Afew years ago a book came out called It’s Only
Original Once. For me it marked what was the
start of an increasing appreciation of unrestored
cars, filled as it was with original old cars that hadn’t
been restored or resprayed and wore their faded paint
or dulled chrome with pride. Sophia Loren versus Cher if
you like… There’s lots to be said for cars that haven’t been
extensively restored; arguably if you’re buying, you pretty
much know what you’re getting, whereas with one that’s
been resprayed, it can be questionable as to what lies
beneath all that glossy, seductive paint.
Of course driving a car with 40 or 50-year-old tyres
probably isn’t a great idea and at the other end of the
spectrum has been the rise of the ‘rat rod’ look, as
pioneered by raggarbil in Sweden; cars so decrepit-looking
that they actually look as if they’re on their way to the
crusher.
