A few folks in "my" segment of the autoenthusiast hobby use terms like "restored", "over-restored" and "unrestored original" ... and I think these terms are pretty self-explanatory.
I have seen engaging e-mail correspondence suddenly end when I asked (more than) one of our builders or refinishers to repair a dent and refinish a top tube, not that this is a strong point in my typing this afternoon, just a co-incident observation. An observation, incidentally, that could (and honestly, does) make it hard to accept said builders and refurb-ers claims about preservation at face value. Perhaps they are making a cost-trade in advance for me. If they were "pure" businessmen my shipping-dented Pog would have been repaired two years ago!
Back to the first paragraph, there is no doubt that in the afore-mentioned autoenthusiast segment, the masses uniformly prefer the "over-restored" vehicles, and said masse show their preference with their checkbooks and credit cards. I guess as a hobby "we" are the same, otherwise the New World painters would have less of a backup, and the ones on the continent or British Isles would need more than a 2-3 week turnaround!
Still, there are obviously heavy dollars available for my personal bike favorites, unrestored, excellent condition bikes by "the masters"...or even very interesting on an admittedly esoteric level. But the sheer number of folks spending a month's pay (or willing to) on a somewhat-plain-by-todays-clearcoat-standards italian bike, or early american builder's bike, is a FAR smaller number than for the "bling."
Different "tastes" for a variety of folks I suppose.
Of course, like the car hobby, when all the unrestored original time capsules are snagged up and then re-painted and eventually vanish into collections, it won't matter anymore, will it?
Will it?
Just a different take on "preservation", I guess.
Dale Phelps Montagna lunga Colorado
Dale B. Phelps 303.651.7307
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