Why are restoration people so anal?

**GTS** · 20-03-2011, 10:58 AM

My van is a bitsa....I bought it as an empty shell and used another 2 vans to make it what it is. The body is an original Sandman but it came less motor, gearbox, rims and interior. The only hoodlining it had were the little bits still stuck in the teeth thingo at the back. The engine is a HX 308 and the 4 speed is Commodore ( i believe) but it looks like the original stuff. All I wanted was a van that "looked" like it could have just come off the showroom floor...but without going to extremes like part number stickers on everything etc. I am by no means a "rivet counter" but have nothing against those that are.....you do what "you" are happy with. Besides, if I had of done a full, correct resto I'd probably be too afraid to drive it.....and that's definately not what I want.

**Absinth** · 20-03-2011, 12:17 PM

Agro,

for some the fun in doing a restoration is in the hunt for that elusive correct part, these guys are totally anal and want every part correct right down to date coding whether it is seen or not.

some want date correct for whatever can be seen. Moderately anal.

some are happy with period correct, as long as it looks original.

some are happy with just a nice looking car put together with whatever bit they can get.

I totally agree with Byrons take on a restoration.... but if you've got a pretty original survivor like his Premier the battle for all date correct parts is mostly won already.

For my van, as long as I can restore it with period correct parts and it all looks correct I'll be happy.

However.....

I have a 1944 Ford GPW jeep that I have been collecting date correct parts for it over the last ten years... wwii jeeps went through army rebuild programs and all their parts got mixed up and changed around.... most of the parts are dated and Ford parts are F marked.

My jeep is an exceptionally good one with a virtually rust free chassis and body and is a rare matching numbers... Ford GPW's had the same number on the data plates, engine and chassis.

I am being totally anal over the restoration of my jeep but that is what is most enjoyable about it for me.... the thrill I got when I came across a Nos date correct fuel pump at the Toowoomba swap a couple of years ago for $150 is just the greatest feeling. I have every part for it now except a correctly dated front diff housing.

**wbute** · 20-03-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Absinth

Agro,

for some the fun in doing a restoration is in the hunt for that elusive correct part, these guys are totally anal and want every part correct right down to date coding whether it is seen or not.

some want date correct for whatever can be seen. Moderately anal.

some are happy with period correct, as long as it looks original.

some are happy with just a nice looking car put together with whatever bit they can get.

I totally agree with Byrons take on a restoration.... but if you've got a pretty original survivor like his Premier the battle for all date correct parts is mostly won already.

For my van, as long as I can restore it with period correct parts and it all looks correct I'll be happy.

However.....

I have a 1944 Ford GPW jeep that I have been collecting date correct parts for it over the last ten years... wwii jeeps went through army rebuild programs and all their parts got mixed up and changed around.... most of the parts are dated and Ford parts are F marked.

My jeep is an exceptionally good one with a virtually rust free chassis and body and is a rare matching numbers... Ford GPW's had the same number on the data plates, engine and chassis.

I am being totally anal over the restoration of my jeep but that is what is most enjoyable about it for me.... the thrill I got when I came across a Nos date correct fuel pump at the Toowoomba swap a couple of years ago for $150 is just the greatest feeling. I have every part for it now except a correctly dated front diff housing.

Ahhhh Jeep owners are the worst of the lot!

They get extra excited over that F symbol even though they are just a Willys really! Actually saw a cool one in Denman today Absinth. Pretty sure it was a CJ2A (the one afetr the army one but sstill with the side valve motor and low bonnet). Had the body chromed and a V8 in it and the canvas cannopy on it. Pulling a trailer and heading down the highway. Sounded fat!
The other thing about Jeep owners is they spend a motza of time and moola on the bloody things and then go and try to make them climb vertical hill climbs to prove how good a 4WD they are(they are unreal too). I suppose you should use em for what they were meant for!

