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Rattiness... yeah or nay?

Bruzilla said:
I say nay. My problem with these cars is I can still vividly remember seeing them as they slowly and steadily fell into the ratty state they are in now. When I see a ratty car I don't see a survivor. I see a rusty run-down car with a holed muffler belching smoke down the road while some 16-year old dude or 40-year old welfare mom drives it into oblivion. Sorry, but I see no cause for rejoicing in keeping a car in that tradition because when I saw them getting into that condition I always wanted to get a hold of them and get them fixed back to the way they should be. For me it's like finding out your Mom is dying of cancer and you don't want her cured because old people are supposed to get that way.
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Agreed. New terminology for I can't afford to make my car nice.
 
mmissile said:
Agreed. New terminology for I can't afford to make my car nice.
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Hasn't it been that way forever though...the guy who can't make his car nice can still enjoy it and keep it as best as he can until he can afford to. So the true answer is do what you can when you can and enjoy it the whole time.
 
mmissile said:
Agreed. New terminology for I can't afford to make my car nice.
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I agree that that's a large part of it, but I think perception plays a large part too. Guys like me bought these cars new, or near new, and we wanted them looking nice! Nobody driving a 70s car in the 1980s or 1990s said to themselves "you know, my car looks like **** but it's naturally shitty and I dig that look." :) No way! It was embarrassing to be seen driving in a crappy looking car, and millions of cans of gray primer lost their lives back then because spraying your car gray was better than being seen in a car with mis-matched body panels, rust (now known as patina), peeling paint, fading, excessive scratches, etc. People who drove around in cars that looked like that were people who didn't care about their cars and it showed.

I can see how people who didn't live through those times can look at cars the way collectors look at antique furniture and see character and history in damage, but to me it will always be damage. Maybe when the day comes that I see people taking brand new cars and scratching the paint, grinding down to bare metal and letting it rust, or banging away with hammers to get come dents in them to give them some character I might start thinking this is a cool look with broad appeal. :)
 
HT413 said:
Sorry, but you are incorrect...

Patina (/ˈpætɨnə/ or /pəˈtiːnə/) is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of stone; on copper, bronze and similar metals (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes);[1] on wooden furniture (sheen 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.

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.
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you didn't state anything that disagreed with my statement, your definition may have included a few other elements, but the keyword was "similar metals" no mention of steel which only produces iron oxide...RUST!!
 
Budnicks said:
I think, if it was mine, I'd be tempted to do some minor patch & repairs at-least, fix the crease & a few rust spots,
put some wheels & tires on it, "Day 2" modify it to my taste, it doesn't have to be a garage rat or trailer queen,
all while I drive it, just do a little at a time...

It doesn't have to be a full on restoration & it will still be "Ratty Enough" to still drive without undue worries

BUT It's your car, Like I always say...
"Build it how you want it {or just leave it alone in your case} & Drive it like you stole it, damn the rest, who cares what other people think...
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what he said......
 
I also grew up with these cars and wanted a new road runner in a bad way but instead fixed up my 66 Belvedere modoor and had a pretty good time with it as a sleeper. Wasn't that many 4 dr sedans out there that ran decent. Anyways.....got tired of always being afraid of getting dings and scratches in a nice paint job let alone getting big dents or worse yet, smashed up and have become more inclined to drive a 'beater' but so long as they are not rusted out and beat up (too much), I'm ok with it. I like nice looking cars just as much as anyone but also like to go anywhere and not worry about someone keying the thing in a parking lot or worse types of vandalism.
 
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Mine will be a trailer queen. As soon as I find a way to add a class 3 hitch to it.
 
DSC03895.jpg

Well, here she is. Nearly roadworthy after having been tucked away since 1996. Her name is Gladys and she's ratty... Don't ask me when I'm going to do the bodywork... She'll be lucky if she gets washed occasionally....


