When to Restore a Car??

[SSPGARY]

I'm going to leave the car " as is " for this year and restore it next winter once I have all the parts. I just can't live with all the battle scars! Thanks for the opinions.

Gary

[FlyinTiger]

Seeing your previous work, I say restore it. Like previously mentioned, your attention to detail means a full restoration, not just cosmetic.

I can be on the fence with this, though. A car is only original paint once. White hides a lot of abuse, but it is up to you. For me, the ones to keep unrestored are the SSP that still retain their post-service auction markings, like the FHP's. It makes the car timeless. There can be many restored and the larger agencies will have many that basically look the same, but none more special than the just out of service look.

[ImEvil1]

Originally Posted by FlyinTiger

For me, the ones to keep unrestored are the SSP that still retain their post-service auction markings, like the FHP's. It makes the car timeless. There can be many restored and the larger agencies will have many that basically look the same, but none more special than the just out of service look.

That's one of the reasons why I haven't painted my '93 FHP. I wouldn't do a complete resto on it anyway, since it's so clean underneath, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do anything with the paint (yet).

The Colorado car is very much the same; you can still see the outlines where the door numbers were. One good wax job and those are gone. However, due to the surface rust forming on the underside of the car, I'm going to end up doing the whole thing. The funny part is that none of "new" rust was there prior to the car being in FL.

It really deserves the full treatment anyway, so I have no reason to complain.

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Mike if the car is sitting on Black Top that is were the rust is coming from.

Tom

[YellowMurci]

why would blacktop create rust?

[Mustang Matt]

No, Florida. My 70 Colorado car never had a lock of rust until I moved to Florida and then it blew up with it. The humidity eats metal alive.

[ImEvil1]

Originally Posted by Mustang Matt

No, Florida. My 70 Colorado car never had a lock of rust until I moved to Florida and then it blew up with it. The humidity eats metal alive.

I was waiting for Tom's explanation but it never showed.

I think you might be right. I mean...even the little rock chips on the hood started getting rust in them. I took care of it, but I was amazed. The car had been sitting in a barn untouched for over 10 years and those nicks/scratches had been there for a long time without rust.

[FlyinTiger]

Originally Posted by ImEvil1

That's one of the reasons why I haven't painted my '93 FHP. I wouldn't do a complete resto on it anyway, since it's so clean underneath, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do anything with the paint (yet).

The Colorado car is very much the same; you can still see the outlines where the door numbers were. One good wax job and those are gone. However, due to the surface rust forming on the underside of the car, I'm going to end up doing the whole thing. The funny part is that none of "new" rust was there prior to the car being in FL.

It really deserves the full treatment anyway, so I have no reason to complain.

Your '93 was exactly the car that I was thinking of. I would never paint it. Look at all the attention the unrestored Hertz Shelby got at Barber. It was in everyone's pictures.

[chp1982]

Original gets my vote, but who doesn't like a quality resto? I personally like seeing what time has done to a car....unless time includes re-paints, collisions, rust, etc. My funds are dictating what my car is going to look like for the time being, but I really do love my old, faded, original B/W paint. I scare everyone in the neighborhood when I drive it around. What did the Hertz at Barber look like?

[predator20]

Originally Posted by chp1982

What did the Hertz at Barber look like?

I assume this is it.
http://www.efi-street.com/IMAGES/mus...s/image54.html
http://www.efi-street.com/IMAGES/mus...s/image55.html
http://www.efi-street.com/IMAGES/mustang45th/