The philosophy of "Restoration"

[fxrsrider]

I've been reading many posts here lately....particularly those that relate to the problems/solutions that I'm seeking for my '75 C10.  This is a great forum....and the feedback that I've always received has been excellent and always appreciated.  Thank you, to the administrators who take the time to read our posts and respond both practically and respectfully.

With this post, I hope to open a discussion amongst those of us who are here and who enjoy the square body trucks that we wrench on, sweat over, spend our heart earned money, and constantly seek perfection for.

Apart from my '75 C10 (my newest auto relationship), I have worked extensively with various Harley's and am still in the process of making an SCCA racer of a 1972 MG Midget that I acquired a few years ago.  I have become very deeply involved in the Austin Healy/MG community.....and, like here, have met many very nice and equally passionate people who I am honored to call my friends.

Recently, I received a British parts catalog that always features articles and images of recent builds.  There was a particular article that struck me, regarding the subject of "Restoration."  I am attaching a copy of the article as well as the direct link.  In no way am I endorsing anyone or anything with this post!......

But as I read the posts here....I see the same thing happening....people referring to their "restoration" project that includes hi-performance hedders, stroked motors, and modified suspensions.  It seems, then, that maybe we can benefit from a friendly discussion about what it is that we do with our trucks.  When are we "restoring" them?  When are we "hot rodding" them?  When are we "customizing" them?

Basically.....how should we refer to what it is that we are actually doing to our trucks....here and in public?               ......looking forward to your feedback!

here is the direct link to the article (a hard copy with live web links is attached as well):

http://www.mossmotoring.com/restored/

[Irish_Alley]

i think i understand what you meant. the act of restoring means to return the truck it to its original condition. but you will find we have many types of restos. some will just do body work and a nice paint job along with repairing the inside, then you have frame off restos where they strip the truck down and redo everything. to me if you hot rod something you will slam it down make it fast (or try to) and loud, to customize something means to add your special touch to it i.e. lifting it or slamming it or even just adding headers.

now most of us are limited to funds so some will do a resto but not go into great detail to keep it cheap. now is this customizing or a resto? it all depends on how you look at it, if you only bring part of the truck back to its original condition then that should only customizing it but to put someone who put some time into their truck to get it 75% original into the same category as someone who put headers on their truck is kind of slapping someone in the face. but to say just adding headers on your truck doesnt make it a custom truck is another slap in the face. then if you say someone who did a frame off resto spending 20k into the rebuild is the same thing as someone who spent 1k on the partial rebuild is another slap.

so to actually try and categorize these people just look at the love they have for their truck and not what they had in their pockets and blew it on a truck

[TerryY]

And thus was born the "Resto-mod"  Partially restored and partially modified and proud of both sides.

[roundhouse]

And the RUST-o-mod

Where you put a modern drivetrain and suspension in and don't waste any money on making it look pretty

Different  groups of owners take it different ways

Ive owned several 1966 thunderbirds and the owners usually get upset it you modify your car

I also have owned and early Bronco for many years and modifying it is almost expected

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[VileZambonie]

Restoration refers to bringing something back to the condition it once was. It doesn't dictate "original" and doesn't mean that improvements cannot be made. Typically you would refer to this as an "original restoration" if you are going for stock.

If you purchased a green watch that didn't work, replaced all of it's components, made it fully functional again and painted it yellow would it not be restored still?

If you were going for originality then it is your responsibility to call it an "original restoration" and with that being said, unless it is done with all original parts would it truly be an original restoration? You can get as granular as you want over the subject but it's generally understood that the word restore means back to working condition.

You can restore your computer to it's last back up but that is not how it came from the factory, so do you call this a resto-mod? The way I see it is the builder/restorer needs to determine what to call their build.

[Irish_Alley]

case in point there are many ways to define the word restore
re·store
rəˈstôr/
verb
bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); reinstate.

return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position.

repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.

[fxrsrider]

According to the AACA:
Automobile restoration is the process of repairing the degraded aspect of an automobile to return it to an overall "authentic" condition. Restorations should be historically accurate as a representative example of the production model.[1] For example, the guidelines of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) are to "evaluate an antique vehicle, which has been restored to the same state as the dealer could have prepared the vehicle for delivery to the customer."[2]

According to Wikipedia:
In contrast to preserving its historical artifacts through restoration or to conserve significant vehicles by keeping original surfaces and materials, some owners make changes or add modern upgrades during the restoration of their cars that may reduce or enhance the value of the vehicle. In the U.S. a non-original restored car may be termed a "restored." Upgrades may include newer safety components such as seat belts, brakes or using relays to reduce electric current flowing through light switches. Usability upgrades such as fitting intermittent wipers, an alternator instead of a dynamo, or electronic ignition system instead of contact breaker points ignition system. Emissions upgrades such as hardened valve seats to use standard unleaded fuel, or retrofitted catalytic converters. Upgrades that are easily reversible to the original condition, or were available when the vehicle was current, would be less likely to be controversial. Less acceptable to the classic car market may be major alterations like engine swaps or gearbox transplants, which would be more like hot rodding.

Depending upon how appropriate the upgrades are considered by other owners of the same model, this may reduce or enhance the value of the car. If the car is in regular use non-original upgrades would be likely to be more acceptable, than if the car is a stored collector's piece where originality would be more important. It is important as a restorer or owner, to know what is acceptable to the potential market for the finished car, in order not to de-value it.



