Patina. Like or dislike in resoration?

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

I have always liked cars as well as antiques. In my old cars I like to have some of the patina you can only get from age. For instance on my 65 Belvedere the Plymouth letters in the front no longer have the black filling in the letters but the rear does for obvious reasons. The side emblems have faded black fill. The bumpers are really nice but show some patina. At a recent car show a guy mentioned that I should paint the black fill in the letters and re chrome my bumpers. I told him if I wanted a new car I would buy one. I am not into the nuts and bolts restoration as I like old cars to show their age in some patina. There is a real following for original unmolested cars these days as well. Not to mention the guys who clear coat over the rusty old finishes on some cars.
So I will not be re chroming or filling in emblems or buying new ones etc. So I ask, what do you all like? Do you like some patina or are you the it has to look brand new type? Opinions?

 

[moparker]

It blows my mind how people feel the need to pick a part your car! He is probably in a Pinto or something. I have had the same thing happen to me in the Duster. I also like some patina.

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

Yep he was on a mission to find fault and criticize. He is just jealous, let him drive home in his Pinto.

 

[Cman]

I like a car that looks like its used, not sat on a trailer.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My new Charger has plenty of patina, but that's just a fancy word for old & dirty.

 

[HT413]

I think the key is to look at every car and try to understand what the owner is going for; then try to appreciate it for what it is.

I love rat rods, rotisserie restorations and beaters. But I do love unmolested survivors best.

 

[440+6]

Hey I restored my GTX over 20 years ago, since then some tiny imperfections like small chips, less than clean engine compartment, grease on engine, a few pounds of little rubber things stuck to my wheel wells and trunk extensions and some other crap, call it patina or wear and tear but I aint fixing any of it.
The idea that a car has to be absolutely perfect is just plain dumb. If you drive it it will show wear, if you don't drive it, I feel sorry for you.

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

I like your outlook!!!

 

[rumblefish360]

I'm not a fan of the Rat Rod or the over restored. However, trailer queens are the worst IMO. Though I can understand the need to keep it as perfect as possible for the show and judge. I just can not own such a car. If it can not be driven anywhere, anytime in any weather, your car should be on display somewhere. That may be fine for you, not for me.

Cars where built to be driven. Drive mine I do. Perfect there not.
I just try and make what I came with look good, not factory fresh brand new.

 

[1971 plymouth roadrunner]

I love patina rods, it really shows character. When I buy my next project I think that will be the route I will go. Just leaving the paint as is, and restoring everything else. I got the idea from some guy locally, he totally redid everything on his 1970 442 and left the faded paint. It only really works though on cars with patina, rather cars with extensive rust are more muscle car rat rods (I'm cool with those too).

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

I agree totally. I don't mind some grease on the engine and little chips in the paint hear and there. Pitting in some emblems and some cloudy chrome bumpers. I like it to look like a survivor form a bygone era like it really is. Plus I do not drive myself crazy trying to keep it so pristine.

 

[jfreakofkorn]

i would just leave it original ( its original only once ) and go from there ...

but if it needs floors, quarters, aka metal work, well that is another story on its own there

 

[ws27]

It's your car, answer only to your self.

 

[old_skool]

Like some have said, it's your car, love it it don't, IMHO though, patina is what is produced on copper or bronze, iron oxide is rust, call it banana peelings if it makes you feel better, it looks ok on rat rods, but to me, not on any Mopars, patina away your Chevy's lol...
Rust on a car is rust, call it FAUX patina if you want, but it's not patina


Patina (/ˈpætɨnə/ or /pəˈtiːnə/) is a thin layer that forms on the surface of stone; copper, bronze and similar metals (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes);[1] a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear, and polishing; or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. Patinas can provide a protective covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged by corrosion or weathering. They may also be aesthetically appealing.

On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides, carbonates, sulfides, or sulfates formed on the surface during exposure to atmospheric elements (oxygen, rain, acid rain, carbon dioxide, sulfur-bearing compounds), a common example of which is rust which forms on iron or steel when exposed to oxygen. Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and colour that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture over time

So I ask, what do you all like? Do you like some patina or are you the it has to look brand new type? Opinions?

To actually answer your question, I'm not a fan of rust, but can live with it on an old car, as long as it's not super destructive, but will eventually repair it, unless it's an old car I'm just beating around on, maybe an older 4 door 6 banger, but I'm also not a concours show car re-chroming guy either, I'll replace or repair rusty parts, but not to show quality necessarily.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I'll do a car as nice as I can, paying attention to the detail items such as weatherproofing, and window adjustments to stop the wind noise. Equipment that doesn't function properly and/or rattles drive me crazy. Then drive it in the rain, dirt, whatever. Take it to the spray car wash and blast it clean and keep driving. I like the cars too much to let them sit. So all in all my favorite type of build is one that looks great but can be driven. For my 66 hemi Belvedere I plan to restore it from the inside out. Cherry out the interior and drive train, engine compartment, door jams, fix minor rust holes around the back window but leave the outside as the time capsule from the 80's (last registered in 86). I'll most likely paint it but for now it will be my rat rod hemi car.

 

[62Furious]

I built and cleaned every piece on my 62 back in 96, and since than I have been driving the wheels off it. It now shows its age and most of the people I see tel me that for it's age it is holding up and still looks great. I am not a numbers matching or perfect piece kind of a guy. but I do like a guy [or gal] who is willing to bust his knuckles on his ride

 

[Moparsmitty]

My new Charger has plenty of patina, but that's just a fancy word for old & dirty.

Don't be so modest Dickie. Your new Charger is awesome. I personally love unrestored original Mopar muscle.:headbang:

 

[cwhubb]

patina looks awesome on the old pre 1960 pickups and pre 55 cars but on a muscle mopar you cant beat good paint. jmho

 

[Herr_Poopschitz]

I appreciate a nice unrestored car w/ some flaws over a rotisserie restoration, unless the owner did the work himself.

As far as I can tell my car has never been repainted other than a crappy fender fix who knows how long ago. I'm in the process of putting an RO scoop on an extra hood I have, and have been trying to figure out a way to match the aged/oxidized look to more appropriately match the rest of the car when I paint it.

 

[Budnicks]

I like both ways, I'm more function over looks type, but want it presentable, doesn't have to be a show piece, remember they're only original once, a little pitting is no big deal, shows some character, usage & age, but if it just rusty old parts & holes, or not very well taken care of {that ain't patina too me that's junk or dirt}, that's just not very appealing, unless it's a rat rod or something along those lines, meant to look that way, some of them are cool as hell... Jay Leno has a great saying something like, "restore it to a 1000pt car & drive it back down to a 500pt car & repeat"... I'm far more of a day 2 type/racecar hot rod guy, than show car guy anyway, they get driven, used, pitted & chipped, chit happens... :headbang: