At what point is it considered a restoration?

[turbo39151]

I was just wandering around the board as usual and I noticed that there's lots of people using the word "restoration". Yet, all of them are "restoring" to different degrees.

So, I am wondering where exactly does a restoration begin?
There's people that gut the interior, redo it and call it a restoration.
Then there's others that have the car quickly painted or others that pull the doors and hood, and call it a restoration, while there's even more that pull the frame off and redo every single piece.

Maybe this is just being nit-picky but I was bored and just thought that it was interesting.

What do the experts think?

 

[charlief1]

I'm not an "expert" by any means but I'm doing a rustomod.:biggrin: As usual it has snowballed and the frame has to come out to fix damage on the frame from rust. I was originally just going to do enough to get the car back on the road. Fix the rusted out rears, modify the axle, redo the engine and tranny ect. As I got under the car I found more issues and the frame was one of them.:frown:

To do a proper restoration is to preserve the car for the future. If the car is in good enough shape not to remove the frame and not repair rust then I'd say it isn't that involved, but, after 20+ years things will need to be repaired or replaced to bring the car to the same condition as just off the assembly line or better.

 

[TexasT]

The term restoration is very nebulous as you are pointing out. It means as many different things to as many different people use it. An interior restoration back to stock or are there upgrades? Is the body coming off the frame, just the front clip and/or doors, or is it just a quickie paint spray. All of these things could be called restoration.

Just as rare, original, and the other buzz words are used, this term can mean many things.

 

[st1nger]

I think restoration means going back to an original state or condition.
Now before a war starts that doesn't mean original engine parts or seats or rims

I think it means if it started with buckets w/console then it should go back to buckets and console those being refurbished engine 231 turbo rebuilt 231 with turbo black car black car worn out or damaged parts repaired or replaced to an original standard when orig sold to the public

 

[turbo39151]

I guess I'm too nit picky...
I hate it when people use the word "mint" for everything...

So, it only figured that it seems to me that everything these days is a restoration, from replacing the floor mats to a full frame off rotisserie job...

Not that I'm complaining, I like to see people take care of their cars (even if it is only replacing the floor mats). And some of the work some folks around here do is stunning... (you guys know who you are...)
Just seems like there is no set standard thus it's more difficult for us, much less newbies, to determine value.