Restoration 250 SWB

Whilst I admire their peerless workmanship this obsession with "better than new" really reflects on the new type of uber hi end classic car owner.

I can't think of anything worse than an over restored car that has for all intensive purposes lost its soul. I suppose if you're a connected CEO with a garish sterile wife then a garish sterile car for your bleached white teeth sterile existence is just what you need for some naff closed shop concours event with tacky designer brands all over the shop. I've been to these shows and wonder where it's all heading.

Forgive me for going off topic but I've just picked up a Honda CZ100. The ultimate pit bike for vintage events. You see them at Goodwood if you're lucky.. All are over restored and many in peoples living rooms. They are a charming period jewel.

I was lucky and privileged to be allowed to purchase a CZ from the original owner who received it as his christmas present December '65 age 9. Last used '66 and 200 miles on the clock. Only ever used in the garden and never registered. It has sat in an integral garage for 50 odd years and has not been touched. It has heaps of patina and wears its years with pride. Needs a new tank as it was left full of gas which turned into some kind of evil acid!

To restore it would be a travesty nay vandalism.

Pic of the ex 9 year old last week!

I don't own this bike. I am merely looking after it for the owners of the future who will thank me for not sterilising it in the name of the nouveau riche desire to rape the past in the name of fashion.

Sermon concluded!

(FYI - Here's a CZ in the modern resto mould...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1964-HONDA-CZ100-Red-tank-Monkey-Bike-Classic-Very-Rare-Vintage-/201295677299)
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Your first paragraph doesn't hold any punches.There is definitely a ring of truth to what you say.Just be careful who you say it to. tongascrew

 

Some cars need restoration and others don't.

There certainly is a high level of craftsmanship that DK engineering exhibit and you have to give them credit for their final fit and finish.

If the market is any indication, than it's all heading upwards.

 

Gorgeous car.

 

Any period pic ?? I can't believe this car was born with full-width front bumper and this "old school" steering-wheel...

 

Great vid!

 

Stunning car. Great video and story.

 

The period photo is at the start of the video. It is all documented with Ferrari too.

 

I do agree with you that over time these cars are being improved to a standard they never were. This is because restoration companies are using these cars to demonstrate their work and of course attract more clients.

Over time this will distort our knowledge of build standards of the period, but in this case I feel that the only area where this occurred was with the trimming. In fact the trimmer admitted that they were aiming for perfection in quality not originality.

As for the rest of the car it was returned to how it left the factory and the body restoration was really an extensive completely bare metal repaint.

Now in defence of restorations, these cars, in fact all cars, are machines and unless they go through a refit at some stage they will become poorer driving cars. If you owned a Spitfire (plane) and did not perform thorough refits every so many years it would be grounded, for example.

So other than a nice new paint job, and extensive detail work, this car has had a considerable mechnical refit and hopefully, if original specs were stuck to, now drives like it did when it left the factory.

What needs to happen now though, is the owner needs to drive the thing and allow patina to reform ... in 20 years time, re-restore and then chuck on some more miles again!
Pete

 

I wonder what year the "period" in this case might be.

 

Thanks for the pics Wayne. I'm still not convinced this car left the factory with this front bumper and steering-wheel as we don't know the exact date of the pics...

 

I can understand somebody changing the steering wheel, but why the heck would somebody change a bumper ... big expense!
Pete

 

Big expense in 60's ?? I don't think so...

 

Ordering a custom bumper from the Ferrari factory isn't likely going to make it much cheaper. About the why: many Lusso owners in the period were very worried about damaging the nose of their car and would go to great lengths to protect it. It wasn't necessarily much different with a passo corto.

The earlier claim was that all the mods were documented by the factory when the car was built. Would be interesting to know what these documents really are, otherwise it's just talk.

I also think the period photos are not showing a brand new car, it looks worn (is that driver seat held together by tape?), rear bumper is all over the place and the trunk lid doesn't seem to be closing properly.

 

I am not convinced this car needed a restoration like that.

If anyone wants to listen here is a video of 250 swb's around Le mans. The audio is truly amazing;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LFcU-gXPK4



And an on board video 250 swb comp. from Spa historic race;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UKZU_QJSo

 

I love these old swiss plates. This car should come back switzerland. I really have no clue when the license plate could be - but it looks definately older than 1965.....

 

Do you have any photos of it in blue? Would be great to see!