• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

The Rise of the Unrestored Classic

Share this page

Steve,

Again, thanks for the photo; it is a beautiful MG. Who ever might acquire it should never touch it other than maintaining and of course, "occasionally washing" it.

Steve T.
 
The owner is younger than I am. Well, in spirit anyway. You'd never guess he's a day over 40 by his attitude and level of energy.

The car still has a surprising amount of original perishable parts. See the little black rubber corner at the back of the bonnet? Original. They sure don't make them to last like that any more!
 
This has always been my favorite museum/show car:

1907_thomas_flyer.jpg


The 1907 Thomas Flyer which won the 1908 New York-to-Paris Automobile Race.

clip_image006.jpg


Reassembled/repaired only to the condition it was in when it won the race, & kept in operating condition. It goes to shows, it drives to places.

07flyer.jpg


07thomasflyer.jpg


"I've been around the world, & tomorrow I may by god just drive to Cincinnatti. Get in, let's go."

I love it.
 
I have a 1973 mgb gt and we are doing a working mans restoration < refresh the engine and hydraulics and go driving . As far as the paint we are going to wrap the car in printed sign vinyl . We are going to throw in some advertising for our business but there is no reason that you could not have a killer print in a solid color with some well placed logos or photo s made and applied to your classic , thus preserving the original color and then making it look awesome on the outside. It removes easy and is what most race cars are doing to be able to resell tham after without major paint work . Look around town and you might notice a wrapped car or truck that has printed graphics most of the stuff is 3 MMM so its quality product cost $1000 for a small car << ball park >> . No its not for everyone .
 
Hi Folks;

This is my first time in this section! "Quite Interesting"!

Is this "THEE" car that was in "CHITTY, CHITTY, BANG-BANG"?

Just kidding but she sure does look the same & In my opinion; /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif with the "Un-Restored", Patina filled cars! They deserve a Round of Applause!!!! "Standing Ovation Please"!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

See Ya All Later;

Regards, Russ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
I wish I could just "maintain" my TR2, but it came to me mostly dissasembled, and with pretty much nothing for paint, so I gotta restore it. Personally I'd prefer one with lots of "patina" and "charecter"
Oh well, guess I'll have to pretend I got mine "new" and give it thost things myself.
 
I'm facing a similar quandary. Restoring a '76 MGB, and the body is, well, sort of in really good shape. However, due to a small accident by the PO, I need to hammer out dents in the hood and left front fender, there is also the missing side view mirrors, along with the start of the dreaded cracks of death, and the trunk has a crack where the support hits it. (Looks like a DPO tried to close the trunk without releasing the support catch. Every Day. For about six years.)

Anyway, all of these are small, easy repairs, bit all have had ill effects on the paint job. So I'm looking at a car in which 96% of the body is fine, and I think with some good buffing time would look really nice. Then there's the other 4%.....

Has anyone dealt with, and happily overcome this situation?

Just wondering. Thanks!
 
If you're planning to sell a car on the auction market soon, maybe it's worth thinking about what's "in" (preservation vs restoration). Otherwise, do what will make you happy, not someone else!

I'm restoring my TR6 now, and originally had the idea of keeping everything 100% stock, and not repainting anything since there's no rust on the car and the paint cleans up pretty well. After agonizing over it, I realized--geez, who am I trying to please here?! I'm not going to say no to a little more power (mild engine tweaks), a reliable transmission with bearable rpm on the freeway (HDVA toyota 5 speed conversion), and original-quality paint (new original color, but not a show-quality job)!

It's easy to get caught up in what's "right," but I got excited all over again about the car when I started restoring it exactly the way *I* wanted!
 
Another factor has also got to be the rarity of the vehicle itself - My Midget is going to be exactly the way I want - non standard paint/ chrome bumpers/ interior pieces etc. etc. because as a '76 car, I have no obligation to history to make it right - there were/ are lots of them. On the other hand, I was recently trying to locate a Lagonda of which there were only 176 made - owning that car would bring a different sense of responsibility to do it right, whether that means unrestored or sympathetic or accurate restoration.

