| In the world of vintage and classic cars, preserving | | | | classic ride and letting them rust away) car |
| an automobile is a different ball game than restoring | | | | preservationists say that the sense of history |
| one. Preserving vintage cars is not in any way a | | | | motivates them to do what they do – buy |
| means of restoring them. That means preserving | | | | vintage cars and let them be. |
| vintage and classic wheels and rides does not entail | | | | Preserving vintage cars and their battered bumpers |
| rigging and fitting them with customized brand new | | | | and dilapidated wheels, is, for car purists, is like |
| car seat covers and what not. In the simplest of | | | | owning a piece of history. That feeling of elation is |
| terms, preserving a classic car is basically letting it | | | | something a car with fully-loaded modifications such |
| hang on to its old colors body frame and floor mats. | | | | as custom seat covers and modern high-revving |
| While most car enthusiasts prefer shiny chrome | | | | engine, cannot give to its owner. |
| plates and hoods, vintage and classic cars that are | | | | However, replacing other parts and accessories, such |
| untouched still emanate a certain archaic aura, | | | | as rubber linings and car seat covers can still be done |
| sometimes to the point of sacredness and worship. | | | | for the sake of preservation. Whether or not this |
| Beneath the decades of rust, grime, dust, and dents, | | | | crosses the line between car preservation and |
| preserved vintage cars, even with their tattered seat | | | | restoration is still a hot topic for debate. While |
| covers are still considered works of beauty. | | | | vintage car purists maintain that everything should be |
| This seems to be the trend that a growing number | | | | untouched to keep a classic automobile’s |
| of auto collectors prefer; preferring their vintage and | | | | authenticity, contemporary car collectors say little |
| classic jalopies to stay the way they are --- steering | | | | changes in floor mats and seat coverings and linings |
| wheel, stick shifts, floor mats and all. | | | | won’t hurt. |
| Many motor and auto enthusiasts want to keep the | | | | Several vintage car preservationists admit that when |
| vehicles as they are because of their historical merit | | | | a car is too far gone, giving it a minor overhaul is not |
| and authenticity. They want to keep the images --- | | | | a bad way to go. Popular TV show host and a |
| and the stories --- of these classic cars to fresh and | | | | famous car collector Jay Leno says that he bought a |
| real, despite years of inactivity. The torn seat covers, | | | | 1934 Duesenberg that had been rotting in a |
| moldy stick shifts and chipped paint --- all tell of the | | | | Manhattan parking garage for 34 years and decided |
| vehicles’ individual histories. | | | | to do some restoration because it was way beyond |
| While vintage car preservation is an unsound | | | | mere preservation. He has also successfully kept |
| investment compared to collectors who restore their | | | | intact a 1927 Duesenberg he bought --- tires, spark |
| vintage autos, (especially when considering the | | | | plugs, and all. |
| amount of money spent to get their hands on a | | | | |