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Re: Restoring a Car or other Vehicle

To: DrMayf <drmayf@teknett.com>
Subject: Re: Restoring a Car or other Vehicle
From: Steve Laifman <SLaifman@SoCal.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:54:56 -0800
Mayf,

You have touched the nexus of the classic car owner's dilemma.  What to 
change, and why.  Your tire issue has most likely been settled long ago 
when bias belt tires practically stopped being made, (I am sure someone 
is making a fortune at a specialty shop).  The day is fast approaching 
when you will not be able to get 13" tires.

The solution, in my opinion, is to make what changes you feel allow you 
to make your car enjoyable to own and drive.  Save all re-fittable 
replacements for next owner who wants it "as was", as possible. Enjoy 
your car, take whatever hit on resale any changes cause as part of 
ownership costs, and disclose changes on sale.

If you do not like driving the car, or are concerned about your safety 
or part availability, get one you can enjoy.

The enjoyment is the name of this game, not preservation of the "ancient 
artifact" to museum standards.  Leave that task to those that enjoy that 
aspect of ownership.  These are not Original Da Vinci artwork, after 
all, and even those have been modified and updated by Da Vinci himself, 
and others in restoration.  You do what can be done to preserve what you 
can, and still like the car.

Whose car is it, anyway?

Steve

DrMayf wrote:

>Stephen,
>regarding the last comment..."where do you draw the line?" This is exactly
>what I was/am curious about. Again, would the multi gazillion dollar
>Dusenberg benefit from a safety upgrade to the brakes? Probably, but it
>isn't original. I understand the need and have done it myself the need to
>make our cars safer to motor around in. But could I call it restored if it
>had other than original tires (or is that tyres?). Or anything else for that
>matter that did or di not come with the car. Would it be restored if I added
>extra tools in the tool pouch? Where is the doggone line anyway? I like
>personalized cars anyway.
>
>My old car is pretty much original except for a few items but is in no way
>restored or even reconditioned or resto mod. Anfd I do notplan on restoring
>it, just curious as to waht restoration means and what shold or should not
>be included in the term. Is there a standard? I am not in the loop anywhere
>regards this so I don't have a clue.
>
>mayf, off planet in Pahrump
>  
>

-- 
-----

Steve Laifman
Editor
http://www.TigersUnited.com

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