Restorations

tc · Guru

Restorations

rabbit64cs · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

If by average restoration, you mean the hobbist that does this in his spare evenings and weekends, spends far more than he budgeted for to get it right.

I'd say MAYBE , that we are not over restoring them as a whole, Paint finish. base/ clear and color sanded and polished is OVER RESTORED. but looks great. I know I've spent more hours aligning panels than is sane.

as far as having date coded spark plug wires and hose clamps, personally I'm not about that.

I'm more towards the DAY 2 cars, what we did to them the day after they came home from the dealership !! Torq Thrusts and big tires , thrush mufflers.....

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

tc wrote:

Do you think the average restoration preformed on cars these days puts the car into the classification of OVER RESTORED [fit,finish,detail, etc.]

         This is a "loaded question" lol
Barrett-Jackson talks about 100,000.00 cars being a "driver"

Its a matter of personel taste.. I like a car that "looks" original..

I like upgraded safety features, like disc brakes, but w/o the calipers painted red or orange lol
I have to remind you, that most people at car shows or cruises, dont' know what is correct!   and those that did, are dead.. lol

Matching numbers are ok if you have them, but I have seen "matching numbered" cars (advertised) with braded hoses, aftermarket name brand valve covers, and air cleaner, and multicoolered wires, and Motormaster batteries, and Turbo laser tires and so on....
   I like the car to look factory..   wheels are personel taste as well and can be removed etc
Car guys who spend thousands to have "every number match" are a rare breed...

They never notice, that most people are unimpressed with alternators, that have the coreect date inside them. lol

My only peeve with the car hobby is attitude!   The criuse night lawyer, who spent 50,000 in a 20,000 car and roll thier eyes, at my old 20 foot driver, or the ones who can't believe my car is not a L72 all original car ....

I like the attitude of "most" of the Cdn Poncho members.....

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Since this is posted under "Purist" my answer is Yes.

In discussions with an appraiser, who just happened to work for Chrysler in the 60's, he says the cars he sees are 10 times better in paint, fit and finish and overall quality than what the factory ever produced. He says most Hemis would rarely run off the car loader, could take days to get them right so they could be delivered. This makes it very hard for him to accurately appraise them because they are not like the "originals". He recounts many a displeased customer who spent $90,000 "restoring" the car, only for him to appraise it at $20,000.

1965CS · Guru

I still say, to each their own. IE, if it is 100% original, great! If not, great! Restoration should be up to the individual to do what they want and how, and within their budget. That's what I did and I think it turned out fine... just my opinion.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

"Restoration" is a loosely used term, and appears to mean various things to various people. So, an average restoration is even more wide open to interpretation.

However, I think I know what you're referring to. Even if it's not a "Frame Off" restoration, the work done is often superior to what the factory produced. The work is all hand done, not mass produced as in the factory. A buddy is doing some frame off resto's of early 50's Buicks, the result is a hand built car, with paint and finish 100% better than when they rolled off the assembly line.

-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Monday 11th of January 2010 01:15:44 PM

68 327 4spd · Poncho Master!

1965CS wrote:

I still say, to each their own. IE, if it is 100% original, great! If not, great! Restoration should be up to the individual to do what they want and how, and within their budget. That's what I did and I think it turned out fine... just my opinion.

numbers matching is neat,but we all cant or dont want to do it that way and anybody that turns their nose up at you for doing it the way you want and not original has forgot that its your car not theirs and atleast you saved a car and not crushed it.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

68 327 4spd wrote:

1965CS wrote:

I still say, to each their own. IE, if it is 100% original, great! If not, great! Restoration should be up to the individual to do what they want and how, and within their budget. That's what I did and I think it turned out fine... just my opinion.
numbers matching is neat,but we all cant or dont want to do it that way and anybody that turns their nose up at you for doing it the way you want and not original has forgot that its your car not theirs and atleast you saved a car and not crushed it.

at least you saved a car and not crushed it. Good answer Brian! any older car still running is a good old car and our History..

59poncho · Poncho Master!

I respect a person who wants to put the money and time into a #s matching car if thats their thing, but you also have to repect the guy who just keeps it on the road, good paint, bad paint, no matter what, its their car and what they like. Ive had people tell me that "its a shame" to have a rare car and spraypaint it!! They also dont realize i do this in my spare time with very little or no money at all and i dont have a clue what im doing... but like Brian said, its not in the crusher. Its only thanks to you guys that the car is on the road!!

RDubya · Poncho Master!

59poncho wrote:

I respect a person who wants to put the money and time into a #s matching car if thats their thing, but you also have to repect the guy who just keeps it on the road, good paint, bad paint, no matter what, its their car and what they like. Ive had people tell me that "its a shame" to have a rare car and spraypaint it!! They also dont realize i do this in my spare time with very little or no money at all and i dont have a clue what im doing... but like Brian said, its not in the crusher. Its only thanks to you guys that the car is on the road!!

Same here, not a lot of money but love my car and am doing my best to keep it going, learning along the way and having fun. Maybe when i get that vault of money then i'll get a car to do up "right".

87 player bird · Poncho Master!

