For those who have done their own restorations....

Alright, now I'm really getting the bug, especially after seeing BDVT69's unbelievable job. I'm just wondering, for those who have done their own restorations, who likes to aim for a factory correct, NCRS restoration vs. who just likes to do what they want.

The way I see it is the NCRS route can add value and pride, yet limits the purchase choice and choice of mods / color / accessories, etc. So I'm torn. To get the car I want with the factory correct route will probably be quite expensive and hard to find, yet to get any old car and mod it to how I want will be less difficult.

So, survey says............correct or modified???

Please feel free to add pics to show off your restoration in the response!

 

Modified correctly. St*ck is way too boring for me! Making it st*ck is very easy.

Modifications are a requirement. I select a car & then make a list of mods.
When one starts modifying, one should design/engineer.



Enough room for everyone- the best car shows have them all- modified, custom & st*ck.

 

i like that i can taylor mine to my taste...
that is only because when i got mine.. it was for lack of better words.. raped beyond belief.. but i saw.. and still do see the inner beauty lol
goodluck with your decision~!

 

well, I bought a Corvette b/c I love em. But my engine doesn't match, and I'm "tweaking" a thing or two. So for the untrained eye, it looks and seems stock. has minor mods to improve driveability etc. Nothing extreme.

 

Not exactly NCRS
70 in the back, 75 in the front, and 2002 wheels.

 

I've kept mine bone-stock and am thinking about entering an NCRS show this summer...


(OK, well, I made a few invisible changes to make the car more driveable.)

 

Old Hotrodder's saying: "It ain't really your car unless you built it yourself "

I bought it and built it to have fun, not be a paperweight. Check my sig pic for a most definitely incorrect engine.

 

I think it depends on what the individual likes to do with their car, drive, race or show. I build slightly modified with some period parts. I want to have fun with the car, Vette's don't need much to improve apprearance, and top dollar value is not important to me. The only way I can see maintaining an NCRS value is never drive the car, and I could not do that. I'm not really into shows, and I don't want a trailer queen. If you drive it, you have to accept the fact it might get bruised, but I'll just fix it, it's a hobby for me. I like to do mods that are reversible such as powertrain, minor body or color change. I like stock interiors on C3's and older, I don't think there is much you can do to improve the interiors without losing the original character that makes old cars fun. You can appreciate the character more if you drove these cars new, whereas younger gearheads will be more prone to emulate todays technology into them. That's the way I see it.

 

Stock for me too.

 

Hey! Is that a numbers matching flag??? I've been looking for one.

 

but I went the NCRS route...if I had bought a 'vette with a NOM, then I don't think I would have bothered. I spend HOURS researching "correct" components, flipping through the NCRS guides and then finding the right parts to buy at either Doc Rebuild, Paragon or used parts off eBay. I'm detailing under the hood right now & I'm amazed at how much info is in the NCRS guides as to what are the correct colors, overspray, markings on bolt heads, etc...But I do like spending the time (not so much the money) bringing my car back to the way it left the showroom floor. It's a rewarding experience for me.
As for mods, I have a few hidden mods...like 1970 spec LT-1 pistons and pocket ported heads. I'll be going with 2 1/2 inch factory exhaust later down the road. This should be enough to put a grin on my face every time I mash the throttle.

 

You pretty much laid out the basic pros and cons for each, although to say pride in accomplishment as a specific benefit for owners of restored cars is not entirely true... I'm sure that you'll find the owners of modified cars equally proud of their work and cars as well.

It comes down to what you want to use the car for when it is completed. If you like the NCRS and Bloomington Gold style of judging where every car is a potential "winner" and the basis for judging is well defined, then that's probably the route you want to go... If you're more of a free spirit and any potential judged events you take your car to will lean in that direction, then by all means, modify the car to suit your taste.

You'll notice that I didn't mention anything about driving the car. Mainly because there is no difference between a well executed restored car and a well crafted modified car... They are equally enjoyable to drive. Contrary to popular opinion, a restoring a car to NCRS or Bloomington Gold standards does not preclude the owner from driving and enjoying it. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the car!

Currently, you'd be hard pressed to beat an accurately restored 1968-1972 car for resale... On some of the later cars it may be a wash, but the early cars for the most part are bringing pretty solid money... Even the small block cars.

Fair enough, but define "correctly" when it involves a modified car. Your idea of a correct modification may be different than the next guy's.

If you feel stock is too boring for you, I can't argue that... Your personal preference is just that and I'll certainly respect that.

Restoring a car accurately to stock specs is easy though? If it was easy, every Corvette that showed up at an NCRS event would get a Top Flight and every Corvette at Bloomington Gold would be Gold certified. This isn't the case of course, mainly because restoring a car accurately is very difficult, not easy.

And on that I think we both agree... There's room for everyone in this hobby!

Regards,

 

I say, that unless its really rare (L88, 427 tri-power, LT-1) then do with it as you wish. At the end of the day, its a mass produced car, not an exotic, and not a piece of art to sit and look at.

Duntov loved nothing better, than to modify his cars.............so why should we stop

 

No, I get points deducted for that one. Was 1970 the only year you could get a factory blower?

 

Very true, as I have found with my C6 mods......thanks for the clarification.

It seems that so far, early in the poll, modified is far more common than original. Thanks for the replies, and keep 'em coming!

 

I voted for stock, but I am in between the two. I am not that fanatical that it has to be exactly 100% factory original, but I dont think I will go too much of the modified route either. I like the looks stock, but not original look.

kdf

 

Build it the way you want it, then drive it like you stole it!

 

my 73 leans to the modified side

 

Personally I like it to look stock but have internals changed, Cam, Compression, etc. things you cant tell have been altered by looking at it. I also have a few comfort things shanged like furry seat covers and steering wheel cover after market stereo and things that can easily be changed back.

 

Modified for me. I like to put on a few touches that the factory was too cheap to do. But, like an earlier post said...if it has chrome bumbers I might not. Larry