I'm with the patina thing where it is an original car that has been used and cared for; the imperfections are part of the car's character, each ding & dip telling a story. The french have a phrase for such a car as being "dans son jus".
One of my regulars has a 1934 Alvis Speed 20 drophead which his grandfather bought new; it has never been sold, restored or repainted, just properly maintained. Some might say it would be better if it were restored, but in it's current state it's one of my favourite cars. I wish I had a photo to post, but I don't.
Cars that have not received the regular TLC & require restoration - well there's nothing wrong with restoring them to as new condition. Nor is there anything wrong in modifications to make a car better for use in modern traffic if you're going to drive it regularly.
What I don't care for is the "patination" or distressing of a restored car - that's just pretending that it's something it isn't, but at the end of the day "à chacun son goût".