To each their own. I personaly like them to be as close to factory as possible. But you have to realize that over the years distributers, plugs wires, filters, etc have to be replaced. Mags, exhaust, dont hurt the car in my opinion. Boom radios with I-pod docking does. It's your car though, so do whatever makes you happy, and to hell with whoever picks it apart! Ask to see their car. They probably don't have one.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

These are good healthy responces biggrin

I like the appreciation, and respect for each other, at whatever level we can be.... I like all cars, from rat rods to trailer Queens...as do many of us...

rabbit64cs · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

reading through this reminds me of a kinda funny story , ( to me )

I had just finished putting my 62 Parisenne together and on the road,, I had put old Cragar Protech mags on it with Pontiac Aster' arrowhead center caps. anyways, the rims stuck out a little more than I liked , but I hadn't changed the offset yet....

this 'purist' stopped beside me at a red light starts swearing at me through his open window that I'm wrecking a classic car , look at the stupid wheels ...jacked up ..blah..blah...blah..

I smiled and drove away..OH , I may have called him dickhead in a 80's POS....

point is,, each to their own.

-- Edited by rabbit64cs on Monday 11th of January 2010 09:33:59 PM

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Owner should do what he or she wants with the car. I suppose numbers matching parts, factory style chalk marks and show quality paint are important if you are an investor, or if that is what you like. To each his own.

For me, I do not like my cars to be so perfect that I would not drive them. And I like to add safety and performance items like disc brakes, rear sway bar, halogen lights, etc. But I would have done years ago had I owned the same cars. It's all about personal taste. If you own it you get to decide.

69-Tin Indian · Guru

I agree with Carl 427 and his comment about the cruise night lawyers out there. Whenever I get accosted by one of these (put your own adjective here guys!) I always say to them; "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The thing is? I don't want to hear YOURS!" and walk away. I'd far rather spend time with my dog than talk to those types.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

right on!

Stephenzone · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

69-Tin Indian wrote:

I agree with Carl 427 and his comment about the cruise night lawyers out there. Whenever I get accosted by one of these (put your own adjective here guys!) I always say to them; "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The thing is? I don't want to hear YOURS!" and walk away. I'd far rather spend time with my dog than talk to those types.

i'll be using this one.

1965CS · Guru

69-Tin Indian wrote:

I agree with Carl 427 and his comment about the cruise night lawyers out there. Whenever I get accosted by one of these (put your own adjective here guys!) I always say to them; "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The thing is? I don't want to hear YOURS!" and walk away. I'd far rather spend time with my dog than talk to those types.

I am likely naive, but when you say "cruise night lawyers", are these the same people that know more about your car than you do???. . .
...the people that say things like, "those aren't the right (whatever) for that year, I know cause I had one of those cars.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

1965CS wrote:

69-Tin Indian wrote:

I agree with Carl 427 and his comment about the cruise night lawyers out there. Whenever I get accosted by one of these (put your own adjective here guys!) I always say to them; "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The thing is? I don't want to hear YOURS!" and walk away. I'd far rather spend time with my dog than talk to those types.

I am likely naive, but when you say "cruise night lawyers", are these the same people that know more about your car than you do???. . .
...the people that say things like, "those aren't the right (whatever) for that year, I know cause I had one of those cars.

yes! thats them! you have met them biggrin

cruise night experts! lawyers! smart alecs!

69-Tin Indian · Guru

My adjective for them is "Nosepickers"! Just seems to fit aptly. And of course that's just MY opinion. Read my former posting here on opinions. LOL!

Turn2Stone · Poncho Master!

My opinion is that they cant be over restored with a market full of people who want 6 figure cars, if that is the motivation of the restorer. But since the topic is purist, there can be only one level of restoration....original. When it comes to commenting face to face about another mans car, I could only comment in a way that would be appropriate had I been talking about his wife. For me, it boils down to respect, and for some, their car is an extension of themselves and their expression. If I showed up at your house, it wouldnt matter if your wife was in daisy dukes or a moo-moo, to each his own. Although I dont take ANY comments too seriously about my car, I can fully understand why someone would. When someone points out an issue with my car, I assume that they are likely correct, as I dont have a lot of car knowledge. (this resto is filling that void fast). This site has many experts and I have way more respect for someone who has been doing it forever and hasnt had clean hands since high school, than a 'cruise night lawyer'.

I've decided that I'm not qualified to comment here. Cant delete, so disregard.

-- Edited by Turn2Stone on Wednesday 3rd of February 2010 11:38:29 AM

69-Tin Indian · Guru

Don't ever feel you're not qualified our friend. In this category it's to each his own so nobody really has an absolute right or wrong answer because it's all opinion. You expressed your opinion and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. Certainly not to the point it should be disregarded I'd say. I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say we all appreciate what people have to say on any topic on this website. Yes, sometimes things do have to be deleted or Todd has to decide when someone has crossed the line, but all in all, a great bunch of guys with all kinds of opinions is what it's all about. So make sure you keep posting your thoughts pally.

RDubya · Poncho Master!

I don't really have to worry about the cruise in lawyers when i comes to my car. It really comes in under their radar. Of course it isn't in the best shape...yet. What i do get a kick out of is the little kids who don't see that it's not all finished but still think it looks cool.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I can't wait till this summer. Cruise nights will be new to me actually having a survivor car in it, and I really look forward to it. We'll see how long it takes for a CNL to point out that my 67 327 275 shouldn't have the "Astro Flash 327" breather decal, but should have the "correct" 327 valve cover decals instead. I'll be a good sport.