Thread: Conservation vs. Restoration

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have a 1958 series 2 that is original. So when it comes time to "restore" him I will only be repairing the mechanicals and electrics with period correct items, leaving all the body the way it is with all dints and faded paint. It makes no sense to me spending a fortune on a concur restoration, then I would be too scared to actually use it for what its made for, due to the cost of the restoration.

Chris

Chris,
I think is was in the article in The Automobile where they made the comment 'it's only original once'. If someone starts to modify, 'improve' or restore it then it's no longer original (wear items excepted).
The worry is that someone finds an all original vehicle and then pulls it apart to 'restore' it when it might have been put back on the road with minimal work.

As I mentioned before, each to their own but it's interesting that apparently Pebble Beach has a category for original cars and that there is a move towards original cars often being worth as much if not more than restored cars.

I've seen a couple of Land Rovers that had a full rolling chassis restoration and then the old panels put back on. I guess this is halfway between conservation & restoration.


Colin

I think this is a great car and I'd love it parked in my shed Me and my youngest lad keep pondering about it. He reckons it would be a cool learners car


1927 Morris Cowley Flatnose Tourer '' OL Bessie '' in Kurmond, NSW | eBay

Originally Posted by jerryd

I think this is a great car and I'd love it parked in my shed Me and my youngest lad keep pondering about it. He reckons it would be a cool learners car


1927 Morris Cowley Flatnose Tourer '' OL Bessie '' in Kurmond, NSW | eBay

One of my uncles had one of these - same colour, too! They are reliable, durable and easy to drive. Some fascinating features, such as the engine has metric threads - but the bolt heads and nuts are BSW spanner sizes.

John

Originally Posted by jerryd

I think this is a great car and I'd love it parked in my shed Me and my youngest lad keep pondering about it. He reckons it would be a cool learners car


1927 Morris Cowley Flatnose Tourer '' OL Bessie '' in Kurmond, NSW | eBay

Jerryd,

With a car like that you would just repair it and run it.
I'd be tempted to get the original engine repaired and put it back in.

The Automobile magazine has an 'Oily Rag' category where they have a run with cars that have been put back onto the road unrestored.
It does of course depend on finding a vehicle in original, but not too far gone, condition. They also have a couple of 'oily rag' cars on their fleet.
The Automobile Magazine - Oily Rag Collection


Colin

I was very disappointed when watching the love of cars program. The s1 they bought just needed a clean and a service.

All depends on if you are trying to pause history or still writing it.

Not to mention where you stand when reading said history-are you trying to learn about the earliest days or the latter days? Preserving/conserving the original fabric of an item is harder than replacing/restoring in some ways, but should be considered paramount to those trying to pause history. For example, a water pump may be a water pump to most of us but if it isn't made from original materials with original techniques etc then it is a progression in the vehicle's history.

It depends on what you plan to do with you're vehicle. If you want to keep it as a barn find and use it little, then great, dont touch it... but if you want to actually want to use it and do decent distances, then subtle upgrades and a sympathetic restoration is probably fine.