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Just What is Restoration? |
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In the strictest sense, restoration is returning the car to a previous form. Most restoration groups believe that unless the car is restored to some historical significant form and event, such as the 1963 Grand Sports or some race cars, the car should be restored to the way it left the factory. This means exactly the way it left the factory. It cannot be considered original if it was never that to begin with.
Restorations, Inflation, and InvestmentsCar restorations have been going on for many years. It is not a new fad, and yet it is, since suddenly it is in vogue to restore a car, Part of this was the appreciation of the value of the restored car compared to the appreciation of your money in the bank. Due to inflation eating a person's savings in the bank, many invested in cars as the selling price could be adjusted to compensate for the rise in inflation.
Most antique car restorers by this time were concentrating on great detail in restoring cars, as to not just correct in appearance, but correct in parts, such as the original bolts with the original head patterns, original upholstery, and so on. The car was virtually in like new" condition, still having factory stencils and chalk marks intact on the frame. Much of the restoration of the chassis was thorough cleaning to preserve the original items, where most attempting restoration on a 10 year old or older car usually finds 10 years' worth of rust, dirt, and gunk from daily driving. This sets a standard that the better than factory show appearance given many vehicles was not the appropriate manner to restore one, but to give detail to factory markings, factory imperfections, and make it appear the way the factory built it.
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