[Healeys] FW: Original 750 Mile BN2

[Curt/Nancy Arndt]

Barrie,

Where is this planet you live on where everything is black or white?  ;-)
Seems to me there's a good Star Trek episode here somewhere, but I digress.


When it comes to cars, and Concours specifically, there are many variances
and the differences matter, and your pregnancy analogy does does not apply
here.  My take on a popular quote is... "God is in the details."

It's simply a matter degrees when we're talking about originality, in other
words how far do  you go?  I know some in the AH community that don't
support our Concours because we are NOT strict enough, e.g., the fact that
we allow you to change the color of YOUR car infuriates them no end.

I once knew a fellow who would not use modern steel in his body
restorations, and insisted on using only pieces of original panels from the
same model car to repair the damaged ones he had.  I said to him , "I
suppose you go to England then to get and bring back original British air to
put is your tyres too?"  He was not amused, but I made my point.

Take for example the Corvette Concours folks... Did you know that there are
two separate and distinct Corvette Concours groups out there?  Why? Because
there were a group of Corvette fanatics that didn't think the current
Concours group (NCRS) was strict or pure enough for their liking, hence the
formation of the Bloomington Gold Corvette Group.  These people bring
originality to a new (read anal) level where they intentionally duplicate
all of the factory flaws built into the cars. In fact as the story goes, a
wealthy Japanesse collector paid huge dollars for a Blooming ton Gold
Corvette only to be horrified when he saw the car and it wasn't this over
restored Peeble Beach example.  He demanded his money back and was politely
told NO, this is what you paid for... a Bloomington Gold Standard
restoration.

So Barrie, I guess with all evidence to the contrary you can stand your
ground, as shaky as that may be.

I'm done.

Curt

On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 10:54 AM, Barrie Robinson <barrie at look.ca> wrote:

>  Curt,
>
> I stand my ground!  You either like to keep things original or you don't -
> akin to being a little bit pregnant.   My first category is those who want
> an original car - NOT an overblown, chrome plated, hand rubbed 200 times
> paint jobs a la Leno.  I am/was the first example in that everything was
> restored to original finish and colour - no extra chroming, no new modern
> wiring, no non-period improvements (unless had to be).  As to Leno and such,
> they have a lot to answer for - seeing old classics with paint jobs that
> cost more than a new car is just an exhibition of $$$$$$.  I suppose if they
> got Michelangelo's David they would give him a jock strap in black satin or
> an Armani suit !!   Actually, no they would not do that but they would have
> it soda blasted to take the dust etc off!