BTW - here's my related tiny rant /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif I was at Bronte this fall (largest Brit show in Canada at 950 cars) and saw rows upon row of MGB's, TR6's, Midgets and Spits and they all looked exactly the same, no period accessories (CB or 8Track /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif) , rarely stripes, no trunk racks, no louvers - (I'm generalizing I know) but generally it seemed like there wasn't a lot of things that make life & cars interesting so, when they were all put together, they seemed, dare I say it - boring /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
Thanks for the insights! I've already decided to paint the rubber bumpers to match the body color, so out the window goes any accurate resto. I may even add a (gasp) CD player and seat warmers. I mean, I won't put blue neon underneath and add spinning hubcaps, but I understand your "tiny rant", John-Peter. And I agree with you, MTribe, regarding doing it the way I want it. I'm not creating a show car, I'm simply taking an old car and cleaning and fixing it to the point where it's extremely fun and moderately reliable to drive.

So in the short term, I'll probably do the body work and match the color as best I can, then after driving it for a while, repaint the entire thing.

Thanks again and happy driving!
 
RTR52nd said:
I've already decided to paint the rubber bumpers to match the body color, so out the window goes any accurate resto.

I'm not creating a show car, I'm simply taking an old car and cleaning and fixing it to the point where it's extremely fun and moderately reliable to drive.

Thanks again and happy driving!
Click to expand...

Cool! I love the look of body matched bumpers on a B - updates the car so nicely! (makes a Midget look hideous though /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif )

Spinners though - maybe you should reconsider - Pimp my MG! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

https://www.garage24.net/MGBGT/MG-861.jpg

https://www.britishv8.org/MG/RobWiehl/RobWiehl-A.jpg

https://www.prosieben.de/imperia/md/image..._-_Meinhold.jpg
 
Thanks John-Peter. I agree, but have found searching the web that IMHO the matching bumpers look better on darker cars. That works for me, as my car is a Damask Red. I think that Scott on this forum (username AEROG) has some beautiful shots of his car, which looks to be about the same color as mine. Something for me to aspire to.

As far as the pimped out rides go....

MGB_Hotrod_with_Chevy_427_engine.jpg


Eek....

If you're feeling masochistic, take a look at this page...

Good Cars Gone Bad

Restoring a car to your own liking is one thing, but I think there is a line...

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif
 
I'm fairly certain that is Scott's car. How many can there be that colour, painted bumpers, and white interior? Here's a relatively recent shot he has posted ~

'77 MBG on Skyline Drive, VA

I'm thinking of tan interior for mine, but yes, that car is what I dream about when a misplaced wrench falls and hits me on the head /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazyeyes.gif
 
Jumping in on this thread...my SP250 is not quite rare with 2,500 made, but not exactly common either since maybe half that many were sent to the states and the last ones made about 45 years ago. That said, I have no problem changing to R&P (TR rack) and 5-speed (Toyota) with an MGB rear modified to take disk brakes. It will also sport a color Daimler never dreamed of offering. All this -and more- because I want to enjoy the fun of driving a safe, dependable British classic done my way.
 
SteveT said:
And, there are fewer and fewer originals around. Now, here is a class to be had; original owners WITH their cars that have never been restored! Wonder how many are really out there?
Click to expand...

I bought mine brand new in November 1976, but I wonder how many people consider it a "real" Triumph -- Wedge owners have always struggled with that, especially those of us who were "early adopters" before a roadster was even available.

- Steve Richardson
76 TR7 (original owner)
 
years ago, i occasionly helped a fellow in milwaukee that would buy B's and restore/overhaul them to good driveable condition. one of the criteria he used to pick a candidate was the condition of the paint. he didn't like to over-restore the cars. as original, he could get more for them with allot less work.

at the time it was fairly easy to find a car that would result in a nice driver after a little work and a good body rub-out. now and for quite a few years since, they're hard to find. consequently,the "over-restored car" is more a fact of scarcity and age than over-doing it. once you have to replace panels and parts, it is almost impossible to duplicate an original factory finish.
 
Back
Top