What do you think? Are there guidelines?
I was looking on uPay and noticed an old F-100 that said it had been restored, but had a different engine, trans, rear, etc....
When is it a resto, when is it a mod... when is it a rat-rod???

I'm doing a frame off restore of my 53 F100, but am going to make 2 or 3 modifications from stock. (i.e. dual master brake cylinder).

Engine color??
Truck color??
If I change these from stock, is it still a restore?
Is it all in the eyes of the beholder?

Just wonderin

 

I think the term has gotten pretty loose over the years, used to be "restore", was make it like (or close as possible) to how it came from the factory...now you see "restored" '50's-etc vehicles with a 5.0/EFI/etc...

I wouldn't worry about what you call it, just how you make it is what counts.

 

Restore: What Mike said.

Rat Rod is really overused and never was a very good definition anyway.

"Guidelines"????

 

restore: to return to like new condition. Make new again
resto-mod: to repair or rebuild with modifications. Looks new, but not 100% original.
custom: not as originally manufactured

If the vehicle is rebuilt to factory original condition (engine color, body color, interior materialss, etc, etc) then it is a true restoration. If it is restored to new appearance, but has had alterations from original (brakes, wheels, interior, etc) but retains a close to factory appearance, then it would be a resto-mod. If it has been chopped, and modified to the point that very little appears to be original, then it is a custom rebuild.

 

Steve,

Like so many Americans, you seem to be interested in catagorization, a very human trait. There are many things that seem to defy catagorization because of unclear lines of definition. This is not always the case, however.

The English language is quite precise if used correctly. It is the language of science and aeronautics. In this case, restored to original condition would be a more correct way of stating a return to the original. If the truck were modified and then restored, it would not be incorrect to say that it was restored, but possibly misleading.

A modification is just what it says. Modified means change has occurred. If you change out a worn out old six cylinder and replace it with another six of the same specifications, it is still changed... but is it modified? Yes, by definition. You changed engines, so it is not returned to original condition. By a loose interpretation of what original means, one might say that an engine change as in the example above, is original condition.

A coined word like "ratrod" has as many interpretations as one might choose to accept. I choose to ignore it because it has no meaning for me.

precisely, himmelberg

 

By definition then, once you have changed the oil, tires/etc...you have modified the vehicle.

Definition has to be defined

 

Gee, Mike... you remind me of someone who had problems defining... who was it? Could it have been that guy who wanted to define the word is?

Technically, you are correct... you have modified it from whatever "original" was. Persons with a reasonable command of language would take changing fluids for granted. Changing tires... well, what about going from bias to radial?

Semantics is really fun to play with. We have some really good players on here. Then, too, there are folk who take it all very seriously. Give me the guy with the quick wit who makes us laugh rather than the guy who is always right.

himmelberg

 

I'm with ya, just yanking on your chain a bit

 

Hmmmmm, I posted this thinkin I would get lots of discussion about what to do and what not to do, how far to go, etc...

But now I gotta get out my dictionary

 

Restored, Resto-mod, rat rod, jallopy,.......

Call it what you want. The way I see it, anything that I do to my truck there will be people who like it and people who think it is disgraceful. The truth is the only person that has to be pleased with it is ME.

 

This man speaketh the truth!

Making changes to your old Ford is a very slippery slope. I went out to try to do something about that unsightly oil bath air cleaner that was always grimey and ended up with a Camaro clip and a small block Chevy (with paper air filter) under the hood. But, I am happy with the way things are turning out.

Good Luck!

 

1 through 5 stars on restore. Original torque hashes on the bolt heads? yup. Original oil bath filter? yup. Original brake drum shoes? yup. Original windshield wipers? nope. NOPE?? how dare you call that a restoration? Well, it's not a 5 star restoration.

Customs? defined as 1949 and newer. Mine's a '48, so I call mine a hot rod. If I had all the original driveline except a 12 volt conversion and front disc brakes, I'd call it a resto-mod.

to each their own, though.

 

Good points guys, all of you. I responded with loose definitions, because that was the way I understood his question. All terms regarding these old trucks, and all the others can be used to what ever degree a person wants, or chooses. I guess the only one that really truly has a clear meaning, is "councours restoration." So, with that in mind.....If it's a concours restoration, then it would fall into perfect as original. A restoration could then be anything that was restored to as near perfect as possible? I guess, custom (hotrod) or resto mod, could be the one and the same...Maybe? So, with all the excellent input, did we come any closer to solving the riddle of what is what?

 

Nope! And that's the fun part The way I see it there are as many correct definitions as there are members of the forum!
I do enjoy reading the keyboard ticklings of my neighbor to the west.
In awe (or would that be "Awefully"?),

 

Ok, so. A perfect concours restoration, let's call that Concours. Anything that the owner has taken the countless hours, and loads of money to put together for his or her personal enjoyment, and perhaps the visual enjoyment of others, but may not be "perfect" to OE exactness, then lets call it restored. Everything else (chopped, sectioned, built to the hilt) lets call call them some sweet old iron thats been resurected into one bad @$$ ride, or maybe just call it a real nice custom.