Quality Standards
This is simply a Guide, Method/ Rating system to help achieve an understanding of what, can, and may be expected when restoring 30 year old parts, and what I look for when processing parts to achieve these levels.
This is a Custom Process
offered on a best
effort basis with
respect to part condition from 25 plus years experience!
The better the part in the beginning, the better the end result,
or more time is needed during restoration.
Limitations: Parts surface repairability (extent
of deterioration) and Budget.
How restored parts compare to OE NEW Parts, and how close you need to be to see they ARE restored VS new When Installed on the car!
10ft-5ft: DRIVER/RACE (Old Car Price Guide #4)
Cars are rarely approached for their "show" quality. These cars are raced, driven on a daily basis, and taken to cruises. The owners take pride in these vehicles but they are not displayed for "show" purposes.
5ft-3ft-1ft: SHOW FIELD (Old Car Price Guide #3-2)
Cars are displayed at local drive-in, National Show and Shine field, and Popular Vote type shows. They are exceptionally nice daily drivers, and trophy winning Local/ National Show quality. Minor flaws comparable to factory flaws and some 30 year old wear flaws may be MINIMALLY noticeable within a 5ft viewing range.
More often
than not, parts in these two categories require additional work
(on average cores) during the process, or EXTREMELY nice cores
to start with, or Preferably N.O.S cores.
3ft-1ft: OE JUDGED (Old Car Price Guide #2-1)
Cars are exceptionally NICE drivers, National Show and Shine Show field, or National Show Judged cars. They are point judged on a Local/ Regional/ National Standard basis. Minor flaws comparable to (but not limited to) factory flaws may be VERY MINIMALLY, if at all, noticeable in this viewing range. The closer they are to they one foot distance the better the parts need to be to start with or more time is needed to achieve Higher Quality Standards over base labor pricing.
0ft: CONCOURS(E)
(Old
Car Price Guide #0)
This level
exists only in your "minds eye", and is solely limited
by budget As there are no "perfect" parts (as defined by wesbters).
Cars are absolutely perfect, flawless, and are over and above what the factory ever assembled in mass production. These cars are not driven, they are trailered to shows and shown only! There are minimal, if any flaws in these parts. Exceptional parts or NOS parts are needed to start with. Finished parts will only be deemed "perfect" when the customer has "signed off" on their perception of them being "perfect in their minds eye". This Standard is achieved by TIME ONLY! using base labor prices as a starting point.