Re: To restore or preserve?

Posted by HH56 On 2015/10/16 9:54:41

For a lot of years I was of the restore persuasion. Looking back, if I had it to do over, a couple of cars "restored" should definitely have been refresh and preserve. Not only does it save original for those needing a reference, in most cases it is infinitely better on the wallet. As others can attest, once you start a restoration whatever you change and make pristine will make whatever is next to it look terrible. Once started it never ends.

Having said that, my opinion on your question is unless the car is a total mess where things are so obviously wrong or deteriorated and no amount of refreshing is going to help, I think the preserve is the better way to go. It sounds as if you have a decent driver that really won't take a whole lot. Patina seems to be in right now so you can do little things to make the car more presentable. Do those using correct materials wherever possible but save the full restoration for when time and money is more abundant.

The one place that is definitely worth a restoration and splurge now is the wiring. If it is typical the old fabric and rubber is probably in sad shape. Stuff half that old cracks if you bend the wire so I would imagine insulation on 80 year old wiring will crack if you give it a hard look. Just my