Modifications U (Don't) Like

Author
Discussion

mph

Original Poster:

2,316 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
One subject that polarises opinion is modifications to classic cars. I plead guilty having modified numerous cars over the years, mainly to improve the driving experience i.e uprated brakes, 5 speed gearbox etc. etc.

But there are some "enhancements" that I really don't understand, make me cringe and in certain cases would put me off buying the car.

Please treat this as a lighthearted topic as we're all entitled to our opinions.

In no particular order - I dislike

Walnut dashes fitted to MGB's, TR6's etc.
Contrasting seat piping on cars that never had it originally
Minilite wheels fitted to almost everything - TR's, Stags etc.

Edited by mph on Sunday 28th September 13:35

ARH

1,222 posts

238 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
mph said:
Minilite wheels fitted to almost everything - TR's, Stags etc.
I couldn't agree more, followed by Black and White number plates on cars built after 1970. even her indoors insists on this. no car sold after 1969 had black and white number plates

chard

26,954 posts

182 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Minilites I like a good "period" mod.

I'm with you on walnut dashs on MG's the standard black crackle looks far better IMO
I don't like modern radio head units.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
or Walnut dashes on XK150s. shudder!

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
One correction: black numberplates are legal on a car built before 1973. I have a Lotus Europa which was built in October 1972 but registered in January 1973. It is allowed to have black numberplates. I agree that black plates are deplorable on post 1972 cars and particularly on modern cars.

Edited by Breadvan73 on Thursday 10th February 12:24

ARH

1,222 posts

238 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Breadvan73 said:
One correction: black numberplates are legal on a car registered before April 1973. I agree that theya re deplorable on any car registered more recently than that, and particularly on modern cars.
Just because they are legal does not make them period.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
I have corrected my correction - the key date is manufacture pre 73, not registration.

I have pondered whether my Lotus would look better with black (which it was sold with) or with white and yellow plates, and have decided that black is probably right, but it's not obvious, as the car is pretty 1970s overall. By contrast, I have no qualms about keeping the black plates on my November 1969 (registered January 1970) Jensen Interceptor II. Similarly, I am keeping its 15 inch Ro-Style steel wheels (black and chrome) rather than fitting 16 inch GKN alloys, as the Ro-Style wheels are and look correct for the age of the car.

Here is a gratuitous picture of a fancy ride, and a dog. There may also be a car in the picture.





Edited by Breadvan73 on Thursday 10th February 12:38


Edited by Breadvan73 on Thursday 10th February 12:43

Dogwatch

6,222 posts

221 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
I can't remember what actually happened at the time but would guess that once the reflective plates became legal they became the new 'must have' and many cars which could legally sport the old style plates never did.

vixen1700

22,665 posts

269 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Mine has black numberplates, registered April '72, 'K'reg. scratchchin

Probably would have had reflective numberplates when new...

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
mph said:
Walnut dashes fitted to MGB's, TR6's etc.
Contrasting seat piping on cars that never had it originally
Minilite wheels fitted to almost everything - TR's, Stags etc.
I agree with all of the above, though I had to save up for ages to buy a Rokee dashboard for my Mini, way back in the 1980s.

Chrome wire wheels instead of painted ones.

Plastic wheelarch extensions on Minis.

Any anachronisms. Especially modern stereos, wheels and low profile tyres.


a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Pat H said:
Chrome wire wheels instead of painted ones.
Even worst is chrome wires on modern cars hurl
Wires on classics with centre lock wheels yepp, but a saw an X300 Jag recently bastardised with CWWs, XJS too.

52classic

2,441 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Modern head units in a classic are a big annoyance but worse by far is anything less than 70 profile tyres. Dislike boot racks or mesh headlamp guards on anything later than mid 60's too.

Don't agree about the Minilites - They were a classy mod in their day although I would agree that too many cars have them these days.

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
I can't say that I like the way so many old VWs are chopped about, especially the lowered vans on daft wheels.

But I suppose that they are being preserved, which is a good thing.

ARH

1,222 posts

238 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Dogwatch said:
I can't remember what actually happened at the time but would guess that once the reflective plates became legal they became the new 'must have' and many cars which could legally sport the old style plates never did.
This is exactly what happened, no one would buy a new car then without the new number plates.

Boot racks I never thought of but how many sallons do you see with boot racks on, sports cars maybe. and then only when you have extra lugage to carry.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Opinions, please; which colour plate looks better? (One car is tattier than the other, but try to disregard that when opining.)






AJAX50

418 posts

239 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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Rally look alikes that could not manage half a stage.
Agree that chrome wires look very odd.
But I have got Minilite mags on my Mk2 Jag.

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
I am afraid that I am a complete sucker for silver on black plates.

I much prefer the lower picture of the two Europas, though I am sure that no one wanted them back in the early 1970s and that they are rarely "original".

My only problem is when they are stuck on a post 1972 car, when they not only look wrong, but are not even legal.

A few years ago I bought an old Mini. It came with reflective plates, but I am afraid that I couldn't resist getting some black and silver ones.

Wish I hadn't sold it....



a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Breadvan73 said:
Opinions, please; which colour plate looks better? (One car is tattier than the other, but try to disregard that when opining.)





On your lovely Europa I'd go for the black plates every day, I think the yellow ones look out of place.

Moikey Fortune

1,650 posts

235 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
black and white plates on a post '72 car????...tsk tsk very very naughty! smash

smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
The car pictured is a 1972 car. so naughtiness negative.