**adam perth** · 21-03-2011, 03:17 AM

for sure, when doing a resto, grab the stuff as close as possible to your rebuild, and if a part better suited to your build comes along, grab that too and sell the other one if you have to.

one thing is 4 sure, i would rather spend my saturday night with a heap of blokes doing burnouts and running amuck and a heap of tossers in a shed with a car that never moves talking about numbers / rivits / screws in a with a 6 beer limit.

**1BadVan** · 22-03-2011, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by adam perth

for sure, when doing a resto, grab the stuff as close as possible to your rebuild, and if a part better suited to your build comes along, grab that too and sell the other one if you have to.

one thing is 4 sure, i would rather spend my saturday night with a heap of blokes doing burnouts and running amuck and a heap of tossers in a shed with a car that never moves talking about numbers / rivits / screws in a with a 6 beer limit.

Bit harsh Adam. Part of a full on resto for me is the challenge of being able to do it to a high standard (pride in workmanship). I think sometimes it is inherent in some peoples nature to strive for perfection. I know when I did my resto I knew very well that I would be driving the car and things in it would be less than perfect after a few years or so. But I still wanted the satisfaction of turning the key on my car for the first time and knowing if I went back to 1971 and bought a brand new one this is how it would have been. I can tell you it was worth the effort I don't think anything can replace the feeling (well maybe one thing). It's not just about driving it but also people being gob smacked about the effort/attention to detail that has gone into it not so much the money for me the usual 4 kids and a mortgage. So I guess it's not about being anal with a resto. I enjoy the aspect of researching, talking to people about what they know, sharing what I know and have uncovered.

I don't like the word anal to describe people who are perfectionists. Can we change the name to something a little more befiiting like enthusiasts.

Cheers Dave

Ps Adam if you are ever up my way you will have to come up for beer one day preferably more than six. You can check out the HZ Sandy that you helped me identify. We spoke on the phone about it some years ago.

**stickthis** · 22-03-2011, 06:45 AM

Dave I think that is very well said. I agree. Its not always about letting the car sit and rot for people who do full original builds. Im the same as you. With my HZ GTS I want the feeling of driving it out of a dealership in 1977, the exact way my old man saw them when he was doing the test drives etc at the local dealership.

I think the look on his face when I turn up on his door and say dad take this for a spin will be priceless.

Jason.

PS I do expect him to peel some rubber off the period correct tyres and date numbered rims and splash rubber up onto my new duco and stripes as he leaves the driveway..... Any less and I would be dissapointed hahaha. How else would have they been test drove back in the day!

**ozbox** · 22-03-2011, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by 1BadVan

I don't like the word anal to describe people who are perfectionists. Can we change the name to something a little more befiiting like enthusiasts.

perfectionist is an excellent word to use for a restorer that is not anal....

i sell old holden parts for a living and i can tell you from first hand experience that there is a difference between an anal restorer and a perfectionist..

**stickthis** · 22-03-2011, 08:20 PM

hmmm I prob know the answer to this one Greg. But what do you consider my HZ GTS build I am doing. Well collecting to do. (should be starting to bolt together late this year when our house sale goes through and I own my shed as I am not starting it until then.)

Dont worry Greg you wont hurt my feelings. Sticks and stones!!! lol

**commodorenut** · 22-03-2011, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by adam perth

for sure, when doing a resto, grab the stuff as close as possible to your rebuild, and if a part better suited to your build comes along, grab that too and sell the other one if you have to.

This is exactly how I think now too. After going through 6 years of searching for bits, for a car that (when I started) was half the age & more common than what you guys are playing with, I learnt that if you chase every last date code, you'll never get it done.

If it's close, I've grabbed it. Try finding a VL tailgate with no rust & then tell me you're worried about the date code being 2 months off all the other panels on the car.....

But, anything that came off the car that was already the right code was refurbed/restored, regardless of whether or not I had a better one with the wrong code - as long as the finished result was as good as new.

I'd much prefer to be out there driving it around & enjoying it, rather than worrying about finding another rear door 1/4 glass because the existing one is 1 month different to all the other bits of glass.