Maintenance vs Restoration in the old car business
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ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Time will take all sooner or later. The odds are and have never been in the favor of forever. I'm not going to sit on dry rotten and torn up seats. That is if I have the cash to repair/replace. Even the stuff in the Smithsonian looks like time is taking a toll. If it was an antique aircraft, would you feel comfortable with a worn out propeller. Good luck.
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All cars need maintenance, but not all need restoring. An unrestored car is one that is still basically in "original" if worn condition. To say something is "not original" because it has had a new clutch and the transmission rebuilt is a bit silly. There are too many "nit-pickers" out there!1
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I've known of several "original" cars over the years - and the one thing that stands out in my mind is the owners were happily driving them and enjoying them. Not only that but a car like that can unlock a lot of mysteries as to what was what when it was built.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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You take a Hudson, in a good state of maintenance, down the road at 70 to 90 mph. Just messing with people who travel alongside looking at the car.
Give it a little gas and move up the speed until they get uncomfortable going that fast.
A lot of them will follow you when you get off at an exit or gas station and be astounded at what the car is and what it was in it's day.
You'll do more good at continuing the history of the company by doing that, than a pristine, restored Hudson sitting in a museum.
Plus it's a ball to do it.
Get out, make friends and talk yourself out of a ticket.0 -
take a restored beauty to a cruise night, people FLOCK to them as all they usually get it is a steady diet of Frauds & Chevvies0
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I guess I'm one of the picky ones.
I was always taught that "restored" means to return to original condition.
There are many terms that can be used to describe the condition of a vehicle.
If it is all original then it is a survivor, it may have had a part replaced but it was replaced with an as original part.
Most cars at auction are now restored to a better than new condition. They lack the factory overspray on the chassis, or the grease pencil marks, better panel fit...etc But these are becoming acceptable.
What bugs me is seeing someone throw a Macco paint job on a classic and call it restored. Running radial tires on a vehicle when they weren't even produced.
Call them what they are!
Restored
Rebuilt
Survivor
Driver
Restomod...which is where most are going.
Modified
But if you call it restored then it should be returned to original condition using factory designed or reproduced parts.
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I think the greatest compliment I got when I had my 1929 Hudson 7 passenger sedan was "Wow, you are so lucky to have such an original car". This was rebuilt after doing over a million miles as a Service car. My intention was to have it as it came from the factory, including broadcloth upholstery and nitrocellulose lacquer. And the present owner still gets the same comment, forty years after I rebuilt it.The only exception I make for the cars I rebuild these days is to fit indicators, for safety reasons. Modern drivers think if you had is out the window you are drying your nail polish.0
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Geoff
Now that's funny!
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As you can see there are many comments and everyone seems to have their own special ideas. I have been down the High Point restoration trail and had some success with the judging teams. I have also had hot rods, resto-rods, and about every other type of definition of a finished car project. At this point in my life, cars that I will now build, will be to drive. I like the term "Drive it like you stole it!!"
I have a very nice restoration in my shop. I trailer it to shows, and would not consider taking it out on a tour. It is just one big expensive toy. My daily driver is a car that Essex never built (28 Essex Roadster Pick up). I drive it in rain and snow and enjoy the crap out of it.
You have to decide what you want. And then you need to be true to your decision. By the way Bill, I paint my own cars and always have. I use the local Maaco shop to do it because the owner is a good friend. Three of my cars have been 100 point judged cars... It is not where you paint it but it is more important who paints it.
Just some of my thoughts...0 -
Don't misunderstand what I said.
I don't and probably never will own a restored classic.
Everything I build is a driver.
I started my Fuel Injection conversion company to help keep the classics on the road and out of the garage and off the trailer!
I love survivors and restorations, I just wouldn't own one.
The Macco comment was just a general term. I could have used Earl Scheibs. Look in any craigslist or for-sale ad and you will find someone that states..."Just restored". then you look and it has a set of chrome or aluminum wheels and a disc brake conversion and a 350 chevy in it. Now maybe a Stude came from the factory with a SBC but a Hudson or Merc or Ford never did.
But it was just painted.
It's the proper use of the term not the car itself.
I also do my own mechanical, body and paint.
About the only thing I don't do for lack of tools is the engine machine work. But I'm working to solve that some day.
Why pay someone for something you can do yourself?
Buy the tool and learn to use it.
The definition was given by the original poster. Not much gray area there for me.
