Over the years I have watched people work on their cars and also watched the cars that come up for sale. Things sure have changed and I believe it is the cost and availability of parts that have caused most of it.

When watching Graveyard Carz the main guy made a statement that all of the parts that they were taking off in the 70's and the 80's they are now searching for to put back on. Lot's of truth to that statement.

I have been a Purist with my 69FB. Ever since I started driving it I made a vow to keep it at stock as possible. Man that has been a tough quest to honor for this rare 69 Sprint. Parts are very hard to find and then pry from the hands of the seller.

are you a Purist or a Restomodder?

99% purist. Will not buy Repro unless I have to.

I've always been of the opinion anyone can build a hot-rod. Not everyone can build an original.

I consider myself a 99% purist. Other than Pertronix ignition, modern day stereo and radial tires. I'm pure.

There is a third category a great number of people fall on this site. That is where the car is kept original but is upgraded or optioned out. As an example, my Sprint originally came with hubcaps that have long been lost. Since I love the look of Rallys, that is what I put on. They are stock JCs (correct for the car if they were ordered that way) but they never came on this car. I also added a 6500rpm hood tach that is correct for the OHC motors. Eventually I will also install a tilt column, clock, and maybe some other goodies.

I still consider that a purist. Those are "correct" to the car.

Just face it, you're a purist...

Restomod

I went the picky restoration route on my 80 Turbo T/A project and hated the car afterwards. Could not tilt the seat to a comfortable position, totally weak and underpowered... (It was not running when I bought it)

So I am putting the factory options on my '67 that I would have ordered along with a 500 hp 455, comfy aftermarket seats and a tilt column, modern suspension and brake pieces.

However, the car will look pretty much stock on the exterior when I am done.

Both.
Was gon'a make my 67 a street/strip car. But since its mostly original decided to get another(68) to do up.

Purist, as much as possible....have a few parts that are repro but always looking to swap em out...

Some one posted this mod on FB the other day....not really in to it but colors are OK...

Restomod
I love driving my 68 ohc convertible. However the engine is very tired. It is numbers matching and all there. If I rebuild this engine and run it I'm taking the chance on loosing the ability to have it as anumbers matching vehicle. I will probably convert to a 4.3 v6/700r4 and keep the old motor and trans hidden in the corner to be dealt with at a later date. I can then drive the wheels off my ride without worrying about trying to find a head or exhaust manifold should one fail.

Nothing wrong with that as long as you retain the parts and ability to restore it back....

Restomod: Just improving on a great idea

resto-urist
A lot of stock parts but newer color and wheels. Guess those could always be changed but a clone is a clone. Will never be stock again.

I guess restomod, My car has a lot of repro parts on it but i still like to keep it factory looking as best i can,except for the rims.It all depends what you have to start with. If i started with a numbers matching car i would keep it numbers matching,or at least keep the numbers matching parts to swap back if need be.

Stock looking restomod..... If I had a numbers matching then purist....

Well that's the thing. Can you still call it original if you added(stock) disc brakes to the front instead of the original drums? What about if now it's power disc instead of std drums? What about adding roller rockers and a bigger cam...HEI...posi unit instead of a peg legger...frame connectors, power mindows, soft ray glass instead of clear, bird glass to a 67, etc... All of these add-ons could be removed and returned to stock specs very easily.
Do I want to drive that car around again? No!! I feel ultimately safer the way the car is built now than it ever was in 1969. If I even thought about putting an original first gen through the stress that I put mine under most everytime I take it out of the garage I would be in my grave many times over by now. Heck I can remember buying a new set of tires one time that didn't have quite the grip that I require and the first time I went for a ride nearly drove myself right off the road and over the cliff. Scared the bejesus out of me. I couldn't wait to wear them out so I could buy something decent.
I just like to think of myself as an old hotrodder that will change something if it makes it better. I do try to keep the welding on parts to a minimum.
I'll see you purist on the other side. We'll see who gets there first.

1-2-3---- GO!!!!!!!! LOL

I started out trying to make my car as original as possible. I was not going to go overboard with part numbers. But I wanted to try and put it back together with Pontiac parts. My car was missing most everything when I bought it. Then I lost my first car to a body shop fire. That was the car that I had modified. When I lost that car my build changed on this car. I have all aftermarket brakes,suspension,exhaust,vintage air (to come) and a 12 bolt rear in it. But I am still trying to keep it somewhat stock looking. I spent a lot of time and effort on the rims and stereo. I have a cd player in the dash but I did not cut the dash. I stopped posting updates on my progress thread because most people on here are purists.

Don't stop Robert! I love your postings. We all learn a lot from what you are doing.

My first car I did all sorts of things that were not stock and that's fine, I was 18 and the car was my 1st project and it was not num matching and only a 350 2brl /w 2sp power glide.

The car I have now deserves the best because I believe it is a rare bird. My days of fast driving are over so just tinkering on the car over the next few years is what I hope to do.

I am, however, adding as much "stock" original (some NOS) options as possible, over and above the PHS has documented for the car. I will keep all the old parts and will not do anything that cannot be undone easily.

