Every car can't be a frame off restoration covering every singe detail and ending up cleaner and better than new.
That's what "overhauling" is for. That do it right, they do it perfect, and most importantly cost is no object. Most cars they do would not sell for half the money they put into it. That is what makes them fantasy cars. No economics involved. (Chase down some of them that ended up being sold at auction and get back to me on that)
I do not think there's anything dishonest about taking a decent runner and making it a drive able/useable version of your dream car but doing it in a manner that's within the reach of "normal" people.
That fits more into the scenario most of us real people could afford or pull off.
I do not want a show car, I want something I can use, and something I can afford.
A frame off total resto is way beyond most people's skills or financial ability to pay someone else to do for them and more importantly unless you pick a "halo"car a frame off total resto represents a totally non-recoverable outlay of money versus obtaining a car you can afford and have fun with.
The "more than its worth" scenario when dealing with a bike that is our life's passion taking 10 years and 4 times the worth of the end product to achieve fits the bill just fine on a bike. The total outlay is still small enough to be within the reach of normality letting us not care about the poor economics of the whole deal.
On a car it sky rockets, my "real dream car" in show quality, would blow past $100k quickly, but I don't need that, nor could I afford it. OK...how bout the same car, not show quality, buy solid and dependable, that I can enjoy for 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 the money.
Ok, now maybe the answer is yes. .
Some people really would just like to have the "car of their dreams" that they can drive and use with it spendingr $100,000 + like the typical Overhauling car.
Those cars are out there, decent versions of the "car of your dreams" for something you and I could afford (but not win shows or make money on)
That's what the douches at GMG build.
For pure CLASS Wayne Carinni on "Chasing Classic Cars" wins hands down in my book. The guy is a gentlemen's gentlemen all the way. The cars are cool, the stories are neat. Ultimately he does the same thing most of the time the low end guys do, he buys 'em, fixes 'em up "a little bit" usually without getting carried away, and then moves 'em out, carrying himself with dignity and class the whole time.
"What's in the Barn?" is another cool one, love seeing the bikes that guy comes up with.
If "Russell" is the guy I think he is, which I could be wrong, I turn the channel immediately on that one. If he's the 55-60 year old bald Englishman all I ever see him do is yell a lot. Maybe I have not hung in there long enough to see the cool stuff they do......
PS, when I remodeled my Kitchen and Bath I did not do it the "HGTV" way either....