1969 Road Runner coupe with bench seat and 4-speed. She now has a warmed up 440 in place of the original 383 and sports a 3.91:1 Sure Grip. I'm gonna drive it like I stole it and enjoy the hell out of it.
 
I have read all the other replys...
I think:
Repair the rust and leave the repairs in primer...
As a "Badge of honor"

So, do not paint it..
 
I like it, but what happened to the Sport Satellite?
 
Basket case said:
I like it, but what happened to the Sport Satellite?
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It's parked right next to the Road Runner. Georgia (the Satellite) is getting a complete suspension rebuild when I get my tax return. I'm tired of the clunking and banging. :)

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super-bee_ski said:
I have read all the other replys...
I think:
Repair the rust and leave the repairs in primer...
As a "Badge of honor"

So, do not paint it..
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As per AMD, the sheetmetal alone to fix the Road Runner is going to set me back $4400 (and I already have the quarter panels). So, I'm not in any hurry to repair any rust. I'm good with just driving the dog whiz out of it.
 
can't blame you. I'm getting in a less and less of a hurry for paint on mine. Having too much fun with it, and no need to worry about scratches with primer.
 
BigBlock61 said:
You forgot a category. a nicely painted and restored/restomod car that gets driven. That's what I vote for. A couple of car shows a year. A couple of times at the drag strip a year. A couple of cruse nights a year. In between with gas permitting, lots of driving around town, grocery getting, with relative and friends visiting.
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Exactly, that's just what mine is. It would drive me nuts driving a beat up Mopar around but only because I can never leave well enough alone. I've already put a few nicks in my one year old paint job but that's quite alright, I'm enjoying the hell out of thrashing on it.
 
I really like the car body a lot. Since it is white this is a very easy Color to repaint. 90 percent of colors are a big deal, but white is very forgiving. I would drink all the beer you can and look at it again. If the car starts to look like an Ugly Woman then you know what you have to do.
 
I know there are a lot of "it's only original once!" guys, and I know there are a lot of "it took 30 years for it to look like that!" guys, and I know there are a lot of "patina is cool guys!" out there, but I'm not one of them. :)

I haven't been driving old Mopars for decades because I like them. I drive them because I LOVE them. I love them almost as much as I love my wife and kids, and just like my wife and kids I wouldn't want to see them running around in dumpy, ratty, clothes, or covered in dirt, or in worn out shoes, or looking like they're homeless. I like my 2008 Police Interceptor, but I don't love it, so I don't care if it gets dirty, or has paint chips, or dings here or there, or any other flaws. But my Roadrunners are a different story. I take the same pride in them as I do my family, and there is no way in Hell I would want to see them driving around the street with dents, rust, bad paint, or other "patina". To me patina = neglect. If these cars were meant to be dull, dented, and rusted, Chrysler would have made them that way when they were new.

And I take my car to shows, and sit next to it in my lawn chair, and I enjoy the response from show attendees just as much as I enjoy the response I get from driving it to work several times a week, or driving it to the store, or driving it when we go out to dinner. I enjoy seeing my wife dolled up and I enjoy seeing my car the same way.

And you don't need to spend a ton of time or money getting your car looking decent. Avoid the bodyshops and find a local guy who's doing paint and body on the side and have him do the work. I went from this...

pb4.jpg


pb8.jpg


to this...

CAM00051.jpg


CAM00054.jpg


in less than one month and for $2,500 (plus another $400 in decals and stripes that you wouldn't need). Spend your money wisely, and you can get your Satellite back to being the beauty she was meant to be quickly and affordably.
 
I really don't see why I need to change anything. I'm fine with a couple of chips or primer, doesn't mean I neglect my car. Just that I don't want to budget the time or money towards getting something that I am content with fixed just so that others find it more aesthetically pleasing.
 
Rust ain't patina unless steps have been taken to curb the advance. Its just rust. That said it is your car , screw everyone else unless they want to pay to have something done.
 
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