Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Original / barn find or even The Rat Look

I like older cars that are original and unmolested, oily rag cars some would call them and as long as they are safe to drive I think they look great. They are quite popular in the US with classes at car shows for unrestored cars / barn finds that have been made mechanically safe to drive.

Then there are the Rat Look cars that may have been deliberately made to look "aged" if they weren't already.

Has anyone done a Rat Look Morgan? Does anyone on here like the "oily rag" or even the Rat Look cars?

Anyone got smelling salts for Dave W..???

How to devalue you car, give it the rat look.

Went to a classic hot rod meeting on Pendine sands, back in the summer, they love their rat rods. Very impressed with the preparation of the mechanicals, and the sound of the v8s was awesome. Driven to the meeting with open header pipes, and open wheeled.

Terry Foxen's 4-seater that he used to use about the place has to be one of the rattiest Morgans I've ever seen. It was mechanically sound, but the cosmetics had plenty of room for improvement, as they say...

I'm fully prepared to be lambasted and hauled over the coals but I can't abide Rat Look nor Oily Rag cars.
Whilst not going to full Concourse spec, I do like my cars to look as though they have been loved and kept as good as I can keep them whilst still enjoying them.
Reg

I am lucky enough to have some vintage car enthusiasts in my neighbourhood.

I have also been lucky enough to see cars from their collection from the great war, with orignal paint.

For such old survivors I think it would be wrong to carry out a full restoration.

This club were given the task of making a 1927 model T truck running.

It had an absolutely beatufully patina. It would be wrong to make it shining new.

The doors are wood with wear marks from driver and passenger resting their arms on the door.

I agree with you about Rat Look, to me it's just a style thing, but I confess I have a degree of sympathy with the 'Oily Rag' approach. To me that's about focusing all one's efforts on the mechanical side of the car, leaving attention to the cosmetic aspects in second place.

When I was a young biker we spent all our money on making our bikes go faster, handle better, or stop quicker. Anything else was seen as a just a pose. "Chrome don't get you home" and all that. I guess that attitude has remained with me.

Tim,
I love that expression " Chrome don't get you home" Perhaps I will need to change my opinion about oily rag cars just so I can use it !!

Reg

Natural aging is one thing, but faux finishes are something else.