Discussion
Just read the thread about the Jag with those worn leather seats. Then read this http://www.cal-look.com/patina-cars/ this guy bemoaning restored cars.
What are people's thoughts on this? I quite like the look of a car that shows its age in some ways. I even quite like the rat look on some cars.
This year I am going to do a few things to my E30. Rust repair, stone chips, scratches, small dents etc. I think it will make the car look nicer.
Would anyone on here would just leave it for the patina effect?
What are people's thoughts on this? I quite like the look of a car that shows its age in some ways. I even quite like the rat look on some cars.
This year I am going to do a few things to my E30. Rust repair, stone chips, scratches, small dents etc. I think it will make the car look nicer.
Would anyone on here would just leave it for the patina effect?
andyps said:
A hard balance, but patina which shows a car has been looked after but not overly restored always looks great in my view. On a very small scale I like the fact that the alloy fuel filler cap on my '98 Fiat Coupe is tarnished and have chosen not to worry about it.
Exactly age gracefully. A bit like an old pair of brogues, worn, repaired, polished, never in fashion never out of style.
The times they are a'changin', as Dylan wrote. My E-type used to be vilified a few years back when the slightest speck of dust ruined the look. Now the "rat look" is being built in to restored cars. Did anyone see the article in Octane several years back on the restoration of the Jim clark D-type, TKF 9? Even had sprayed on exhaust burns on the flanks!
This year I was approached by someone at Silverstone wanting to buy the car because it is one that can be driven daily, as it has been for years anyway. He was prepared to pay more than ther market price since "you can't find cars like that any more". This, after buying a tatty E-type (albeit a very early and important car) and then spending over £100,000 to make it pristine again!
I keep the mechanics up to date, the body isn't rusty, but the interior is worn, and that's how she'll stay. More like it today than before, but not all. For me, every mark is a memory of the 120,000 miles we've done together, and you can't replace memories.
This year I was approached by someone at Silverstone wanting to buy the car because it is one that can be driven daily, as it has been for years anyway. He was prepared to pay more than ther market price since "you can't find cars like that any more". This, after buying a tatty E-type (albeit a very early and important car) and then spending over £100,000 to make it pristine again!
I keep the mechanics up to date, the body isn't rusty, but the interior is worn, and that's how she'll stay. More like it today than before, but not all. For me, every mark is a memory of the 120,000 miles we've done together, and you can't replace memories.
Patina is great in old furniture and houses but the problem with it in old cars is that that if you do try to drive them as intended, they will suffer from weather and damp quickly. A restored car can have modern levels of corrosion protection, improvements throughout making it a usable car. Try driving a late 50s 356 that has spent most of its life in a barn on a daily basis, maintain it regularly and how long does it last.
One of my classic car buddies tried to do this for 2 years with an S Type Jag. It looked lovely with its battle scars and original paint. He kept on top of corrosion protection as best as possible but it is now in storage awaiting restoration as it was just impossible to keep rust truly at bay.
Patina is great on museum pieces, it's even great to put false patina on a restoration but trying to live with it in my opinion is very difficult.
One of my classic car buddies tried to do this for 2 years with an S Type Jag. It looked lovely with its battle scars and original paint. He kept on top of corrosion protection as best as possible but it is now in storage awaiting restoration as it was just impossible to keep rust truly at bay.
Patina is great on museum pieces, it's even great to put false patina on a restoration but trying to live with it in my opinion is very difficult.
LordBretSinclair said:
I love these forums where we can all exchange views.
Coincidentally over on the "Your Restorations" thread "Yertis" is talking about respraying his Audi because it has "too much patina"
That's right, and I love 'patina'. The problem, if problem it is, with that particular car is that it's fairly rare among Quattros in having only had one owner and being comparatively very low mileage - the interior for example is like new. Most Quattros have been through many owners, resprayed, crashed, fixed, stolen, or chopped up to make various kinds of rally 'replicas', so I intend to keep this one totally original. But the bodywork, while being solid and apart from the wheel arch rims rust-free, has had a few knocks and scrapes that push it just beyond 'patina' into what I would classify as 'tatty'. So I'm having the whole thing sorted out so its looks do the rest of it justice.Coincidentally over on the "Your Restorations" thread "Yertis" is talking about respraying his Audi because it has "too much patina"
Yertis said:
LordBretSinclair said:
I love these forums where we can all exchange views.
