Re: Authenticity vs. Modification

Posted by Chuckltd On 2009/4/22 18:08:49

I'm not a fan of modifying anything needlessly. I am 31 and own several old/antique cars.
1941 studebaker commander- 6 volt, flathead 6, no changes at all, show condition
1962 buick lesabre- all parts and systems as buick built it. v8, dynaflow, generator, etc. mostly restored condition
1978 ford ltd- as ford delivered it, faded paint is the only problem, driver status
1975 ford thunderbird- as ford delivered it, still has plastic on seatbelts, unrestored near show condition
1959 edsel ranger-6cyl, 2sp auto, fair condition, no mods yet,but perhaps an alt. conversion since the generator gives me endless grief.
1948 packard deluxe- just got it, no known changes and hope it doesn't need any.
So far I like this forum and everyone has been real friendly and helpful. I've seen other forums where that's not the case, such as an edsel forum I found last year. It seems to me that the independent makes have a friendlier crowd. That's good as it's hard enough to get younger people to be interested in older mainstream cars, let alone orphaned makes. I've since run into 2 distinct types of older car people: the kind who are glad that someone is trying to keep these pieces of history around, and the kind that fall into the "how dare I drive something like that or I don't deserve such classics" category.
If you attend a show around here, the only people with or looking at cars prior to 1955 have canes and/or oxygen tanks. The cars need to be out and driving, not just stashed away and saved for someday that never comes. If people don't see them then they're already gone. I do get tired of the impromptu car show and Q&A session when I drive one of my older cars, but I answer their questions if I can because people answered mine long ago. If modding an otherwise unwanted car is what keeps interest alive, then I'm all for it. If the car is that rare or priceless, then it's probably already owned by someone who will do the right thing. I never buy modified cars because that's like opening a can of worms, but I would't knock someone who does.