Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Should I maintain originality at all cost? |
Yes |
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12% |
[ 3 ] |
Make sympathetic/reversible changes |
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80% |
[ 20 ] |
Whatever... |
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8% |
[ 2 ] |
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Total Votes : 25 |
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Mello
Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Lower Normandy, France
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:46 pm Post subject: Originality...? |
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I've just bought a Ford Pop 103E which I generally want to keep original. However, two things that immediately spring to mind as cosmetic changes for the better would be
a) chrome bumpers and
b) a Webasto-type sunroof in place of the leaky fixed vinyl roof.
Is this sacriledge? Comments welcomed... |
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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At the end of the day it's your car to do with as you please. Personally I would keep it as original as possible but a few mods that can be reversed wouldn't be too bad _________________ ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:47 am Post subject: |
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I tend to agree with P2 in that keeping things fairly original is the way to go, but it's down to what you want from the car in the end. Did the upright Anglia have chrome bumpers? if so then they wouldn't look out of place on a Pop, plus there are plenty of original 103Es around. Personally I'd keep the 'normal' roof, rather than Webasto, but thats just me
My '32 Minor has a few deviations from original, fitted some time in the 50s or 60s - eg telescopic dampers at the rear, and a four speed box from a '33 or '34 Minor, but I've no plans to dump them in favour of 'correct' units anytime soon.
R _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
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Brian M
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 783 Location: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: |
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I have expressed my feelings on this topic before, but as my Amazon is used as a daily driver, I have and will continue to make modifications to make it more comfortable for everyday use.
Mine has some mild tuning to the engine, a leather interior from a more modern Volvo, improved lighting (LED bulbs in the rear and halogen headlamps), suspension mods to help with my towing and handling, Minilite wheels for a bit of bling, and this winter I am going to fit electric power assisted steering, and a webasto sunroof.
I know some think it is sacrilegious, but a lot of people admire the car - to each his own. _________________ Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk |
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Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Unless it is a very rare model or has a particular history then its your car to do as you please. There can be no thing as an original car and some are over restored to better than new but again that is your choice
The important thing is that is saved and is used - if it is to be regular driver then some safety mods are essential like clear indicators good brakes and radial tyres if available.
Enjoy it while you can - if you want a museum piece there are plenty already in museums.
It takes all sorts and there will always be someone to critisise, admire or ignore it _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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Brian M wrote: | and this winter I am going to fit electric power assisted steering, |
Interesting to see someone else getting an EPS fitted.
Are you planning to do that yourselves? Or getting a company to do it? Do you mind telling what company?
At the moment I am in the process of EPS-ing a Wolseley 6/110. The components come from a 2003 Corsa. |
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pigtin
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Brian M wrote: | I have expressed my feelings on this topic before, but as my Amazon is used as a daily driver, I have and will continue to make modifications to make it more comfortable for everyday use.
Mine has some mild tuning to the engine, a leather interior from a more modern Volvo, improved lighting (LED bulbs in the rear and halogen headlamps), suspension mods to help with my towing and handling, Minilite wheels for a bit of bling, and this winter I am going to fit electric power assisted steering, and a webasto sunroof.
I know some think it is sacrilegious, but a lot of people admire the car - to each his own. |
Many may shudder at the thought of power steering fitted to an old car. But so many of my friends have had to give up much loved cars because the non-assisted steering becomes too much for them as they get older.
As for making non-cosmetic changes reversible... Except in the case of very rare cars what are the chances of anyone, these days, wanting to change back to the original?
I am still wasting space keeping the original engine and gearbox of my 32 Austin 10/4. For what? I ask myself. The slightly later engine and gearbox fitted in the car at the moment was kept from the sixties by a friend of mine for the same reason. At eightyfive years old he decided he was unlikely to to remove the 'A' series engine he had fitted, in favour of a 1934 engine. So he sold it to me. _________________ Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:41 am Post subject: |
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But not all car enthusiasts are in their 80s. When your 10/4 passes on to some new young enthusiast I'm sure the original engine will be a very big plus. I'm not in the first flush of youth but I would love to have the original engine for my car.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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pigtin
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:04 am Post subject: |
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I see your point Peter and admire your optimism but, except for very rare instances, I don't think it's going to happen. How many people do you know , of a younger generation, who would have the skills or patience to modify a car back to its original spec? Our little group of enthusiast all have pre-war cars in our garages, mostly Austin sevens and these days hardly ever used. Road conditions make each trip in such cars a nightmare. Admittedly, we live in a very congested area and things are probably much better in your neck of the woods. My heavily modified special is just about useable, but potholes in the road make it very uncomfortable.
Everyone will have their own idea's about this subject. If you had asked me thirty years ago I would have been emphatically in favour of originality at any cost. But I worry that these days, for many small thirties cars, returning them to their original condition would be condemning them to a museum. _________________ Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL |
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Richard H
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:37 am Post subject: |
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The only modifications I've made to my A35 are fitting wing mirrors and seatbelts. Apart from that it's exactly as Dick Burzi designed her.
When I first got out of my driving school car (a 2007 Vauxhall Corsa diesel) into an A35 I was shocked at how different it was. The steering was so heavy I thought there was something wrong with it. Likewise with the pressure required on the brake pedal to even slow the car gently. However, after a couple of days driving her I got completely used to the brakes, steering, bouncy suspension and awkward gearchange and now it's just second nature.
At 18, I suppose I am young enough to be a 'young enthusiast' and yes Pigtin you are right, most of my generation would leave well alone if the car was working properly. But what if you had a terminal problem with the engine or gearbox? At least if you had the originals sitting under the bench you could have the car back on the road very soon!
Unfortunately the original engine for my A35 project was made into a plant pot in 1996! _________________ Richard Hughes |
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pigtin
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Bin there done that.
_________________ Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL |
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Richard H
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Unfortunately when we moved house the engine, complete with dead flowers in the cylinder bores was carted off to the local tip! _________________ Richard Hughes |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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I've still got the original engine block for my '57 Standard 10, it came with the car when I bought it yet the new owner didn't want it when I sold. Do I just chuck it? try selling it (condition unknown), or leave it tucked behind the garage for no real reason other than I don't like things being scrapped??? If it had a nice script on the side, I suppose it would look nice as a garden ornament (where's that thread on yard art?) as with pigtin's motor.
R _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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But back to originality, what grates with me is inappropriate parts fitted to oldies, where it is possible to source correct period (or period-looking) items with just a bit more effort. I was looking at a 50s MG sports the other week, very nice car, but it had rear lamps from a trailer board fitted on the back. Looked terrible. If larger lights were really needed, couldn't something a little more in-keeping be found quite easily? Earlier this year I followed a 50s Bentley on wedding duty which had Jag Mk10 rear lamps screwed to the back wings, ugh. Modern flashing indicators, usually off a Jap motorbike or similar, are another bugbear
R _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: | what grates with me is inappropriate parts fitted to oldies, where it is possible to source correct period (or period-looking) items with just a bit more effort.
R |
Couldn't agree more. Ignition coils, plug caps and leads, extra lights, alternators. YUCK!
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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