Hi Michael,
I don't understand how restoring a car to its former glory would lower its value otherwise no one would ever restore a car. Sooner or later every car will need a restoration/freshen up. If repairs are done to a high standard, there should be no issues. Are you referring to your Alpine for example after it was repaired?
Regards, Robin.
Rob,
I dont know how to explain this in a more simple way.. lets try again..
A car is only original once. A concourse resto is fine.. you can make cars better than new.. but to have a survivor a car that still largely has its factory parts.. factory paint etc is very rare.. the older they get the less and less of these cars there are.. there are Tigers out there in nicer condition, with better paint, better trim.. but they are not factory.. they are restorations. The value in these cars is in the fact they are NOT restored, they are survivors.. and they have lead very sheltered lives.
A car can be restored many times over, it can only be original once.
A point in case.. why dont you suggest to John Boggis who has the orignial low millage SIVGT on the board to have the trim redone in his car as some of it is a little saggy.. or redo the carpets.. or repaint the block.. he is preserving the car... you would agree.. if it was involved in an accident it can be repaired.. but you are gogin to have to repaint it.. at themoment it still has all its factory paint.. each part that is replaced on those (part from things like consumables.. ball joints, plugs etc) takes away a little bit more of its history.
As for my alpine.. heck.. you can repaint it .. rebuild it as many times as you like.. its lost its factory finsh long before i owned it.. same goes with the IA really.. they are nice cars.. they are restored.. and if i restore them in the furture I can tell yu they will be even nicer than they are now, but thats easy..
Preserving a car that has not been restored is a great repsonsibility that takes great restraint on the owners behalf.. and hopefully those cars fall into the hands of people who get that.