Which route to take - original or show quality? Options

[gturner008]

Background. I have purchased a beauty. 1976, 39k mile, one owner, stunningly original car. Completely stock, original everything - never been painted and in perfect condition. Every detail is correct. Main dealer maintenance (19 services). No corrosion anywhere, even no surface rust on any fasteners - even under the car.

The car has the full rust treatment from new. Zeibart receipt from 1976. They really went to town. All the cavities wax treated, along with clear wax spray of the floor, and all underfloor moving parts. Engine and transmission coated in a thick wax coating.

The wheel wells were given a coating of black stone chip material.

With 39k miles, there is some stone chipping to the black undercoating, and you can see a few areas of the white paint showing. The engine underside is not pretty, given the thick wax coating. The suspension parts, front and rear, also don’t look new and shiny, because of the wax coating. Underneath the coatings, everything could be shiny and looking like new.

My question is, given I am detailing the car for shows and wanting to present the car in the best way possible, what route to take? Do I get everything as clean and fresh as I can - but leave the anti corrosion coatings in place? Or do I strip back all the coatings and get it to look pristine and factory new looking?

My instinct is the former. After all, this is how it left the selling dealer from new.

A nice problem to have, I know. I’m so lucky to have bought this absolutely lovely example. I don’t want to do something I later regret.

There’s that old saying. It’s only original once. I love the look of newly restored cars, where everything is shiny and new. But this isn’t a restored car. It’s original down to the last detail.

I’d really appreciate your views and opinions. Hope this makes sense. Thanks all.

[Tom_T]

Background. I have purchased a beauty. 1976, 39k mile, one owner, stunningly original car. Completely stock, original everything - never been painted and in perfect condition. Every detail is correct. Main dealer maintenance (19 services). No corrosion anywhere, even no surface rust on any fasteners - even under the car.

The car has the full rust treatment from new. Zeibart receipt from 1976. They really went to town. All the cavities wax treated, along with clear wax spray of the floor, and all underfloor moving parts. Engine and transmission coated in a thick wax coating.

The wheel wells were given a coating of black stone chip material.

With 39k miles, there is some stone chipping to the black undercoating, and you can see a few areas of the white paint showing. The engine underside is not pretty, given the thick wax coating. The suspension parts, front and rear, also don’t look new and shiny, because of the wax coating. Underneath the coatings, everything could be shiny and looking like new.

My question is, given I am detailing the car for shows and wanting to present the car in the best way possible, what route to take? Do I get everything as clean and fresh as I can - but leave the anti corrosion coatings in place? Or do I strip back all the coatings and get it to look pristine and factory new looking?

My instinct is the former. After all, this is how it left the selling dealer from new.

A nice problem to have, I know. I’m so lucky to have bought this absolutely lovely example. I don’t want to do something I later regret.

There’s that old saying. It’s only original once. I love the look of newly restored cars, where everything is shiny and new. But this isn’t a restored car. It’s original down to the last detail.

I’d really appreciate your views and opinions. Hope this makes sense. Thanks all.

G -

First - you should talk to some PCA judges in your Toronto area & check their rules in your PCA Region & Zone, for the specifics of what I say below.

My comments are from the PCA Zone 8 Concours perspective (which covers all Regions within Central & SoCal, So. Nevada, Arizona), with our rules - which many other PCA areas also use to develop their rules. They are similar to, but differ from the PCA National Parade rules - so look at the specifics there too. Likewise, if you're doing other organizations' Concours, then look to their rules.

That said - Originality is separate from "show quality" in both our Z8 & Parade respects - as it relates to how much of the car is original in order to qualify for a certain class of other original cars - as opposed to competing with restored cars. For our Z8 - a car must be 25 years old & 75% original paint & 75% original interior to qualify for our Preservation Division.

While Parade does judge cars for Originality in those classes (although sometimes not as exactly as whether the car has a dealer radio or Zeibart).

Whereas - once "qualified" for "Preservation Div. in Zone 8 - we judge all cars in all Divisions the same for cleanliness, detailing, maintenance & presentation.

Your Zone 1 is the same area for both NE Canada, as for NE USA States, & your Zone 1 Rules may be similar or different.

https://www.pca.org/region-directory?field_zone_tid=450

.

Whereas, "show quality" which you mention is related to your cleaning, detailing, preparation, maintenance, & presentation & who did it best.

So you can do a show car preparation etc. either with the Zeibart, or after removing it all (see the Sahara Beige one in the O&H nailed thread "The few, the rare ..." which Steve did remove all of the coating, which was a huge job).

IMHO removing or not is a personal choice, since it was as delivered by the dealer when new, serves/served an important function preventing rust & stone chip damage, & it can be clean-up as well as the texture of the paint over the factory paint over "schutz" chip protector under the belly & wheel wells paint - but a bit more textured though, so it may be more work to clean the nooks & crannies.

Another challenge may be how clean you can get the 44 year old wax coatings on the various suspension parts etc., since it will tend to catch the road grime & hold it, & cleaning will take it off.

I don't think that any experienced Zone 8 judge would deduct points for having the Zeibart, but may for not getting it pristine, since it's essentially a "cleaning contest" here.

If you were to remove it, then you'd also have to deal with sealing off the plethora of plugs used to inject tie inner wax everywhere, as Mark mentioned.

I'd suggest that you try just doing a really deep detailing & prep as you're leaning to first, then take it to a Zone 1 or other Concours & enter it, & get feedback from the more senior judges there, as to how it presents & scores there. It may only be do a little more here & there, or they may fell the full strip-off is better.

However, you're living in the Salty Roads Rust Belt, & even if you park it all winter, you still can pick up serious salt on a rainy road during an early Spring drive, before it's all washed away. So a coated/protected car would be better if you plan to drive it any amount.

Personally, I like the dark/black look of the wheel wells with the Zeibart etc. undercoatings, especially on lighter & medium color 914s.

My `73 2L had Zeibart as well (even sold new here in SoCal), but I have way more miles & far less pristine body work & parts - so no question on mine.

Bottom line - it's your choice & your preference, & whether you really want to show it seriously a lot up there & at Parade (2021 or ?? due to COVID).

But it's really NOT fair to just talk about your pristine 914 without pix, & you should also post pix inside, underside, & outside in that "The few, the rare..." topic for reference to others trying to restore their to original.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=101921

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) &
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Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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