Thoughts on over restored cars

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Adrian Rendle
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#31 Post by Adrian Rendle »

one of the restorations i most regret was a Citroen H van, which had a lovely patina of surface rust and French stickers etc all over it which i proceeded to bare metal, regretted it ever since, my next 2 bike restos will be mechanical only, they both have visual "character"......had to bare metal the T5 as it had a ton of bondo

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Greg Bryan
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#32 Post by Greg Bryan »

I'm goin' hafta split this thread to try and bring it back to the original theme ….
Motorcycle conversation is moved to the Off Topic forum
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C J Murray
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#33 Post by C J Murray »

Over restored cars are great, as long as they are then driven. However the person paying the bills gets to decide and there is a definite plus to protecting the most rare models. In the case of special cars it is sort of like a special horse being put to pasture with a high level of coddling and protection. The horse has done its work and proved its point and brought its master back safely. Special attention is a reward it has earned.
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Mervyn Hyde
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#34 Post by Mervyn Hyde »

I am in the camp of those who choose to preserve these old cars in a manner that shows their history and endurance. Not make them better than the factory ever did. Preservation of body, interior, effective rust protection and seeking mechanical restoration that ensures use, reliability and longevity. As a colleague says, “I like them a bit crusty “. I find over restored cars beautiful in a way that warrants admiration of some factory and private collections and static displays, particularly of rare cars, or cars that are beyond preservation and conservation.
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Paul Lima
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#35 Post by Paul Lima »

At least for now, this is a free country, and thus, to each, his own. I personally own my Roadster to drive regularly and maintain it it top "to be driven" form. That is my "own". Each of the rest of you can choose, too.

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Charles H Jacobus
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#36 Post by Charles H Jacobus »

When I had my 1960 S90 back in 1973 it was my daily driver and I watched the rust grow every day. That disturbed me and made me sad. Now, this '65C is not only rust free (and doesn't get driven in the rain/snow) but the bottom looks neat and clean like the top even though it was restored in 2003. It gives me great joy to see that perfection every time I get under it. And, Texas has pretty good weather so I get to drive it often- the best of both worlds!

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Ashley James
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#37 Post by Ashley James »

Preservation would be good if the car’s condition remained as it was and didn’t progressively deteriorate.

The reality is that you can only preserve a car in a partially worn state by doing the same thing as you you have to with a so called "over restored" car. Not use it, so both types are slave to their ideologies.

It is also true that the only way to enjoy an old car, possibly whose history you’re unaware of, is to have it in A1 condition both mechanically and rust/body wise and that means a total rebuild done properly. Most are not at all.

My approach is a total restoration to near as new/concours and then use it for touring, holidays etc and try and keep it in as good condition as possible.

My son’s business restores cars for the likes of Pebble Beach etc and he loves doing it to perfection. It provides enormous satisfaction and it gives him the opportunity to work on incredibly rare and expensive cars he’d otherwise not be able to afford. The owners love what they’re doing too and why not. I’d argue that this is a better idea than making outlaws or hot rods out of rare cars.

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Mervyn Hyde
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#38 Post by Mervyn Hyde »

True Ashley. I agree that this is not a dichotomy but a progressive (regressive?) sequence over decades. There are long period's in the life of a car where preservation and protection is possible and even desirable. There is also a tipping point where more needs to be done to save the car and make it useable and restoration may be the only choice. Restoration as a first response for cars still in good useable condition, is the area where personal choice and preference seems to operate.
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Charles H Jacobus
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#39 Post by Charles H Jacobus »

I have the '65 356C which was resotore in 2003, then preserved (never driven in rain or snow, kept inside covered, driven a reasonable number of miles / year and services done regularly) which I enjoy very much because it drives like a new 356 and looks like a work of art which I enjoy. It has 114,000 miles (20,000 of which came after restoration). I drive it as much as I want in good weather. That said though it is matching numbers, it was painted a different color in 2003 so it does have a concours flaw or two. It's not over-restored because if one looks carefully there are scratches in the chrome and trim pieces. Certainly it's not a perfect car but my guess is it's between a #1 and #2 especially given the status underneath the car. I drive it about 500 miles / year and do services every year.

I also have a '95 993 preservation with 41,000 miles and original paint with nearly no flaws. I enjoy driving it alot, but I feel I need to limit the mileage to keep the value up so I also drive that one only few hundred miles a year and do services annually.

That leaves me with the 993.1 last of the naturally aspirated cars which, of course is also preservation with 20,000 miles. That is not considered collectable yet and I love to drive it, so I drive that the most.

If I would get another one, I would get a driver 356C and / or a driver pre '71 911 with limited rust damage just for fun. That, of course would force me to build an environmentally controlled barn to park them in. :)

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Ashley James
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#40 Post by Ashley James »

What about this 1925 Austin 12 Tourer, the first to be sold by the then new NZ agent and now restored by a single individual to the company’s Motor Show standard. It’s not great to drive, but it is beautiful to look at, beautifully designed and built to a higher standard than R-R. The cars you bought were not far off this standard.

I think it’s wonderful.

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The owner has a crumbling spine and will soon be in a wheelchair, so this work was done while he was in great pain. At the moment he’s cleaning it for winter storage.

My point is that he’s enjoying his car in his way and that we should all do the same with one caveat. At the moment preserved patina is becoming and obsession, some companies even specialise in adding it, but we should never lose sight of the fact that these cars ought to outlast us and that we shouldn’t allow them to deteriorate to a point where they are uneconomical to restore.

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C J Murray
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars

#41 Post by C J Murray »

Ashley James wrote:we should never lose sight of the fact that these cars ought to outlast us and that we shouldn’t allow them to deteriorate to a point where they are uneconomical to restore.
I agree fully!
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion

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