It's always best to restore the existing tailgate, but if it's in too poor condition, consider replacing it entirely.
This new tailgate is identical to the original, so it also has the correct (pressed) shape above the handle, whereas later years no longer had this shape.
Before painting the tailgate in a given color, mount it first! You'd think this would make sense, but all too often this step is skipped, only to discover later that the bodywork has taken a beating and the tailgate doesn't fit properly. This may not be due to the new tailgate, which is similar to the original, but it may not be due to your old, bent tailgate.
Useful information from Paruzzi magazine and from our YouTube channel :
Look for more technical articles on the page Paruzzi Magazine