really just two types of restorations, a "Full" or "Frame Off" restoration or a "Partial" restoration. For most people and for many vehicles the partial restoration is what is wanted and is what happens even if the vehicle is later said to have a "Full" restoration. What is the difference between the two? It's quite simple really and pretty straight forward.
Let's start with a full or frame off restoration. this is the ultimate restoration but even here there are decisions to make. Do you want to show this car on the top concurs fields in the world to win that coveted 100 point best of show trophy? If so figure you are going to spend a minimal additional 30% over the cost of a full restoration. Or perhaps you just want what is called a driven car, a car that is stunningly prepared and is a head turner where ever you go but is not quite up to that 100 point show stopper. Less expensive and you get to drive it right away, a true 100 point car doing the show circuit will spend a year on the trailer with groomers and handlers presenting the car at the various venues to win that ultimate prize. even the driven class of car has it's decisions to make; OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture, or exactly as it looked as it left the show room) Modern pretty (finished better than it probably originally was, better paint etc) or Custom (electronic ignition, leather instead of vinyl, better lights, sound system, non-factory colors)
A full frame off restoration is exactly that, every part that can be removed from the vehicle without using a cutting torch is taken off. Each and every mechanical, electrical and hydraulic system is completely gone through and rebuilt/replaced. Each stitch of cloth, leather, vinyl, wood or canvas is replaced or refurbished. All of your instruments are rebuilt and typically the mileage is set to zero on the odometer as in many ways you have a new car and mileage is now referred to from when it was restored. This is the true description of a "Full" restoration. Unfortunately for many people who have just bought a "Fully Restored" vehicle they discover they actually bought the much more common restoration, a Partial restoration.
A Partial restoration is exactly that, something was not done. Perhaps the engine was fine so it was not rebuilt, perhaps the body was not lifted off the frame, many times it is the electrical systems that were not redone. Whatever it was by not doing it it is now a partial restoration and that is were most restorations are.
Usually a vehicle is restored because for some reason or another the vehicle is no longer usable for the owner or just does not bring the same joy when driving. For instance, your doors will no longer stay closed on your MG TD. Usually means the wood is bad, which means that the whole car comes apart to replace the wood so now you have to paint it and since the interior is out anyway.... But, and a big but here, the engine runs great so it gets cleaned up, perhaps some fresh paint and now even though this car looks fantastic, a good bit of money was spent and it runs as well as it ever did it is not truly restored. See the difference? But while it may cost $60,000 to completely rebuild and restore every little thing on that NG TD it may only cost $27000 to do the interior, wood and paint and when done the car may continue on for many years before the major mechanicals need to be dealt with.
So you see before you can even think of restoring your car you need to sit down with your restorer and lay out an outline of what you hope to accomplish and then let them spend some of your money and their time and get a real evaluation of what it will take to put your vehicle back on the road. It may be better or worse than you imagine. Given that all restorations usually have more surprises waiting in store for both the restorer and the owner try to get a handle on them before you start. As Cassandra found out when she opened Pandora's box, you can not put it back!
As to the all important question of what is it going to cost.... You restore can give you a ball park based on doing previous like vehicles but each and every restoration is it's own work of art, with it's own problems and foibles. An honest restorer will answer that cost equals time and material