Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Prompted by some well considered opinion relating to this subject on other threads, I thought it might be useful to pose these questions.

What do you think of "time-warp" vehicles that have had minimal intervention in their renovation. Do you find yourself willing the owner to "restore" them?

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

You have to complement some owners who dont have loads of money like I suppose a lot of us who spend enough to get the car on the road but dont have the funds to blast it and make it concours.
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The Clan Chieftain

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Larry, I'm with you all the way (one of you) Just posing the question as "Devil's Advocate"

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

The thing is Peter If I had the cash I dont think I would spend it on the estate because it would cost more to do than what the car is worth. Dont get me wrong I would love for the estate to be a minter but I am quite happy to have it running well and looking presentable like most owners I suppose. Its true what you say though. Many cars you see at shows you wish the owner would spend a few quid on it and make it look better. Some you see havent been touched for years.Years ago there used to be an old Morris JB ex Royal Mail that needed painting and I gave the guy a gallon of Masons Paint Post Office red undercoat and gloss. It was still the same 2 years later and I havent seen it since. Some owners just dont bother. To go back to your original question its restoration for me though I wouldnt think there is much difference between restoration and renovation.
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Inglewood · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject:

Perhaps the missing definition is 'arrested decay'where a car can be looked after without gross intervention.

I personally do not favour the 'Triggers broom' approach, though of course, on some vehicles, it is the only option to avoid losing the car to the rust maggots etc.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

I think that the difference is that for instance on paintwork, renovation or "arrested decay" is more likely to involve keeping the original paint and stopping it from getting worse.

A good restoration would see the car re-painted using the original application method, colour and type of paint.

I would argue that a restoration using modern paint in a non-original or gaudy colour could be technically good but for me would show a poor sense of restorative judgement.

Under my definition give me a renovated car over the second type of restoration any day.

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I like to see a bit of 'patina'.
To me an old car should have character,it should look old. I think the best ones are those that carry their age well and look used but well cared for.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

Peter_L · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject:

PAUL BEAUMONT · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

I guess, like so many things in life this is one of personal opinion. I have attempted both and I know which I prefer.
Unless you have very deep pockets and are prepared to spend vastly more than the vehicle is worth (in most cases) Restorations need to be a DIY project to a large part. This presumes that you have the skill, time and space to carry out the exercise. A dismantled vehicle consumes a vast amount of space.
A DIY project can drag on for years and in the end interest is lost - possibly along with the vehicle.
For folk entering our hobby I believe that we should encourage vehicle use and advocate renovation rather than restoration. If you look hard enough many models are represented in museums and the desire to view an immaculate mk1 Cortina say can thus be satisfied.
I enjoy working on my vehicles, but I get a much greater buzz from driving and showing them (to be fair I can't really be bothered to spend time polishing my modern!!) So I say make it safe and reasonably presentable and use it, and encourage others to do the same.
But there again, if chrome plating every thing in site and deploying mirrors in every nook and cranny is your thing well just dont let it force you to lock the thing away in a garage, afterall they are tools not works of art!!!! Wink

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

Renovation is my choice. Get it running, keep it running, then enjoy the car as you work on it. I find that there is something very reassuring about that process and I have also found that 'work in progress' cars get most
attention at shows.

Once originality has gone it is lost for ever. It's not that I don't admire a good restoration, I just feel more optimistic about a car that gets better with every work session on it.

How about the latest trend for re-manufactured cars? I mean cars reduced to component parts then rebuilt from scratch so that the old car merely feeds a parts bin. Although I recognise the commercial opportunity that these represent and the results are usually quite good, I do rather struggle with the concept.