"Restored as Unrestored"

[69SSZL1]

Trying to get info from the Mecum site on this Vette, but can't get to the Corvette list: http://www.mecum.com/auctions/consignment_list.cfm?AUCTION_ID=BG0611

I hope this is not a new trend. 8 years ago I told my friend Hans the next thing people would try to fake is unrestored cars.

[mockingbird812]

Well that is a new twist! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[olredalert]

-----This is no new trend. Its simply the best restoration according to Dave Burroughs. Dave spent years disecting the St.Louis assembly line practices so that he could duplicate exactly the methods used to assemble mid-year Corvettes in his restorations. The 67 in question has never to my knowledge been called a &quot;fake&quot; original 67. It has, though, been called by those that appreciate originality one of the best restorations ever done to a Corvette.......Bill S

[bergy]

I'm sure that the car is magnificent. Having worked on the St. Louis Corvette line as a student, I hope that he didn't duplicate any of my practices. I have to admit that I cross threaded many a body bolt. A rookie had to really hustle on that line - even at the slow line pace - it took a lot of manual dexterity! GMI students had to progress down the line, doing each job for an hour or so.

[olredalert]

----Bruce,,,He may not have cross-threaded too many bolts but there are many things on this 67 that would be looked at as flaws by the concours crowd. Incomplete coverage of the lacquer paint down low on the body as well as general paint quality come to mind. Dave was absolutely way out there on the edge when he began his restoration practices. He may only have restored Corvettes but many of his findings are now considered normal on many GM restorations.
----While I seem to be tooting his horn (and I am a bit) I still love a concours style restoration as well. Hard to have it both ways!.....Bill S

[69SSZL1]

Well then, its just a Correct Restoration as Vettes and other cars have been done for years. Why call it &quot;restored as unrestored&quot;, makes no sense.

[tom406]

I get it now, but it is a confusing terminology. At first I thought it had been restored to approximate a low mileage original with some sort of &quot;patina&quot; (I've heard of that being done as well). It would be useful if a term emerged to describe this type of restoration. Many owners of over-restored Corvettes would happily describe them as &quot;correct&quot; restorations. Correct if the assembly line were staffed by methodical 50 year old professionals using hand mixed German paints with an assembly line that moved along about 1 car per day..... (no slag there, that's how I like restored Corvettes-I couldn't bring myself to replicate crappy factory paint if I had a nice Vette tore down to that level!)

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Factory Correct Restoration?</span></span> <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif I too had the impression that the car was restored to some low mileage point - misleading term (in my feeble mind anyway <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/crazy.gif )

[Canuck]

I recall seeing this car featured on a Muscle Car show a few years back. The restoration focused on assembly line practices and as such the car had very thin paint on the rocker area and the carpet pieces that were cutout to accomodate the seat bolts were left in the car. These were just two items I recall.

[olredalert]

-----You know, Greg, I agree. It is misleading terminology. Someone at Mecum probably going a bit overboard, I guess? I know for sure that Dave wouldnt mis-represent the car as anymore than restored to the way it rolled off the assembly line. Heck, he didnt even re-align a hugely out of alignment door on the red 12 mile 67 L88 Corvette. That one I never did completly buy into. The door stood out from the body from a 1/2 to 5/8ths of an inch.......Bill S

[firstgenaddict]

I remember the RED 12 mile L88 Coupe being at Bloomington in maybe 1988... is that right?

[olredalert]

----It was sitting on a turntable right next to our booth.......Bill S

[TimG]

It was there last year, too.