2/7/1942 Our government order the production of cars halted and production lines converted for producing wartime functionality. ( Hemmings had a great series of articles a couple years ago that covered what each car manufacture produced for the war-time effort. If you can find them they are a great read.)
2/7/1958 – The Dutch DAF 600 automatic transmission was intro’ed.
2/10/1942 – Pontiac physically halts car production for war-time effort
2/11/1932 – Ford introduced this new flathead V8. It had a good run through 1953
This ties in very well with the discussion of restoration or restromods…almost. I reading one of Hemmings Classic Cars mags (March 2010)…..erk…how the heck can it be a March 2010 and I got it two weeks ago ..that would be January…never mind. The theme running through the edition was cars that are unrestored originals, basically cars that are old and haven’t been….well … restored.
First the main kick-off article (that’s one that explains the “theme” of the issue) was written by one of my favorite Hemming’s editors, Rich Lentinello- hopefully he won’t mind me call him Rich. He touches on the idea of preservation and not restoration. A repeated phrase used in the other articles is “it’s only original once” and of course you can’t argue with that. (Oh..that is also the name of Rich’s book…I haven’t picked it up yet, but I intent do.)
As I read the articles covering 1932 Ford, 1937 Packard, 1971 Cuda, 1930 Oakland, 1948 Chrysler, ’60 Corvette (needs paint…really), ’67 Eldorado and a few more, I enjoyed the stories..all car guys love “the story”. But each car had something changed about it. There was the 1954 Hudson the car had dents repaired, gas tank dropped and boiled(common practice when a car has sat for years), window cylinders replaces and brakes all redone. The ’60 vette had the engine rebuild and all the upholstery replaced. The fact that the paint is pealing off makes it more original? I don’t know.
Now does that hold up against replacing the control arms on the Mustang or the upholstery being redone (using original materials..I might add.) Restromod? Restored? Original? How about drivable, race- able (yes the Mustang makes it to the drags at least twice a year) and fun…yup that’s the ticket.
I guess I’m still not comfortable with the “restromod” moniker that guy stuck on my car. (I bet you could tell, could ya?) More therapy coming up.
I’m always reading where a guy had replace every part on his car and saved all the old parts. As with all things there is line of demarcation. What made me think of this was the new front end of the Mustang and a previous conversation when I was needed to rebuild the transmission for the 2nd time in the Corvette.
I was pretty fed up with the T400R (I’ll share the story when I talk about the mods for the Vette in another post). I had trouble with it when I first got it —only 32K miles, and then a horrible rebuild and on the second rebuild I was considering just replacing with another level 2. A fee of the guys from the Corvette club (ACE) that I belong to encouraged me to keep the old trans because it would be important at some point to have the matching number trans.
I’ve read were some have even kept old sheet metal because of the part number and the new after market ones don’t have that. But there can’t be much value in having an old front valance for my Mustang laying around..ya think? (Ok..fine I do still have it and it does have the original part number on it..but I wouldn’t put it on again.)
So saw no reason to keep the old control arms no value in that.
BTW I had the Corvette transmission rebuilt. This really leads me to another topic I read about in a car magazine. The topic was survivor cars or the most original. That one later.
We all love closure and especially when it ends well.
Mustang is back from the shop. Buying the control arms ahead time saved a few dollars. HINT: If you know you need a part, but not right away, but you have the funds (too many buts???) look for a sale. I’m continually sent emails with discounts from Mustang parts places. I purchased these on an email and got free shipping. What I didn’t have was the spring perches. Luckily I found them at a local place that specializes in muscle cars and in particular Mustangs. They ran about $80 for the pair.
While they had a part I splurged for a set of shocks…no labor because they had it apart already. (Hint: More savings!!)
So I drove over to pick it up and drive it around the corner to the tire place and got two new tires tossed on. I can’t believe the difference the new front end makes. Took it out for a drive. This car is nearly done.
Side note: I’m enjoying this Blogging thing. Although we are light on the comments..Mr. Sears is always helping out there, it’s good fun.
Got to give a shout out to a loyal reader…HEY PDAWG!!! Get me that pic of your garage!!!!
There has never been a clear understanding between these two ways keeping a car alive. Perhaps is not so much an understanding issue as to a delineation of the fine line between the two.
I do agree that there is a difference. Clearly if one were to take a 1970 Camaro and put 1989 front end on it, or a Ford 8 bolt rear end and 351 Cleveland that’s a restro-mod. A couple of car shows ago I saw a 1967 Ford Mustang with a Corvette engine (LS1) shoved under the hood. Oh..hey..I have pics…here’s one and there on at the bottom of this post.
I spoke to the owner and asked him “why” to which he responded “Because I could.”
Sometimes it’s pretty easy to know when to call it a restoration or a restromod. But what about finer changes, cosmetic, or safety changes.
I mentioned, in a previous posting, that a judge called my Mustang a restromod. Which I was take back a bit by. I started thinking about after I posted that and I’m going to have to agree with him and here is why.
I believe the swapping of the 250 for a 302 wasn’t the problem (unless your definition includes a requirement for a matching year block …I’m sure mine isn’t from 1970 at least not the short block) or the dual exhaust. The Center Line wheels…. maybe. Now the rear spoiler and the Mach I mirrors might be where I crossed the line. You couldn’t have purchased a coupe with those items, as far as I can tell with the research I’ve done. But aren’t we now just talking about accessories, like dice hanging from the mirror or a locking gas cap?
Now what if there was just a brake change (drum to disk) for upgrade for safety, or seat belts added or something as simple as steel belted tires.
Where would you draw the line? Drop me a comment and let me know.
