Posted by: Cool Splitty - 12 May 2012 10:42:32
Some here look down on us patina or ratlook car lovers some I've heard say at shows is ratlook is because people don't want to spend their money on a proper resto or paint job. These people not surprisingly are often in the paint bodyshop parts trade. We are saving our old split bus that is reasonably rotten underneath but has most org outside body paint by doing the minimal with welding and mechanical but not touching the appearance as scruffy as it looks. I know a geezer in belgium that has an oval still with most its org paint but really amazing is his 1952 split bug that has all its factory paint. Well proof that they are wrong and owners of rare old cars that still have most or some of their org paint should not pull them apart and repaint them and that restored is less appealing to hard collectors. https://www.bonhams.com/press_release/10293/ This early unrestored surviving mini would have not had half the interest and price had it been an immaculate resto.:p

Posted by: pre67vw - 12 May 2012 11:53:27
[quote=Cool Splitty]Some here look down on us patina or ratlook car lovers [/quote] [-x I don't know anyone who 'looks down' on an original car with real patina. Some of my favourite cars are original paint patina cars. Cars that have been deliberately knocked back to bare metal and left to rust, or original paint cars that are 'slammed' so that the underneath gets hammered in the name of fashion is a different matter though...

Posted by: 54 Gertie - 12 May 2012 13:32:33
Most on here (myself included) absolutely love a nice original paint (or even an old repaint), even when it's a bit scruffy and rough around the edges. People on here only moan (myself included)when, as said above, people lower these cars to the extent that it damages them. Personally, I do have a point in my head where original paint is just not worth maintaining, but you see very few cars that are like that. You really are preaching to the converted. :wink:

Posted by: AW - 12 May 2012 14:09:02
Hay cool splitty put some photos up to share with us. Also welcome to the site. My car is an old war horse that has survived over the years had some period mods done over time etc. [ATTACH]7316[/Attach]

Posted by: pre67vw - 12 May 2012 14:26:38
Two of my favourite cars... Andy's patina'd Heb... [img]https://www.pre67vw.com/shows/photos/Hessisch_Oldendorf_2009/HO_080.jpg[/img] Original paint (I think) on Bobs split cabrio: [img]https://www.pre67vw.com/shows/photos/Bad_Camberg_2011/IMG_0099.jpg[/img] But that doesn't mean that every instance of original paint should be preserved, sometimes the car's just not good enough to warrant it and a restoration is the better option.

Posted by: AW - 12 May 2012 14:28:25
Come on Rob any Heb and your Droooooooling. Andy W [ATTACH]7317[/Attach]

Posted by: 64rotbox - 12 May 2012 14:31:26
Signs of true age and history are great. Rubbing panels through to bare metal, lowering the life out of the ride height and piling rusty roofracks with knackered suitcases is another matter entirely. And that's not taking into account the genuine death traps, of which I have seen far too many. I think you'll find most of the people on here know the difference. "This early unrestored surviving mini would have not had half the interest and price had it been an immaculate resto." Got proof of that, or is that an opinion?

Posted by: pre67vw - 12 May 2012 14:32:17
[quote=AW]Come on Rob any Heb and your Droooooooling. Andy W[/quote] True enough, but of all the Hebs - I think that is my favourite one... :thumbup: Even lowered. It's great looking at restored cars at shows, but I don't think I could own one.

Posted by: Old Blue - 14 May 2012 12:55:04
[quote=64rotbox]Signs of true age and history are great. Rubbing panels through to bare metal, lowering the life out of the ride height and piling rusty roofracks with knackered suitcases is another matter entirely. And that's not taking into account the genuine death traps, of which I have seen far too many. I think you'll find most of the people on here know the difference. "This early unrestored surviving mini would have not had half the interest and price had it been an immaculate resto." Got proof of that, or is that an opinion?[/quote] If you'd bothered to read the link provided by Cute Splitty then the title and copy imply that rather clearly (it does to me anyway). Here as copied: A 1959 Austin Mini Seven De Luxe Saloon, [b]believed to be the oldest surviving unrestored Mini[/b], sold for an impressive £40,250 on Monday (30 April 2012) in Bonhams Sale of Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia at the RAF Museum, Hendon. Having attracted the attention of press worldwide, this amazing survivor sold for over three times its estimate of £12,000 – 15,000. The problem with a car such as this is how do you keep it as is untouched without it slowly dissolving away. I read in one of the classic magazines that the car was suffering from some structual corrosion.

