What do you prefer 'Original' or 'Restored'

[fwsports]

Just a few thoughts. I enjoy looking at a body off frame total restoration Corvette or any other car, that has been done the right way............

but, I actually appreciate and even enjoy more an 'Original' that is nice, clean, complete, unrestored, original paint, has well treated miles, one that any mechanical repairs were done correctly with original parts.......just my 2 cents worth.

 

[c4ever]

I can appreciate both but I lean towards a well maintained survivor. I envy the guys that are the original owners on C3's and older. You don't see many of these cars in original pristine condition unless they've been stored in some warehouse. Where's the fun in that:confused :confused ????


Carlo

 

[Eric]

Survivors rule IMHO, but they are pretty hard to come by.

 

[Im1ru2]

origional or restored

I prefer Origional!! Probably because I Own one- 1986 Silver targa top (blue) with 68,000 well taken care of miles.
My dad was nice enough to give me an early Inheritence Back in may WOW!! I couldnt have a more Generous Father!! The only bad thing(LOL) was I had to fly up to Washington state and and drive the car back 3500 miles to Tampa BAY---GO BUCS!!
WE WON THE SUPER BOWL!! NYA Nya .
Anyway back to the Vette-Candy is her name and loves to go fast ,is in near mint condition and the Bose stereo still rocks like it
was factory fresh. Drove 1100 miles the first day to las vegas, and Proved to my wife that The cobra radar detector was a real good Investment :$
With stops in Phoenix, San Antonio, Plantations in Louisiana and of course we had to stop in Buloxi Miss. to gamble some more
the trip took 4 beautiful days on- road average 72 mph and the
gas milage blew me away 28 MPG through the whole Trip.
All I've had to do is just normal maintainance like any other Corvette Lover does to take care of their fine machine!!
Reliable,Quick,Nimble Georgous as Hell- I could not ask for a
finer Car.
Does that answer your question? Later Gator -- Jammin Jeff.

 

[Shark Chief]

I would'nt mind having an all original Vette. Mine is unmodified[mechanically]it still has the ugly orange valve covers, but does not have its original paint. I will begin modifying the engine because I plan on having and using my Shark for a long time.

Louie

 

[Quicksilver2]

Prefer Survivors, but Guess What?!!!

It don't matter!!! Your Corvette is your corvette, and everybody has his own reason for owning. My best buddy (GSZO6 by name here) gave me a copy of the best article I've yet seen about why we love Corvettes. It was written by Jack Smith in the December 2002 issue of the Chicago Tribune Magazine. Haven't looked online for it but I'd bet you could find it.

His gist is this: We don't buy vettes for features or practicality. We buy em cuz we see something in em . . . "Ourselves"!!! We've all got stories to go with our Corvettes! Couldn't agree more.

That said, I like survivors that are driven, and they're out there. Just gotta be willing to look . . . and pay, if ya want it.

Quick

 

[Justin_cv87]

Original is always nice, but i care more about performance. so if there is an original vette that is in bad condition and it is slower or worse than a restored, then i would get the restored... unless it is a older vette, like a C2, or C1, then orignal would be kinda cool to own, cuz its a peice of perfect history. its kinda like owning the orignal stary night, but there would be more than 1 orignal (I just relized that what i just said is no longer making sense, so ill just stop there :L)

 

[Gary42]

but, I actually appreciate and even enjoy more an 'Original' that is nice, clean, complete, unrestored, original paint, has well treated miles, one that any mechanical repairs were done correctly with original parts.......just my 2 cents worth.

Throwing in my personal opinion...I'm all about stock. The closer it is to the way it was when it rolled onto the dealer floor, the more I like it. I'm not fanatiucal about it, though. I don't need to have plug wires with the correct GM code stamp on them. I've even learned to like the braided hoses that my car's perevious owner put in the engine compartment. I'm also eternally grateful that he had it repainted Black and ditched the original Ontario Orange.

Vettes are cars that take well to all sorts of aftermarket mods. Some owners do a better job at it than others. Some mods are a little too wild for my tastes, but that's what makes the world go 'round.

When I get behind the wheel of my 72, I feel like I'm travelling back in time (except for that early 90s Kenwood stereo in the console). I don't need anyhting else reminding me that it's actually 2003.

Gary

 

[SLICKMAN]

Survivors rule but I guess I'm biased :L

 

[Quicksilver2]

Hey Slick...

Did you take that photo with a wide angle lens? It's nice. I've taken that same angle from the same height with a standard 50 mm lens but it don't look quite as good as yours!!

Thanks.

Quick

 

[SLICKMAN]

Nope, I just used a Digital camera.. Nothing special...

 

[73383]

I lean towards the original side, but I do like some mods. In my younger years (1978) I restored a 65 Vert, 350hp, 4spd. It was all original except for paint, black with red flip flop pearl. I loved driving that car. Several times we would go for a Saturday morning drive and end up 300-400 miles from home.

This time around I bought a 73 Cpe, just luv the lines. However they just did not build an engine for the Sharks after 71. S000
this one just got a 383, 400+hp, the wait to drive is killing me.
body work, paint, and interior next. They will be original.

Dennis

 

[DkBG]

I Like to see a Vette looking as good as it can . If a survivor is cherry , thats great. If it's getting ratty , I say restore it . Cliff

 

[BBB454]

I had the same question

awhile ago, so I posted this poll:

To Modify or Not...

I agree with Cliff.
Barb

 

[GaryS]

A car is only original once - it can be restored as many times as you have the money and patience for. I have a 36000 mile unrestored 72 LT1. As much as I am tempted to do "stuff" to it that will improve the appearance, I have to remember that this is an original, fun to drive, car. I know that there are lots of guys who like mods, chrome, 12:1 compression ratio, 500 hp engines, etc. But, I like mine as a great cruiser.
Gary

 

[Paul Borowski]

Love those original cars!!!

 

[BORDERBUM]

original to me is nice IF you have a original car from the git go, or if you have a aniversary addition or a indy 500 addition or grand sport etc etc, but if your wanting a corvette to cruise many miles and to be comfortable in I would modify it to your individuel liking. I have a 77 almost all original that i was going to modify until i found a 76 in someones back yard for a price i could not give up. i then looked at my pretty good condition original 77 and thought it would be better to totally modify one i picked up for a minimal amount than modify a nice original.

I am sure ther are lots of diferent opinions here, some with a crap load more experience than others, but think about what you are going to use it for, and how much you want to drive that beautiful thing. I prefer to enjoy the best of old and new technoligy in one of the most distinguishing beautiful cars i have seen. SHARKS BABY!!!!!

GIT R DONE________________________________BORDERBUM

 

[vetteKID]

if i see a corvette at a show weather it be a restored or survivor, i like it.........i just like corvettes.

my car only have 60,000 miles on her, and shes got close to all of her orginal parts but has been repainted and i couldnt leave the engine alone. i bought my car to drive....not to trailer to a show(no offence to the trailer queen crowd). its a corvette, if the designers of the cars wanted them to be seen and not driven they wouldnt have made them so fun to drive. IMO.