Rehabilitating an American station wagon from the 1960s or the small English convertible of your youth brings immense satisfaction as long as you don’t know how to count (too much).
Author ofPraise of the carburetor And Why do we drive?, Matthew Crawford has strong ideas. And controversial too. According to him, “modern cars have become very boring to drive”. And many observers of the automotive scene share this point of view, but without saying it…
“An extension of your body”
Matthew Crawford enjoys driving his 1963 Volkswagen Beetle. “When you drive these older, lighter, less automated cars, you absorb a lot more information — the condition of the road, the squeal of the brakes, the temperature of the engine », he writes. “The vehicle becomes almost prosthetic, you start to feel it like an extension of your body. »
This long preamble brings us to the heart of our subject: the pleasure that old cars provide. To own them, restore them and drive them. A great adventure, but it is better to have deep pockets, a clear location to tinker around, a good dose of patience and a well-written address book to find the parts. Not forgetting, of course, the skills needed to get this masterpiece in the making back on the road.
PHOTO DIRK MICHAEL DECKBAR, TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE DECKBAR.DE
The restored interior of a 1959 Porsche
High cost
With the arrival of spring, the classified ads are full of classics. However, not all opportunities are worth seizing. The market is selective. A model will stand out from the rest if it is a first hand first. Then, if it is in original condition. Finally, and above all, if it is accompanied by the history of all its overhaul and repair invoices.
Nostalgic people must realize that the slightest restoration is generally expensive. Purists will not hesitate to pay more for a vehicle with a major restoration, snubbing the same model distorted by mediocre or no history repairs. Hence the craze for “barn crawls” (commonly called barn finds), or cars that have stood the test of time, remaining for years, even decades, in a garage. They are a very interesting purchase for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty.
Last advice before embarking on such an adventure? It is important to have a detailed and thoughtful plan. No timeline though.