To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

[Gary H.]

So I finally had a chance to crunch some numbers based on my old judging sheets from the Kissimmee regional in 2012 and I am about 80-90 points away from the coveted 97% raw score.

My 69 scored a 93.7 raw score in 2012. I passed a PV in 2013. Both at regional events. I am trying for a 97% rawscore at the Kissimmee regional in 2014. If I can get it I will try to go for a Duntov at nationals next year.

My car is basically an unrestored driver. It was repainted in the 80s and has new carpets, but beyond that is a survivor. The engine has never been out of the car.

I fixed the bubba repairs, etc over the years and now with restoration battery and with the correct bias plys (I had repro wide ovals for PV) I am at about 96%.

I am not sure how I can possibly get to 97% without replacing everything in my engine compartment with chinese crap and making my car look like it has been restored vs just cleaned. I have patina on just about all of my original components and I got dinged a condition point on almost everything. Intake shows age, exhaust manifolds have never been off the car and are nice and rusty the way they should be on a survivor.

I am hesitant about cleaning and repainting intake and manifolds etc as I dont really have interest in restoring this car and dont want to open up a can of worms and make something look out of place.

Obviously you are not looking at my judging sheets or at my car...any suggestions? What have most of you guys done with a survivor car to bring it to the next level?

My plan is to give the engine compartment and undercarriage a good cleaning again as I have not done this in the past 2 years and have driven nearly 3000 miles. After than I am not sure what I should try to do.

[Patrick H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

My 1972 5 Star Bowtie car is a 96% car with all the possible points added, just like yours.
I intend to leave it alone, as to get 97% and get it consistently just isn't going to happen without restoring or replacing more than I want to touch.

You need to determine if that 1% and that award mean that much to you at this time. If not, then you have your answer.

[Kurt G.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Do you want original (possible Bow Tie) or do you want the Duntov? You have to decide and only you can make that choice. Sounds to me you want the original, so with that in mind look at your points, clean it up as much as you can and get it flight judged at Kissimmee. If it won't make the cut at 97.0 after that then you have to face whether you really want the Duntov or original. Remember, they are only original ONCE.

[Gary H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I dont think that I am eligible for a bowtie award as my car was repainted and bumpers were re chromed in the 80s. When I bought the car the previous owner had already removed and thrown away the original carpets, so I dont think I have enough of the interior points to pass that section.

[Kurt G.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

That being the case, I can see a lot of parts being ordered in your future. Go for the 97.0. Good luck.

[Michael G.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I don't have a recommendation, but, one thing to keep in mind in making your decision is that if you achieve 97 at the Kissimmee Regional this year, that score will most likely be higher than the score you'll see at Nationals with the same car, given the somewhat more stringent judging usually seen at Nationals.

[Patrick H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I dont think that I am eligible for a bowtie award as my car was repainted and bumpers were re chromed in the 80s. When I bought the car the previous owner had already removed and thrown away the original carpets, so I dont think I have enough of the interior points to pass that section.

Probably not. However, I suspect that it is going to cost you a significant amount of time and effort. It's tough to gain 45 points or more if you think you've already hit the easy items and you're at 96%.

[Donald O.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Probably not. However, I suspect that 15 is going to cost you a significant amount of time and effort. It's tough to gain 45 points or more if you think you've already hit the easy items and you're at 96%.

Happy Birthday Pat!

DonO

[Patrick H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Happy Birthday Pat!

DonO

Thanks Don!

[Timothy B.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Gary,

I like it the way it is, it's only original once, save your sanity and enjoy the car:-)

[Gary H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I was under the impression that the Regional judging at Kissimmee was very similar to judging at nationals and done by most of the same master judges.

I already fixed all of the things that were going to be an easy fix.

I was painted in Lacquer but also clearcoated, so I took a paint deduction for the wrong shade of 16 points on color and 9 points for over restored. This is not something that I can change.

I also have a soft top that was installed after the car was painted in the 80s. It is not the correct brand and has a window dated in the 80s. Wrong style, wrong design, wrong heat seal, wrong date etc. I never use the top, so probably not worth spending the money for a replacement top that I will never use either. This is the big dollar item that has to be replaced if I have any chance of the 97%. This was a total point loss of 13 points.

I also lost 21 condition points in Interior, 9 in exterior, 49 in mechanical, and 20 in chassis, for a total of 99 condition points.

These deductions count for 137 of the possible 135 points I can lose to get to a 97.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I was under the impression that the Regional judging at Kissimmee was very similar to judging at nationals and done by most of the same master judges.

I already fixed all of the things that were going to be an easy fix.

I was painted in Lacquer but also clearcoated, so I took a paint deduction for the wrong shade of 16 points on color and 9 points for over restored. This is not something that I can change.

I also have a soft top that was installed after the car was painted in the 80s. It is not the correct brand and has a window dated in the 80s. Wrong style, wrong design, wrong heat seal, wrong date etc. I never use the top, so probably not worth spending the money for a replacement top that I will never use either. This is the big dollar item that has to be replaced if I have any chance of the 97%. This was a total point loss of 13 points.

I also lost 21 condition points in Interior, 9 in exterior, 49 in mechanical, and 20 in chassis, for a total of 99 condition points.

These deductions count for 137 of the possible 135 points I can lose to get to a 97.

If you have a correct hard top show it with that. Most hard tops are in good condition from little use & score well.

[Terry B.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Hi Gary,

Congratulations on passing your PV. In my estimation, you have climbed the mountain with passage of the PV. Now it is time to spend the money and make the car a Duntov car. I would replace the convertible top but be sure to do your research on everything the correct top will need. No need to lose points on something that you could have had but didn't research enough. Since it is not going to be a Bowtie candidate, replace the other big point losses and search for other point loses the judges might have overlooked or mentioned to you but did not take points off. Work on the condition areas where you can. Taking off the part and having it refinished might be a good way to go instead of purchasing a repo part and losing points on originality. Good luck.

Terry

[Patrick H.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

I would replace the convertible top but be sure to do your research on everything the correct top will need. No need to lose points on something that you could have had but didn't research enough. Since it is not going to be a Bowtie candidate, replace the other big point losses and search for other point loses the judges might have overlooked or mentioned to you but did not take points off. Work on the condition areas where you can. Taking off the part and having it refinished might be a good way to go instead of purchasing a repo part and losing points on originality. Good luck.

Terry

Agreed. Although not inexpensive the top is the easiest way to gain back some points.
And, if taken care of the new top can last for many years.

The rest of the points may be "onesies-twosies" which are tough to gain back.

[Edward B.]

Re: To restore or not to restore...the Dilemma

Now it is time to spend the money and make the car a Duntov car.

Why? Is it to show others that your checkbook is large enough to buy reproduction parts? Is it a boost to your own ego that you can navigate through parts catalogues? The OP's car sounds like a nice driver that unfortunately had some things done to it that have capped its judging points just below what may be required for a particular award. So be it. Drive the car and enjoy it rather than throwing money at something so unsubstantial as topping 97 points.