That, my friend, is ridiculous statement. I expected something more thought provoking from you. I get you would leave wooden wheels on cars back in the day too huh?
As for drawing the line, as already stated, I would NOT touch a highly sought after, respected car. But a car with power glide, 6 banger, etc would get TORCHED. I guess your not big on house flips either? If it did not have running water to begin with why add it now? Just destroys character of the neighborhood.
I'm surprised it went all the way to 11 posts. That might be a new FChat record. As Matt knows I am looking to do a car like his, but I want rear independent suspension. I have a built Dart SB 427 in a crate, but I have passed on the first three C2s that I have looked at up to this point. I am having a hard time finding a car that isn't too nice to Resto-Rod but isn't too trashed to be a nightmare. Here is my last Resto Rod project. It is listed in the classifieds. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/1963-chevrolet-bel-air-power-touring-retro-rod.582648/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
Really Bob??? Have you put a car together yourself??? These cars are as fake as breast implants. They are very real when you are playing with them.
Here is my "fake" Mercury Lead Sled that I ruined according to some folks on FChat. The guy I sold it to must hate it because it is fake. Restored '50 Mercs don't have a big market, but the ruined ones are quite popular. Normally aspirated 327 Chevy SB and a Powerglide with a Ford 9" rear end disc brakes and bagged all around. I feel dirty for what I did to this car, NOT!!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
This was my car, was going for a classic/sleeper look with modern powertrain but was nothing special in terms of handling- https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1103-jim-morans-1970-chevy-chevelle/ Tom owns the shop I work for. I fabricated the turbo system on his car many years ago- https://www.hotrod.com/articles/this-1959-chevrolet-impala-is-a-revenge-of-the-pimpmobile/ Here's another Impala of his, I didn't do anything on this one but calibrate it on the dyno- http://www.superchevy.com/features/1711-tom-izzo-couldnt-find-a-1962-bel-air-bubbletop-so-he-fabricated-one/ Sooo many more but all along similar premise.
There are very few no-story Bugatti 35s. Almost none that aren't in permanent collections. Many were restored with modern parts that came from the same place my car came from. They're kinda like cyborgs. Part Molsheim, part Pur Sang, Argentina. Are the cyborgs fakes too? They aren't fully authentic. If an entire car is built around an original differential and and axle, plus all-Argentinian parts, how does that differ from my 35B? Because that describes a lot of cars out there. Matt
That is a damn good question! So hot rodders are bad people for modding. Import guys are bad for modding. Nothing should ever be touched including better tires even if the bias plys are no longer available. You screwed with the car so it must be bad. Oh heck, I need new shocks but the ones today are better than those of yesterday. Don't do it. Find old and rebuild they say. To me, the only POSERS are ones that try to take a car and flip its origin to something else. I have seen old Ferrari with complete Ford driver train that got accolades from the Redmond Town Center masses. That is a sin to me. I have seen C4 Corvettes turned into look alike Ferrari. That is POSER. Restomod is not posing. Its where hotrodding has evolved to in my mind. That said, would your rather drive a '67 427 tri-power without AC on a long summer time drive which will encounter traffic or would you rather drive a restomod '67 look alike that has MORE POWER and AC? Hence my whole point and what we are witnessing at like Barrett Jackson.
I have a 1984 Olds Delta 88. I got it a couple of years ago with 22600 miles. While it's not really a collectible car I do think it is unique in that the miles are so low. I'm thinking g about doing a LS swap and also change to a 4spd auto. At this point I don't want to do anything that would be irreversible but a few mechanical upgrades in my opinion make sense.
Never! It amazes me how big these things were. What is that about 18ft long? That is a Suburban in size. Still, you would look chill cruising around in Florida. Only mod would be fuzzy dice.