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Hmmm. first off to do all this crap you have to have a garage right.. And if your lucky and have the geetus you got a lift. Oh yeah you gotta know something about cars, plus tools up the wazoo. I did all my work under a tent in the backyard. Bought the car from Bill A in 2007. When the basket case showed up on the trailer I said, "What the hell are you doing buying a car, you don't know anything about what to do with it"
Thats not exactly what I said, but you get the drift.....(in the ground)
Thats when I was 72 yrs. Fortunately I knew a Buddy that was proficient in restoring. Said its got to stop before it can run. From there he showed me what to do, and guided me through brakes, rear end, radiator, fuel tank, etc. One thing I did know how to do was body work. I didn't have a paint booth in the garage that I didn't have, so now a Maaco Paint job, and a credit card. Didn't know how to overhaul and engine, and a credit card. Didn't know how to upholstery and a credit card. Tools, some but leave the important things to people that know what they are doing. I learned as I went along. Now i could paint the car if I had a booth., Now I could overhaul and engine, cause I have learned from a Buddy. Learned a lot that I never knew before, and could still tackle another one. Credit Card is now "0", and plan to keep it that way, although a new Borg Warner Trans overhaul just came up. But it's constant this, and constant that. It's driven twice a week for71/2 yrs. Even bought a used Carb from Al in Tucson, got a kit, and am ready to put it on by myself. Am I a Purist? Well not really, cause I have a 6 volt Alt instead of a gen.
Electronic ign instead of points. Optima instead of wet cell.
Why did I buy a Hudson. lets see...Got my drivers license in a 46 Hudson 4door. In 1948 a Buddy and me used to cruise the main drag in a 48 Commodore8 4 door, scoping out chicks. Owned a 51 hornet brand new when I was in the Army in 52-53. Owned a 53 used vert Hornet in 56. Bought a 1957 Hornet Hollywood new. 3 kids later had to downsize to a Rambler.
I love survivors and restorations. If I was rich, I'd have a good size garage full. Only seven though. Monday car, Tues car, etc...
Your only as old as your outlook. The Hudson keeps me at 72.
I hope I didn't get to far off topic on why we try to restore and old metal hulk, that blows up your hat size when you get oohs and aahs at a car show....
Dave N
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Into my third "restoration" that includes "modernization" to enhance "reliability". Just purchased the fourth (impulse and I have an engine that needs a home), will eventually (if I live that long) be a "modernized-resto-not -all-original.
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Hudson Grandapa, I have a good Borg Warner automatic sitting in my shed, taking up space. It is yours for a reasonable offer. The only reason I am not using it is that the replacement 308 came with a good Hydramatic. I am in Ontario, NY not far from Jim Spencer.
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Unless I missed it, no one mentioned "conserve" as in "conservation." In the museum biz, where I worked, a restoration was to return an object to its original condition but perhaps using new materials where necessary. Conservation is the process of keeping an object completely original through minimal repair and trying not to replace old parts with new. More along the line suggested by Geoff above.
As I like to drive my cars, I try to restore as much as possible to original specifications, but I will add modifications that improve safety and/or performance, such as putting the high speed rear end gears in my '36T so I can drive at 65 MPH on the freeway, using a 6v positive ground alternator so I can have halogen lights so I can see and be seen. I even added AC to my 50C6 so I could get my wife to go with on trips!
I won't get judged in a classic car show, but my cars are drivers. And Geoff, if you use hand signals where I live you will get shot at for flashing a gang sign. I don't think that young people know what hand signals are.
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When I give right turn signal people think I'm giving them the finger
L-).0 -
Good point, Richard. Here in the South we use the term, "Preservation", but essentially it is what you are describing, but without using any newer materials. This is a more modern practice as our classics get older, it has come to everyone's attention that "they're only original once" and a more concentrated effort is made to keep a good original that way.I've enjoyed everyone's comments thus far, threads like this are always fun to get different perspectives. I have a unique opportunity to get perspective in my own corral concerning Hudson's. I have two Step-downs, both '52 Hornets. They were made a little more than a month apart at the factory. Other than their physical appearance now, the two cars could not have had more of a 180-degree different paths in this world. The sedan was originally purchased for the wife by a doctor. The wife didn't like the car, but the husband did, so he kept the Hornet and bought her something else. The Hornet became the twice-a-month country club ride. After 15 years, it had a little over 2,000 miles on it. Always garaged, always well-maintained and loved. Likewise by the subsequent owner. More of the same from me for the last 10 years. The car (almost) could not have had better attention or care outside of a museum. It IS driven, and enjoyed and mostly "original".The convertible, however, was parked in 1960 and forgotten. Low mileage, flashy (burgundy w/red and white interior). Hydramatic, leather interior, class act. So unloved that a mere 5 years later in '65, it was unceremoniously dumped into a creek bed and rolled upside down where it languished as target practice for 35 years. I shudder at the thought. Such a grand automobile, so poorly treated. So I've spent the last 8 years putting her back to rights and I hope I've done some honor to Hudson and the old girl. I've done my best to put her back to "original", but she is "restored", make no doubt about it.Which one do I like better? Neither. I love them both, for different (almost opposite) reasons. To drive the sedan is more like stepping back in time, with it's original interior and Hudson-esque smells, broken in seats and springs; like an old pair of comfy slippers. The convertible takes more imagination, but it has the look and feel it would have if the calendar on the wall read "1952". It's like a brand new car again. Same magic, very different paths.I like all the "categories". I'm a car guy, not a "it has to be this way" kind of person. Even though I have an appreciation for the rat-rods, they are not my cup of tea. Aside from that, I enjoy old cars no matter the classification.0
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