When I'm done I think it will be one of the most optioned out 68 ("Stock").

Purist, I plan to return my car to "original" with as many #'s matching parts as I can find. Already have 99% of what I need...


Steve

Resto mod vote here with mostly stock appearing exterior. Doing it my way and don't care what anybody thinks. I don't plan on having a car that looks like the guy parked next to me.

Good point Jerry: http://s44.photobucket.com/user/400PLUS/media/100_0891_zps92ad9e86.jpg.html

As many original GM parts as possible but not so strict on date codes, etc. How many original '68 YT blocks are out there available? If you can find them, let me know, I need two of them. I would be a purist if I could, but neither of my cars was in good enough shape to be able to do so. But with that said, I'm not putting a 428 in a first gen that was originally a 400 from the factory or a 326 for that matter.

Purist as far as appearance goes. I would like to upgrade some creature comforts and performance as long as they do not detract from the overall look. I hate the goofy low profile tires and rims many are putting on classic cars.

Purist, resto, modified?
How about all of the above.

68 OHC Convertible, all original.
68 Coupe, RA-V, dual 4's, M22, 4.11 12 bolt, 15" rally's
68 Road Race, 407 w/ KRE heads, Jerico, Moser 12 bolt, 13" Baer Brakes, 17" rims

neither here.....but closer to original than resto mod., I dont add newer stuff to the car except Pertronix...car is not original, but many think it is...iF they dont know about Maro parts, Buick parts...LOL

I don't like the term restoMod, but I guess that's were I'm
at. I've done the pruist route before but this Bird was
a shell when I found it, an old drag car cut up and rusty.
In it's new life it will have a TCI frame, LS power and
all the lastest in and under the car. But with the only
body mod being loosing the door locks, you'll have to look
under the hood to see anything new. My intention was to build
a car to run the highways safe and relieabile.

I bought a convertible that was originally a 350 AT. Somewhere along the way it got a 455 4 speed, which I love. As I am replacing parts I try to use original Pontiac parts where possible. I removed a modern stereo system and returned an am radio because I really don't listen to music while I drive, prefering the sound of the engine. I like going back in time and driving a 1960's car. It will never be original, but closer to correct for the period.

I really don't see the point of correctly restoring or building an average car. The costs are the same as a rare car but the value is considerably less than you'll have in it.
If you have an average car, but it's all there and original, then you might want to leave it that way, just because you see so few of them.
But if it's a lesser value car or one that's already been messed with then whatever floats your boat.

The hot thing now is period modified. Taking a FGF or other brand and putting period 1970's or early 80's mods to it.
But it's a fad that'll pass like Pro Street did.

Pro-Tour is a fad but I predict some of them will stand the test of time, like a modified driveline but original interior and body lines. The ones done over the top with modern interiors I think will look silly in a few years, some already do.

I think I'd be in trouble if I answered anything but purist with my car. lol.

though I have considered a few small upgrades to make it more reliable/comfortable...nothing that could not be easily put back though. I had considered disc brakes when I first bought it, but after driving it, I find the power drums are plenty adequate, so they will stay. Other things I'm considering are Pertronix and a modern hidden stereo so the original one stays in the dash, but I've got some work to do before I get to those. Gotta get the clock and cracked steering wheel repaired first. I will be keeping the original movement in the clock though.

[i][/i]

Robert, you should continue to post your efforts on your car. I cannot speak for others but I love watching builds and the results of what others do. Restomadding a car (if done right) are awesome.

It sounds like you've had a bad experience with someone? That doesn't matter as you can build whatever you want and there are good numbers of people that appreciate the effort.

Post away!

Marc

agree with Marc. I enjoy all the builds and I think most people on this site are hotrodders at heart, just with better and more tasteful choices than we made in highschool. There are more than a few fads I hope don't come back. And HO428 and 400PLUS obviosly living the dream , we need more pics!

I strive for purity as well. For example, though I currently run an Edelbrock 4B carb and intake, I found the correct 2B carb, air cleaner housing and cast iron intake just so I have it.

That is what I did, I kept the original rear end, intake, carb, distributer and air cleaner. What Im kicking myself in the [censored] for is selling the original 2 speed trans, and AIR system. So I guess I fall into the semi resto/purist catagory

Resto-mod here. When I bought my Firebird and found that the engine was not original to the car the choice was easy. In a way I'm kind of glad that it wasn't #'s matching, if it was I probably would have gone the purist route. It still looks original to the general public though and most parts that I changed out are siting on the shelf "just in case".

Oh NO no willy nilly! Your all Resto mod. LOL

Eric got my clock and I got a trans and oil temp gauge! All Resto LOL!

Well,Guess you do have me on that one!

Purist, the thrill of the chase, and finding those hard to find original parts to bring the car back to what it once was is what I love best. Took 13 years to collect near perfect original parts to restore my 69, but the wait was worth it. Now I have a 69 coupe that will be a TA Tribute car, but as close to factory as we can possibly get it or afford the parts needed.

I have no problem with customs and street machines, I appreciate them all, but stock is my thing

MaryAnn said it best. Ditto for me all the way!