What is a Full Restoration?

[Paddy_77HZ_Ute]

Its interesting the whole 'survivor' thing. Not the Eye of the tiger Survivor, the car one...

Ive got a V6 GT Capri that Im wondering what to do with. I know its a Ford but what do you guys reckon I should do? It still runs, and has only had 2 registered owners. Has a replacement engine, but the original engine is in the shed, and it is otherwise untouched. Pretty good for a 44 year old car so Im hesitant to restore it, as its only original once. Im considering putting the windscreen in and getting it roadworthied and on club rego and just taking it to car shows as is for a year or so before the resto. Might get the interior fixed a bit, but otherwise, maybe just show it off as a survivor.

What do you think I should do with it?

Your Capri reminded me of this old GT, a classic and a survivor. It's unrestored, it's on the road, it has survived. That's my take on a survivor, all the bits it came with, with the exception of general wear and tear and maintenance. I don't see why there has to be a level of condition put on something to have survived, it just has to survive. I know people will disagree, and that's fine with me. Life would be boring if we were all the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kpEmcuYXak

[wbute]

Critical? Opinion is allowed to be varied. All cars need maintenance. If you have an excellent survivor car you then have the need for NOS parts. Pointless using them all up in a restoration in my opinion. The restored car is always an excellent restored car regardless of NOS or good second hand/replica parts.

[steve1975]

The link HK put forward is interesting its a good idea to have classes for survivors. ,you can paint the front half of the car, recover the front seats & replace the diff. Bronze class survivor or part restoration. No mention of NOS parts.
Its a very difficult & topic Restoration.

[wbute]

Only if you are entering a show to be judged. That's not the be all and end all in owning an old car is it?

[HK1837]

Only if you are entering a show to be judged. That's not the be all and end all in owning an old car is it?

I agree. It is good to have a decent terminology though that can be used, even if loosely!

[Flamenco_not_Flamingo]

Only if you are entering a show to be judged. That's not the be all and end all in owning an old car is it?

Could not have said it better myself, owned and own plenty of old cars, shows don't really do it for me, if you like your car that's all that matters.

Resto is a hijacked term at times and a misunderstood term and a very interpretive term lol.


I have seen guys do full off body and every nut and bolt because that's what's required and I have seen guys do a respray and a tidy up because that's all that is required,both to me appear to be restorations of a kind, just my opinion.

Just enjoy and share them I say.

Brilliant thread by the way!

[HZSM50]

Could not have said it better myself, owned and own plenty of old cars, shows don't really do it for me, if you like your car that's all that matters.

Resto is a hijacked term at times and a misunderstood term and a very interpretive term lol.


I have seen guys do full off body and every nut and bolt because that's what's required and I have seen guys do a respray and a tidy up because that's all that is required,both to me appear to be restorations of a kind, just my opinion.

Just enjoy and share them I say.

Brilliant thread by the way!

So what ever it takes to get a car the way you want it. My van was a body and interior only,as that's all I could afford at the time. As for the next one that will have the works done. But even then it will never be as it came from the showroom. As long as your happy with the work done then that's worth it.
Well said Flamenco.

And yes a great thread

[HZSM50]

Curious to know what most people on here consider to be a full restoration in regards to the process, see many ads for cars for sale and starts of in description with full resto but when you read into it becomes clear that many people have a different interpretation of what a full resto is, myself I dont consider a paint job and new set of seat covers to quite cut it. To the extreme their are guys that do the full nut and bolt replacement, these days if I was buying a car that has been portrayed as having a full restoration I would thinking in my head it has been off the chassis, chassis blasted repainted new brakes, suspension and front end components. Motor , gearbox, diff and reconditioned including new components such as starter, alternator, carbie etc etc. Electrical also at the very least tidied up if not replaced and should also go without saying full bare metal respray including engine bay & underbody and all interior replaced or in excellent condition same with wheels and chrome work etc. I just think there a lot of ads out there that are misleading or the sellers really have a different spin on what a full resto is my thoughts anyway but if people expect top dollar for that particular model they are selling I would what all the above ticked off.

Big bucks

[steve1975]

HK you hit the word earlier [Preservation] Whatever it takes, Budgets, skill & effort vary. Everone is having ago

[Kiwivan]

I completed a FULL rebuild of our Brock and that included a new NOS wiring loom(including dash refurb)
Overall it was huge money and 5 years worth of work.The car is better than when it was rolled out of HDT.The only thing that was not new or recon(by me) was the alternator as that was done 6 months prior to me buying the wagon.

Cheers Kiwivan