Re: [CR]When is a restoration not a restoration?

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:12:05 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]When is a restoration not a restoration?
In-Reply-To: <200706031701.l53H1ViF021501@cascade.cs.ubc.ca>


At 10:01 AM 03/06/2007 -0700, Donald Gillies wrote:
>Let's use a thought experiment to illustrate my point. Let's say
>Brian Baylis discovers an unpainted MASI from 1974, a time period when
>he was working at MASI. Brian decides to paint the bike for the first
>time, using original decals from his "private reserve" (please don't
>bug Brian about his "private reserve" as this is a thought experiment
>and I've never heard him talk about a "private reserve".) Anyway, is
>this finally-painted frameset a restoration ??

Of course, this is all hypothetical. However, stranger things happen in the car world. Vintage cars have been built starting with only a piece of the original frame with the serial number attached and passed off as restorations. I also remember reading something about Carroll Shelby using VIN numbers assigned by Ford in the sixties, but not used, to produce "NOS" GT350s with 1960s model year designations. I have a friend who is building a replica Ford GT-40 and toys with the idea of getting a 1966 Ford VIN on it so he can pass it of as a restored original and enter vintage races. (Those folks won't let owners of replicas and kit cars play.) Many old cars surface from time to time after people thought they were gone forever and you have to wonder whether they really are original or not.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada