Why are restoration people so anal?

**stickthis** · 20-03-2011, 01:32 PM

**Blocker** · 20-03-2011, 04:40 PM

Date period restore for me, it may change I am being flexible.

However because of the commercial nature of these questions and the obvious benefit for part resellers, they should not be allowed to reply to this thread.

**HZSandman** · 20-03-2011, 07:05 PM

funny about the rims. I got lucky when I bought mine 2nd hand and the dates married p with my Sandman. Now I have the 7 & 8 inch rims and am caught in 2 minds as to whether to fit them as non original but a better stance and look or stick with the 6 inch originals with matching dates.

Stupid as you say as you can not see the dates with tyres on anyway. I know it is stupid but can not help thinking about it.

**Kiwivan** · 20-03-2011, 08:12 PM

Everyone one to there own I spose,The Brock I was very anal with that car(full resto)But the van will be ours to do as we please.

Cheers Kiwivan

**L31 Sandman** · 20-03-2011, 08:24 PM

Date original parts would probably more important to a collector of cars. Surely a date correct car for everything would be worth more to collector and for the person who just wants one, just the main components would be important, chasis no. engine number etc.

**Robbo** · 20-03-2011, 09:34 PM

"If" I was restoring a vehicle to original, everything would be as it was built with. I mean "everything", rim's the lot, because "I" would know if they were incorrect.It wouldn't matter to me how long it take's to find the part I need,I can wait. That's just my nature, it has to be correct, it bother's me if it is wrong.
Probably developed it from being in a trade all my life.

**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!