1. Richardson, Jim (1994). Classic Car Restorer's Handbook: restoration tips and techniques for owners and restorers of classic and collectible automobiles. HPBooks. ISBN 9781557881946. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
2. "Official Judging Guidelines". Antique Automobile Club of America. 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.

[fxrsrider]

You can restore your computer to it's last back up but that is not how it came from the factory, so do you call this a resto-mod? The way I see it is the builder/restorer needs to determine what to call their build.

With all due respect...for the purposes of this discussion, at least, a reference to "restoring your computer" would be more along the lines of fixing up that old Commodore 64 computer that's been sitting in the garage since the '80s and trying to get it back up running with the original software, etc.....as it worked just before you put it in the garage 30 some years ago.

"Restoring your computer" as you reference it is really just a term that is relatively new and particular to the "memory" of today's contemporary computers and OS systems, etc.  To compare this type of "restore" to the present discussion is really an apples to oranges type of comparison. No?

[VileZambonie]

With all due respect back to you, my point was that you are trying to define the word "restoration" and there are many definitions of the word which can be based on interpretation.

If you decide that you want to abide by a car clubs definition of the word then that is your choice but it doesn't mean it is the only way or that others are using the term incorrectly. I couldn't care less if someone wants to restore their vehicle to original factory condition or put a supercharged late model engine in it and call it restored. If it's been restored back to functional condition, it's been restored.

synonyms: repair, repairing, fixing, mending, refurbishment, reconditioning, rehabilitation, rebuilding, reconstruction, overhaul, redevelopment, renovation

[fxrsrider]

I completely understand.  I guess the truck community really just wants to make our 'ol square bodies cool, run good (on or off road), powerful, fast, etc....or any combination thereof.  There's nothing wrong with that.

Ultimately....the stakes in this conversation are pretty low.  And as many have commented, there really is no clear answer.....which, if I'm not mistaken, is what great conversations and discussions are made of...i.e. diverse thoughts and opinions.

As I previously stated, I'm new to this forum and relatively new to my '75 C10 (that I seem to be "repairing" more so than "restoring"......I'm also making it look cool and drive and ride like a race car......so, me personally, I wouldn't say I'm restoring my truck.....I'm making my truck exactly that....mine.  I'll never be able to resell it for the money I put into it....but then again, I don't know that I'll ever have a reason to sell it.......smog exempt, cheap registration, easy to work on, gets tons of attention on the road, is fun to drive while offering the practicality of a truck.....Can't beat that in a vehicle!

Maybe my effort at opening this discussion (thread) in this forum was simply not appropriate to the community (I can live with that).  I'm also on a popular British motors forum....and I did frame this discussion as coming from an article that I read (and personally found interest in) within the British motors community.  Perhaps that's where it should stay.

I hope I haven't upset or offended anyone. I really enjoy this forum.....just thought a little friendly discussion could be interesting...

...or maybe we just need beer and a bbq to help make that the case 

[fxrsrider]

Different  groups of owners take it different ways

Ive owned several 1966 thunderbirds and the owners usually get upset if you modify your car.

I also have owned an early Bronco for many years and modifying it is almost expected.

This is excellent fuel (no pun intended) for the discussion.  I think you're right, Roadhouse ...."Different groups of owners take it different ways."

So, as the participants of 73-87ChevyTrucks.com "Parts, Restoration, Community".......how does our group "take it?"

....or maybe the question has already been answered 

[Irish_Alley]

its been answered but not in black in white but in the gray area. we dont have any rules on whats restored or not its more of a personal preference. i dont think if someone says they restored their truck but didnt bring it back to the original way, that someone on here will call them out on it.

[78 Chevyrado]

its been answered but not in black in white but in the gray area. we dont have any rules on whats restored or not its more of a personal preference. i dont think if someone says they restored their truck but didnt bring it back to the original way, that someone on here will call them out on it.

This.

Restored or resto modded only really matters when selling a vehicle.

Mine has been restored to daily drive condition, but it's not as it came originally.  in lots of little places.

Restored to me, on some rare car (69 camaro z28) means as it came OE.  restored to me on a run of the mill vehicle (like my 78 C20) means its all functional and shiny.   resto-mod means anything rebuilt while being updated or using todays techniquies and technology.  my truck is technically a restomod.  but its a not too special C20...  so i think of it as rebuilt or restored, just cuz nobody cares what i do to it...

[srozell]

I think I'd like to say that I'm recycling my truck. I'm taking a 1980 k20 that used to work well in 1980 for the needs of the owner that purchased it, and I'm repurposing it for my needs in 2015. Many of the aspects of my recycling project would qualify as restoring it, but there are some things that I don't like about the k20 that I'm going to convert for my purposes. I expect when I'm done there will be some people that give me the thumbs up. I also suspect that there will be some purists that will give me the thumbs down. In the end I don't care because it will suit my needs and my purposes.

[enaberif]

Words like restoration are being over used now just like the word "patina". Certain words just don't warrant the use of the terminology but people don't care.

For me a restoration means putting the vehicle you have back to the exact way it was when it rolled off the floor of the showroom. The issue with this is that things like numbers matching is becoming more and more rare on such older vehicles that to truly be a restoration would involve such information.

So in reality what most people are doing to their trucks are "fixing" them up to a point they want to enjoy and like to drive. Sometimes this is as simple as a paint job but other times its going all out and fixing it to a safe point like myself.