Thoughts on over restored cars
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Thoughts on over restored cars
I've been putting in long hours getting the factory undercoating off the bottom of my 64. Now that I'm down to bare metal, I'm having a hard time with the idea of recoating it all with undercoating again. What's the consensus of fully finished cars in black and body colored paint rather than undercoat? I understand that the car would lose points if it's judged.
- Adam Wright
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Personally, I'm sick of over-restored cars. I went back and forth with my painter recently, he wanted to do base coat/clear coat. I said no, single stage. I didn't want it super shiny like a new Toyota. I was happy with the result, he probably still thinks I'm crazy.
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Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Bruce Smith
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
I'm with you Adam. I'm building a Beck Spyder with a 356C motor. I didn't want base coat / clear coat so painted it single stage Stone Grey with Polyantha Red spears (both '50s Porsche colors). Wheels are 16x3.5 with 5.00-16 Firestones and tubes.
Bruce Smith
- Ron LaDow
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
When they came off the line, Hans and Fritz rarely got one wrong (hence the rep), but occasionally got one really, really RIGHT. And concours judging means deducting points for 'non-original' or dirty stuff, so spending the extra money/effort is never a negative if you're showing the car.
But I agree and admit to attending fewer events as a result of "resale red" overload; there are very few survivor originals left, so we get what the judging rewards.
But I agree and admit to attending fewer events as a result of "resale red" overload; there are very few survivor originals left, so we get what the judging rewards.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
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- George Hussey
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
I think it best to restore the car to exactly as it was when issued by the factory, but use the best materials (such as base coat clear coat). ONE day the car will be resold and your heirs will regret the fact that you modified it, and the car is worth tens of thousands less that it would have been if in factory dress.
As a 36 year old punk I was driving my 61 roadster and my 84 cab, both guards red while restoring my 60 roadster. I had the foresight to paint it the original Aetna blue, but could not stand the red interior (thinking girls would deign me as driving a clown car) so changed the interior to black. While I was at it, I sold the original 1600 normal matching numbers engine and installed a 912. Those two moves have probably cost my heirs 20 grand as well as gettin the po po from the concours judges!!
As a 36 year old punk I was driving my 61 roadster and my 84 cab, both guards red while restoring my 60 roadster. I had the foresight to paint it the original Aetna blue, but could not stand the red interior (thinking girls would deign me as driving a clown car) so changed the interior to black. While I was at it, I sold the original 1600 normal matching numbers engine and installed a 912. Those two moves have probably cost my heirs 20 grand as well as gettin the po po from the concours judges!!
George Hussey
- Jules Dielen
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
nice living room George , i wonder what your garage looks like!
Jules
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
- Adam Wright
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
My thought with my car was it's not matching numbers and still has the wonky flat floors, so a color change isn't really going to affect the value. Also, it's my car, not my descendants, and I'm going to drive what I want.
These cars should not be seen as investments.
My rule is never to have a dog or a car you're afraid of, I know too many guys who have had a 356 for decades and decide to restore it and are then afraid to drive it, a car they drove cross country in tornado's without a care in the world, are now afraid to take it to a cars and coffee because it might rain. They are not art, they are cars, drive them, or sell them to someone who will.
These cars should not be seen as investments.
My rule is never to have a dog or a car you're afraid of, I know too many guys who have had a 356 for decades and decide to restore it and are then afraid to drive it, a car they drove cross country in tornado's without a care in the world, are now afraid to take it to a cars and coffee because it might rain. They are not art, they are cars, drive them, or sell them to someone who will.
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Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Mike Wilson
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Seems to me there has been a previous thread on the topic of the degree of restoration vs. preservation, etc. It all boils down to personal preference and desired outcome. A lot of people have daily drivers and as such, aren't afraid to drive them. Others enjoy the process of restoration and try to achieve perfection, sometimes well-exceeding factory original condition. And yes, there are people that look at a car as an investment even if a car is bought, restored and then sold at a profit.
When I restored my car, I wanted it to have as many original parts as possible and had it painted with single stage paint. It is not numbers-matching, the interior is not factory-correct and even the paint, slate gray, is a bit darker than it should be but, I wanted the best restoration I could afford, not looking at resale value but what I personally wanted.
Mike
When I restored my car, I wanted it to have as many original parts as possible and had it painted with single stage paint. It is not numbers-matching, the interior is not factory-correct and even the paint, slate gray, is a bit darker than it should be but, I wanted the best restoration I could afford, not looking at resale value but what I personally wanted.
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Jon Schmid
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Hi Dave, I would undercoat the car and not just for the sake of originality. As for over restoring cars, my dad restored his (now my) '60 Roadster in 1990 and went with the single stage Glasurit paint when he changed the color from a gawd awful silver metallic color back to its original ivory. The paint is still in great shape. As for my '64 coupe, it has gawd awful silver metallic paint but it was a special order by the OO so when (if?) I get around to restoring it my challenge will be finding a "klose" enough color match.
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
I would undercoat simply because it help protect the bottom of the car and cuts down on road noise.
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
The plan for the car is correct color single stage respray and correct color interior although upgraded to leather. It's a matching numbers car and relatively unmolested. My plan was to undercoat the floors and rockers but body color the wheel wells and space under the tank. I just really prefer the look.
- John Hawkins
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Dave,
If you drive the car at all, you should consider at least undercoating under the fenders to prevent gravel from dinging the fenders and causing star cracks in the paint.
If you drive the car at all, you should consider at least undercoating under the fenders to prevent gravel from dinging the fenders and causing star cracks in the paint.
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
I've restored several cars and I've had great luck with a rubberized undercoating under the highbuild then paint. It allows some flex and reduces stone chips. I really like the look of a detailed car and rather dislike the thought of undercoating visible parts of the car like wheel wells. I planned on undercoating the floors.John Hawkins wrote:Dave,
If you drive the car at all, you should consider at least undercoating under the fenders to prevent gravel from dinging the fenders and causing star cracks in the paint.
Here's my 63 rag roof beetle that I painted in 2015 at a show last summer. 3000 miles on the car so far.
- Bill Lawless
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Sandblasted the underside, engine compartment, front trunk, 2 coats of POR15, 1 heavy coat of Wurth Stoneguard
I think it came out good...
I think it came out good...
Thanks,
Bill
65' 356 SC Cab Irish Green
82' SC Targa
81 VW Westfalia with 2015 Forester Engine
BMW 64'-R50/2, 75'-BMW R90/6, 74' BMW R90/6, Yamaha BW350
Bill
65' 356 SC Cab Irish Green
82' SC Targa
81 VW Westfalia with 2015 Forester Engine
BMW 64'-R50/2, 75'-BMW R90/6, 74' BMW R90/6, Yamaha BW350
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Re: Thoughts on over restored cars
Wow! Looks great!!Bill Lawless wrote:Sandblasted the underside, engine compartment, front trunk, 2 coats of POR15, 1 heavy coat of Wurth Stoneguard
I think it came out good...