Posted by: Old Blue - 14 May 2012 13:12:24
The Mini is a great all-time classic and one to match the Beetle, having sold huge amounts over decades and becoming a world-wide icon. Our Mini is a great little car to drive, and though not as well built as Old Blue our Beetle handles far better than any rear engine car. I agree with Cute Splitty - unrestored cars are where the collectors will put their money. Our '56 Oval from the US still has much of its original paint, though rather scorched and is all round original. Last Triumph here has a very original '57 wearing its exterior factory paint, and Rattletrap here its claimed owns a 1950 early export split with original exterior paint. So you don't need to go to Belgium to find them.

Posted by: pre67vw - 14 May 2012 13:39:56
[quote=Old Blue] handles far better than any rear engine car. [/quote] Any? :rofl:

Posted by: vintagebug - 14 May 2012 14:00:37
[quote=Old Blue]...Last Triumph here has a very original '57 wearing its exterior factory paint[/quote] Corrected- Last Triumph here [b][i]had[/i][/b] a very original '57 wearing its exterior factory paint. I believe the current owner will keep it in the same condition... :d [quote=Old Blue]...and Rattletrap here its claimed owns a 1950 early export split with original exterior paint. So you don't need to go to Belgium to find them.[/quote] I think it's actually a '49, but more to the point, it came from... Belgium (I believe). :roll: Please correct me if I'm wrong on either count, GKL7!

Posted by: GKL 7 - 14 May 2012 15:03:24
[quote=vintagebug] Please correct me if I'm wrong on either count, GKL7! [/quote] Correct and correct. But I'd expect that from you Dave,unlike some others who just post what they think they may have heard.

Posted by: GKL 7 - 14 May 2012 15:11:22
[quote=Old Blue]The Mini is a great all-time classic and one to match the Beetle,[/quote] Do you go on mini forums and say vice-versa?

Posted by: Cool Splitty - 14 May 2012 15:23:16
[quote=64rotbox]Signs of true age and history are great. Rubbing panels through to bare metal, lowering the life out of the ride height and piling rusty roofracks with knackered suitcases is another matter entirely. And that's not taking into account the genuine death traps, of which I have seen far too many. I think you'll find most of the people on here know the difference. "This early unrestored surviving mini would have not had half the interest and price had it been an immaculate resto." Got proof of that, or is that an opinion?[/quote] It would be fact. My mate has an immaculate restored 1960 mini but when you look into the restoration you find that it was given a new heritage bodyshell.I can't see how this can still be a 1960 mini andwith anew body.This happens a lot with minis and other british types I heard.If you put a newbody on a 60 Volksy then it would not be a 1960. Sorry guys but our split is headin for the weeds.But not to worry as its a laterFleetline and not for this vintage vw site.Would not mess an early volksy. Love to see the org paint 49split thought 52 in belgium was amazing.:shock:

Posted by: Cool Splitty - 14 May 2012 15:31:26
[quote=GKL 7]Do you go on mini forums and say vice-versa? [/quote] Though that more beetles were made than minis and for longer.:d anyone have production figures for both

Posted by: AW - 14 May 2012 15:49:49
Minis :thumbdn: :thumbdn: :thumbdn: :thumbdn: Andy W

Posted by: pre67vw - 14 May 2012 15:56:41
Sorry guys, if you want to talk about minis - join a mini site.