https://www.yumpu.com/kiosk/hagerty_insider/hagerty-insider-issue-4/62746676/23?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Hagerty_Insider_Oct_13_issue_5
I don't have time to read it, I'm busy restoring my car...
If you can restore it yourself go ahead if not you can do the ratty look also they look cool too. Shop charge a arm and a legs for restoring a car. One thing I never get about restoring cars back to factory specs is why does it have to be perfect if it wasn't perfect from the factory?? Most probably dont like the way I restore my due to the color not being the same as the factory which I really dont care. All I care about is that the car is safe,reliable and rust free.
The way I feel anymore is if the outside is the same overall (not mismatched colors on panels from donor cars or new unpainted sheet metal), then why not leave the original paint on the outside and fix the other stuff like a new vinyl top, new interior, chrome, rebuild all the mechanical stuff? Unfortunately our cars are so old and neglected that they generally have lots of rust here and there. You can cut and patch and fix everything but who wants to drive around a car with unpainted patch panels and unfinished body repairs. When the outside is still wearing its tattered paint, then options do change. I have cut and buffed badly faded paint and it looks much better. It's not a look for everyone but you can sometimes clean up a survivor and keep it nice and drivable.
If I had a low mileage, rust free survivor sure, leave it as original as possible even though it isn`t up to todays restoration standards but all I have is rusty junk so not an option for me.
Sometimes a car is so far gone that it requires being restored to be safe and reliable. That being said, if you pick a car that you like and is more or less in favor, you may be able to justify it with your significant other as opposed to buying a new car. the value depreciates rather rapidly on those. In the end you will be out less money and also have a cool car that is more or less holding it's value.