Clive,
On the subject of over-restored cars in car shows, may I offer something I
heard back in the 1980s, when I was Chief Judge of the Santa Barbara Concours
d'Elegance (quite a prestigious show, in its day, attracting some fabulously
restored - and valuable - cars). Phil Hill was an Honorary judge and we spent
some time together, discussing all sorts of things.
On the subject of "over-restoration" resulting in cars that were much nicer
than those that left the factory, he had this to say: If the factory was going
to send a car to, for example, the Earls Court Motor Show, is it not reasonable
to assume that that particular car would have received the ultimate in
preparation? Everything usually painted would be painted to perfection. All the
brightwork would be immaculate, including copper pipes, etc., not usually
polished to the nth degree. The interior would have been installed with extra
care and attention to detail, etc. etc.
Phil, who at that time co-owned one of Los Angeles' leading top-quality (and
top dollar!) restoration shops, used this argument to justify "perfect,
original" restorations. He did, however, emphasize that this "show" preparation
would not have included chroming things that, on production cars, were not
chromed, and so on. Essentially, a factory "show car" was a production car
built to the highest possible standard.
In my many years as a concours judge, I found this to be an excellent rule to
go by.
Cheers,
Lawrie
> -------Original Message-------
> From: Clive Sherriff <clive.sherriff@ntlworld.com>
> To: MG-T list <mg-t@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: [Mg-t] [mg-tabc] Esoteric Minutiae
> Sent: 14 Mar '16 13:39
>
>
>
> I smile a lot (or am I gritting my teeth ?) about the question of
> originality.
>
> Go to a premier vintage event and look at the cars. Immaculate. Now go
> to the archives and look at what they were like new.
>
> This is particularly evident with race cars. Look at the immaculate
> Maseratis, Silver Arrows Mercedes and Auto Unions today for example.
> Then do the photo search for then on the 1930s. Pooly finished and
> dented bodies, occasionally even unpainted ( Merceded once had to
> strip the paint and masses of filler underneath to meet a weight limit
> at one race !
>
> Years ago before TABC Bodies were readily available, I carefully
> measured up every original car that came through the workshop thinking
> to reproduce them.
>
> There were large differences in the dimensions of the body panels and
> woodwork. I decided it was not worth the bother, and soon after
> Naylors started making bodies and I ducked out.
>
> Even something as apparently simple as the late TA TB TC rear wings
> are not the same, the prewar ones are much different to the TC type in
> many ways. Hard to see if you dont know the difference, and all that
> are available today are the late TC ones. And this applies to many
> other parts.
>
> This does make a difference though even if you don't know it. Most
> people even if they know nothing of MGs will, from a frontal line up
> of Late TA TB and TCs will select the TA and TBs as the nicer looking
> cars. They will not be able to tell you why. It's due to the cutaway
> of the front wings, greatly reduced on the TC to a) save money and b)
> supposedly to cut down rain spray. The TA/TB were designed form
> Ascetic values, the TC from economic values. Many ta/tb owners will
> have TC front and wings and not know it.
>
> If you want to drive about in a tarted up concours trailer queen then
> do it and enjoy it, but most of these tarted up concours cars should
> have points deducted for non original finish.
>
> Clive
> = ==== ============= ================
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> FROM: 'Norman Verona' norman@frenchblat.com [mg-tabc]
> TO: mark.robinson250gt@btinternet.com ; 'Norman Golm' ;
> notify-dg-mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com
> CC: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com
> SENT: Friday, March 04, 2016 1:15 PM
> SUBJECT: RE: [mg-tabc] Digest Number 7547
>
> So, we should refer to TC's Forever. Isn't that all about getting the
> car as original as possible? Is this the answer to the argument?
>
> NORMAN VERONA
>
> La Foie, 49520, Noellet, France
>
> Tel: 0033 (0)2 41 92 73 44
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