Re: How to rate car's condition

Posted by Highlander160 On 2016/10/15 14:36:54

The good ol 1-6 gig is a guide at best. Some will show a #1 car (a real one) as a #2 just because it's not dressed right to the tire treads and on display at Pebble Beach. Or that a car that was restored more than 5 years ago, regardless of lacking any damage or wear, has to be classified #2. That aside, the next owner of the car should decide what the real condition is. To me, no rust holes, complete interior that doesn't smell of vermin fecal matter and urine, isn't caked with mildew, chrome will turn "bright" with a minor cleaning and polish, engine fires up on demand and holds good oil pressure, never overheats, all the parts are still in place under the hood, it sits up straight and doesn't lean to one side or front to back with excess. The paint is at least all one color and might even shine a bit given a day of soft cloth polishing or gentle wheeling. All the glass is clear and devoid of cracks, but it might show a few bubbles at the edge here and there. Nothing is missing and the instrument panel is also functional. To me that's a solid #3 car. You save years looking for parts, has a bunch of "free" panel replacement done (because it doesn't need it!). You can show up with pride because it's been a well preserved variant with wear only time can cause. Start adding rust holes, "Flintstone" floorboards, missing parts, #4 comes up fast. What the car truly NEEDS is only what the next owner wants to do. I have a 39 Ford Tudor with original paint. Some would say it needs paint, some not, I'm in the "not" line myself. Have a 47 Super Clipper that's the same. A scratch here n there, a couple stains in the metallic green, so what? It shines, it's all one color, it's nothing at all to be ashamed of, in fact with the right talent it could even be touched up with some lacquer. That beats a 5 figure strip and refinish with a bat, no? I call my Packard a 2, but that's also because the chrome is awesome and it has a complete new wool interior. My Ford, well it might be a solid 2 even with the original paint over most of it. It's getting a complete new interior, has a fresh engine, new harness going in and more. All the mechanicals are done too. So you see, only you can decide what's right for you. I like a little age or even an all original car, but I do restoration for a living so #1 is common, maybe I'm even a little bored with it. Make sense? Helpful?