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

When I was at "Techno Classica" in Essen, near Dortmund over the last years, you could buy hundreds of blinky well restored classic cars, each brand, each decade, each price. Walking through the halls was boring. It was always the feel as if you would visit a new cars show room. What I want to say is that the presented multiplication of well restored cars, loads of "like new", "mint condition" was like presenting goods after wiping out history and identity of all the offerings.
I have to admit, that my 1973 911T is a sort of such a breed. The reason I bought her was, I felt in love with her. I hope, frequent use will give her some "new" patina over the years. Now I could sell her and I could get a 1974 narrow G Modell with genuine patina and a much lower price tag. I'm thinking about it, but I like the older long hood shape and the lightness of the older car.

Here's a link to a video featuring a car owner who really
understands what genuine patina is all about, no deceptive
rat-rod techniques involved.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoX_g3bcABE

For me it really depends what it is. A new or new-ish car with bumps and scrapes just looks unloved. whereas an old car can wear a few minor dings and blemishes as part of it's identity. Give me an old car with a bit of patina any day over an over blinged show queen.

The french have a phrase that I love for an original unrestored car as being "dans son jus" The odd scuff or mark here and there can all be part of a car's character and history - a bit Henry V before the battle of Agincourt "Then he will strip his sleeve, and show his arm and say "these wounds I had on Crispin's day".

Two of my favorite old cars have both been somewhat scruffy. My old 1968 Mini Cooper which I had as a student just looked like a fairly ropey old mini, but it went like poop of a chromed shovel & was great for surprising people and i loved it dearly. The second one was a 1934 Alvis Speed 20 Charlesworth bodied 3 position drophead belonging to an old customer of mine. It had been bought new by his grandfather and had never been sold, restored or even repainted, just properly maintained. It was simply gorgeous.

Having said all that, I have to say that I also rather liked Viper's Ratsun. I wouldn't want it as my only fun car tho'.

For me, the decider is the age and condition when I bought it. If it's a useable but battle scarred old 'un, then I'd do nothing but fettle it. If it's something I bought for it's condition, then as Dave W's work shoe analogy, it's something I'd strive to maintain.

Isn't anything other than natural ageing a faux finish?

When I started getting into Vintage and Veteran bikes about 15 years ago there was a groundswell of owners who did not fully restore but kept as much patina as possible.

One such was Jacqueline Bickerstaff - a transgender lady who rode a a very early Triumph TT . Well if you looked at this bike you would swear it would never go or if it did never make any distance.

Quite the opposite! And it was bump start, so to see her running off start lines and jumping on with the job fired up was quite something!!

I could never partially restore - and tried to get my bikes as they left the factory....each to their own!!

I'm sure you are correct Mark, its the sort of car and condition which gets people excited at Auctions, originality seems to be King these days. I have a thing for old Land Rovers and the fully restored ones I see do look superb but for me a nice old used and well maintained one with all its patina of age which tells a story is much more appealing. Old Land Rovers wear their battle scars well, much better than normal cars IMO.