I think there is a difference between a "survivor" and the word "patina". Maybe that is just because I am of the younger generation and didn't grow up with the cars. I grew up with my dad and uncle's restoring them and going to classic car shows.
I appreciate a "survivor" and also think it's great some cars are kept running, like Frankenstein, when they should be dead. I also appreciate those who can't afford to completely restore a car, but work to preserve and keep them from further degrading. My budget is tight, tighter if it were up to the wife, and I can't afford a brand new paint job either, so I can understand. But if I were ever to sell my 67 R/T I would tell it like it is and not try to feel like I was suckering some one by saying, "it has a wonderful patina"...it has a 20 year old one time paint job that's holding up really nicely, it's not perfect, but waxes up nicely and the car can be driven and enjoyed.
I see the word "patina" in an ad and think, "that asking price just got jacked up by 10-30%". I think "survivor" can be used sometimes like that, but seems to be less frequently, and it doesn't seem to be trying to make the car something it's not. Although some people just throw it out there to try to get big bucks.
I find that most people using "patina" are trying to make the car out to be like it is as nice to have a "patina" on your car as it is to have a new paint job, and I would say that most everyone here, if given the choice, would rather have the restored car as opposed to the "patina" car for the same, or close to the same price...and most ads I have seen with "patina" in them sure have the price close to a restored car. Too much Barrett Jackson/Mecum I think. I think "patina" is a marketing term people are trying to use to add value to a car since they don't have much else good to say about it. Like trying to put lipstick on a pig.
I think a survivor car can have a patina to it, but you still don't hear people going around bragging about the sweet patina on their car, and at least I hope not. They just drive the crap out of them and enjoy them.
By the way 64Bel, I love your Hemi Satellite! My dad had a 66 Satelitte and they're one of my favorite Mopars, but I would never look at your car and think wow nice patina, at a glance I would first look at it and think, "when's he going to fix that?", and "I hope he doesn't let that thing rust away". Then I would learn about your car and think what a neat story and true survivor, and I can appreciate that. That being said, it would still look 10 x's better if the exterior were restored!
PS. I also hate the marketing term "rare". Don't get me started on that over used garbage term. "Rare...originally came equipped with a steering wheel!". Well no $h!t Sherlock! Once again, too much Barrett Jackson/Mecum.
