Reading about people modifying their cars got me thinking.

If you had a 1952 Ferrari that had been wrapped in cotton wool since coming out of the factory, and only taken out once a year for preservation maintenance, would it be 'better' than the same car that had lived a careful used life, withe some miles and patina ?

I was at a Motor Show one year, and an owner was displaying his 1940s black Austin. It was his pride and joy, although a little shabby. He maintained it himself where he could.
He wanted it to look 'new' by having a respray.

The rest of the Austin owners around him were being a bit heavy, in poo pooing the idea, saying that is car was relatively genuine and displayed patina.

My view is that he lives with it. He pays for it and he wants to enjoy it.

There's a mad guy with fluorescent green coupe in North Yorkshire. Not for me, but he enjoys it.

Discuss !

Pays ya money and take your choice. Personally I think cars are for driving but one debate I've been having lately is the usability of classics. Simply put an 80s hot hatch is outpaced by even a modest family car these days. So if you want one it's likely relegated to special occasion. Which brings me to, I think my point.

I think it depends more about why you bought the car and it's value. Using your example, most people couldn't afford to own it and even less to replace it. Naturally that gives rise to the museum spec car as people want to maintain it's value. In theory if it's as good at the the end of your tenure as when you got it you shouldn't lose out. As for better, I'm not sure as officially I'd like a factory fresh version I drove daily. In the case of the Austin they seem to value originality.

Up to the owner. Others don't have to like what's done to it, that's their prerogative; different though to telling someone else they're 'wrong'.

If Chris Bangle designed something it is very likely to work not just for him but for many others, but if an owner wants their own rear lights for example it's only 'better' or 'worse' as an opinion rather than right or wrong - it's just 'different'.

IMHO

I have a foot in both camps.

My coupe I have kept as original as possible. It has lacquer peel in a couple of places and paint only done where there was rusty bits. I have changed discs for cross drilled, lowered 30mm, changed the wheel colour to black and an exhaust with centre box removed. All things are reversible if someone wanted to.

In my little collection I have an XJS convertible which is immaculate low mileage but once again some mechanical have been upgraded to improve the driving such as polybushed when one goes and fitted a rear anti roll bar which was an option when new. Adjustable shock absorbers and 16" lattice alloys. Once again reversible.

Lastly I have another XJS. The holy trail is a pre HE factory manual which Jaguar built to use up the last of the E type gearboxes. Only 320ish were made. How many survive? Heavily modified in the 80s which can never be original again.

My choices

I'm surprised more people haven't bitten. It's quite a divisive topic.

For example when does shabby become patina? Age, rarity, value?

My wife would describe me as shabby.

I have definitely developed some patina over the years along with hair loss
We enjoy our cars and whatever mods or paint/ wraps float our boat seems fair to me. Yes purists will say otherwise but it’s personal to each owner. My NA is mostly original but I have upgraded the interior and re sprayed also fitted an SS exhaust but it makes smile when I open the Garage door!

Yes, that's it, it makes you smile !

I would like to get mine resprayed but don't want the respray to blister, flake, peel, chip etc. so might try to get a specialist to touch up the chips and push out the dents. The Ink black paint seems to last really well.
Has anyone ever ratted a Coupe? Saw this on one of the many Henry Cole programs today an I think it looks fantastic! Ratted E-Type

Not for me, but if you wait long enough.....

As someone who worked for a Jag specialist i think this piece of detritus needs to say hello to a scud missile,
preferably one travelling at mach 5.

Looks like it may have already met with a missle, awful shouldn't be allowed.

I too am of the opinion that the ratted style is not for me, but I suppose there's something for everyone.

Equally, I think a car's designers generally do a better job of designing the bodywork than most aftermarket plastic panel makers, though, so what do I know?

What I really hate to see is a car that's kept in cotton wool and never driven... journalists (and readers!) gushing over sixty year old Ferraris with 'only 4,000km on the clock' really wind me up. If the vehicle is not driven ('just to the MOT station once a year!') then irrespective of the mechanical issues caused by lack of use, it has failed in its primary function.

I don't worry about every tiny scratch on the paintwork; I don't wash it every time I drive it (except in Turin trips, of course! ); I don't refuse to take it out in the rain. Just drive the bloody things and stop obsessing!

Neil