Coincidentally over on the "Your Restorations" thread "Yertis" is talking about respraying his Audi because it has "too much patina"
That's right, and I love 'patina'. The problem, if problem it is, with that particular car is that it's fairly rare among Quattros in having only had one owner and being comparatively very low mileage - the interior for example is like new. Most Quattros have been through many owners, resprayed, crashed, fixed, stolen, or chopped up to make various kinds of rally 'replicas', so I intend to keep this one totally original. But the bodywork, while being solid and apart from the wheel arch rims rust-free, has had a few knocks and scrapes that push it just beyond 'patina' into what I would classify as 'tatty'. So I'm having the whole thing sorted out so its looks do the rest of it justice.Coincidentally over on the "Your Restorations" thread "Yertis" is talking about respraying his Audi because it has "too much patina"
LordBretSinclair said:
No offence was meant, just an observation, not a criticism
Not offended in the least! As you say, it's an interesting exchange of views. There's obviously a difference between 'patina' and 'damage'. What I find interesting is the notion of originality, as argued over on the Bentley court case thread. I think that apart from the cylinder block, head, door hinges, some trim type components, seats and some of the heavier suspension components there's barely an original part on my TR6, and yet apart from a year or so when I was rebuilding the chassis, and a couple of years when I was having the bodywork done, the car has been continually registered for the last 41 years. The 'new' paintwork is now starting to show its own patina. I do drive it quite a bit and as a result stuff wears out and gets replaced. As has already been said, the important thing is to keep the rust at bay.Generally though, I'm quite interested in the way machines weather and degrade with use. I know it sounds a bit odd but I quite like seeing cars that bear the scars of use. I saw a DB7 in London last year which was clearly being driven as a daily hack. I though it looked great.
Yertis said:
Generally though, I'm quite interested in the way machines weather and degrade with use. I know it sounds a bit odd but I quite like seeing cars that bear the scars of use. I saw a DB7 in London last year which was clearly being driven as a daily hack. I though it looked great.
Me too, plus this gives me an excuse to shamelessly post a pic of my own well used DB7 
LordBretSinclair said:
Me too, plus this gives me an excuse to shamelessly post a pic of my own well used DB7
You know I'm really very tempted to get one of these to replace the Monaro. Would have to be the V12. On one hand, it seems a shame to use one to bash up and down the M4 in all weathers, on the other hand bashing it up and down the motorways and by-ways of Britain is the only way to really get to know it and enjoy it. The Monaro is very comfortable, fast and tough, but I worry that the DB might be a bit fragile. Need to get out and try one on.Now now Yertis, Astons don't bash along motorways 
they glide.
Seriously though you should try a V12 Vantage (manual if you can get one). I've done a lot of continental touring in mine and it is a glorious way to eat up the miles. I wouldn't call it a fragile car but they need regular servicing and the front suspension doesn't like road humps at any speed as the tracking is easily upset. If you're running a Monaro (what a brute) fuel consumption shouldn't worry you too much. Cheers.
they glide.Seriously though you should try a V12 Vantage (manual if you can get one). I've done a lot of continental touring in mine and it is a glorious way to eat up the miles. I wouldn't call it a fragile car but they need regular servicing and the front suspension doesn't like road humps at any speed as the tracking is easily upset. If you're running a Monaro (what a brute) fuel consumption shouldn't worry you too much. Cheers.
Patina as in 'used and cared for', like the aforementioned brogues, is fine. In fact it is exactly how I like to have my cars. Unfortunately the word seems to have been hijacked by some classic car sellers to describe a shabby restoration case. I have seen leather seats described as having 'patina' which are ripped and worn beyond repair.
LordBretSinclair said:
Now now Yertis, Astons don't bash along motorways they glide.
they glide.
Yes of course – sorry.That said, I'm not sure that the eastbound M4, 5.30 am on a wet Monday morning, is a good place for gliding, even the Monaro gives me the colly-wobbles in the slippery murk. Sadly I'm coming to the conclusion that the next car is going to be another German four-wheel drive thing.
FarmerJim said:
Patina as in 'used and cared for', like the aforementioned brogues, is fine. In fact it is exactly how I like to have my cars. Unfortunately the word seems to have been hijacked by some classic car sellers to describe a shabby restoration case. I have seen leather seats described as having 'patina' which are ripped and worn beyond repair.
What I really don't get is deliberately distressed. Like someone taking scissors and bleach to a perfectly good pair of jeans.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff