Define the term "survivor" in car terms.

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by rkammer, Aug 1, 2017.

  1. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    So, you see the term "survivor" used frequently when talking about vintage cars. Let's hear some opinions on just what the term means or should mean. Does it have to be a 100% original car with all specific parts that were on it when it left the factory and including all the patina accumulated over the years? Or, could it mean an original car that might have had some parts replaced with new or NOS parts correct for its year? Does the paint need to be original and never repainted? Interior 100% or maybe a driver's seat recovered? What do you all think?
     
  2. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    I think a "survivor" is a car that hasn't been restored, but maintained. I don't care if it's aftermarket stuff from NAPA or wherever like hoses and whatnot, but it shouldn't have new paint or interior in my opinion. Touch ups are fine from minor fender benders and the like, but should be as much original paint as possible. The interior the same way, and cracks in the seats and worn out carpet are fine. The engine and trans should be the originals that came with the car, and preferably not rebuilt or replaced, unless it was sometime early in the car's history like a warranty replacement engine. Just my opinions, of course.....
     
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  3. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    As an addition, I think it's just the new hot button term like "barn find", and people are overusing it just as much.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2017
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  4. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Just my 2 cents, but I always felt a "survivor" was a car that was maintained and repaired, but not restored. I know that leaves a large gray area, but then I never was bothered by labels anyway (survivor, barn find, clone, tribute, etc etc)
     
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  5. yachtsmanbill

    yachtsmanbill Well-Known Member

    2X thumbs up Shawn! I consider the XGS a survivor, especially when registering it at car shows etc. After 50 years a ton has been done to it up to and including floors, quarters doors etc., but we drive it everywhere. The other day my pal was up here and we took a 100 mile spin in the country with the AC (134A btw) blasting snowflakes and the temp never went over 190 with a 50 Y.O. Harrison radiator. A few knicks and scratches here and there but I'm not afraid to park in a restaurant parking lot.

    We do some shows and pull up and do the tour. Some guy with a mustang kinda thing with all the billet and blue lights and mirrors had his hotty chick doing some "detail" work with a tooth brush on some dumb bling kinda wheels... we call those "walk by's". Nice thong BTW LOL... ws
     
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  6. ragtops

    ragtops Gold Level Contributor

    I agree with the answers, and ask those interested to read some of the other ideas expressed elsewhere.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=sur...y-ab..0.9.1057...33i21k1j33i160k1.OGLbv2Q2Qkc

    From the Corvette forum;
    survivor is a trademark term used by Bloomington. it means to them that the car is all original and unrestored with only a few wear items replaced. but its one of the most over used terms in the Corvette hobby.
    There are many more comments all saying pretty much what has been said in the first few posts.

    I would like to ad that IMO a survivor must be a car which runs and drives, more than less, like new. A car which is completely original is NOT a survivor unless it meets the preceding stated conditions.
     
  7. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member


    Since the sharp decline in Carnivals, Circuses, and County Fairs, these folks in every generation need an outlet. :p

    Now I'm gonna wander over and get me a corn dog and a look see...
     
  8. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    Get me a funnelcake!
    Patrick
     
  9. StratoBlue72

    StratoBlue72 Well-Known Member

    Only Bloomington Gold can use the term "Survivor". They might nail ya for using it when describing a car as a survivor in a classified ad. :p
     
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  10. rogbo

    rogbo Gold Level Contributor

    If you read it in a for sale ad, it means "needs work and lots of it"!
     
  11. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    I would say any antique car that hasn't been sent to the shredder would be a survivor! Be it rusted, restored or riginal, it survived being sent to the shredder. If its still registered to be on the road or even if in its waiting to be registered to be on the road again to be driven would also be an example.

    Project cars are also included all the way up to the time when so many give up on them and send them to their final resting place. Can't save them all and some have to die so others can live. One day years and years from now if these cars are still coveted, the survivors will be the specialty cars with the regular cars as the donors so the special factory cars can live on.

    For now the people that have them, enjoy them while they still can be enjoyed. So yeah, a survivor would be any antique car that has a clear title that can be made to be road worthy. Once they hit the junkyard the title is killed and the best that can be got for the car is a salvage title which would make it a zombie car brought back from the dead that will never be worth the $$ put into it. A restored zombie car is only good to be a parts donor car for a car with a clear non-salvage title.

    Now if we're talking about a "true survivor" a whole nother level of survivor, that would be the all original car that is still in show room condition with low miles on it.


    Derek
     
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  12. scubasteve455

    scubasteve455 Well-Known Member

    Survivor. There are NO cars in Pgh.Pa. That have survived our salt/ winter roads. Humid Springs. From the 60-70's
     
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  13. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Derek, I can't disagree with that assessment. Valid points all around.
     
  14. scubasteve455

    scubasteve455 Well-Known Member

    Well a couple... Maybe
     
  15. 65gs76limited

    65gs76limited Well-Known Member

    I just bought what I consider a survivor. It's a 1976 Suburban. I bought it off the original owners son. The dad ordered it new in 76 and when he passed in 1992 the son got it and it sat in his barn until 3 weeks ago. the truck has 12,689 miles on it.The original 9.50-16.5 tires had to be replaced due to flat spots from sitting.Never any paint work other that a couple scratches touched up and you can tell. Interior is completely eriginal,motor never been touched. I mean this is a true survivor,everything it came with from the factory. Tom
     
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  16. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    2 Buick (3).JPG I have all my original 'factory' parts, even tonsils. only thing I'm missing are a lot of brain cells. I'm a survivor. And our '65 Skylark pervertible is mostly original paint. The only 'major' part replaced on the engine is the timing set. Driver seat has had minor repair. And, wearable items have been replaced. I haven't ever referred to it as a 'survivor' but, by definition, I guess it is.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2017
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  17. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    The 67 GS I bought is what I would consider a complete original car but not a survivor. Faded paint, a few dings and dents, dirty interior, doesn't run and drive. It certainly has all its original parts though. Even the factory exhaust.

    When I hear survivor I think of a complete untouched car with decent paint and interior. It should also run and drive at least well enough to make it to the corner market.
     
  18. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    I have 2 cars that may be considered survivors, my 69 GS400 4 speed is a 19k miles car with all original paint, interior and engine ,trans, rear end, etc. I believe this one matches the spirit of the term, also original owner BTW.
    The other is somewhat a gray area, its a 71 thats a 3 owner car, original paint and interior,including tears in the driver seat, the original motor, and rear is sitting in the corner while I built a stout street motor with 12 bolt rear. Still has cruise and AC. So right now I don't consider it a survivor until I reinstall the original motor and rear.
    Agree??
     
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  19. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    I'll agree with Shawn. To me it's a vehicle that is essentially stock, has never been restored, but may have some replacement parts. My '27 Model T has been repainted some years ago, but has never had a restoration. The engine is the engine that it left the factory with, and the only modifications were made by me (replaced the fan pulley with a sealed bearing unit, replaced the radiator with a more efficient modern design component). It didn't sit in a garage for 30 years, and when I bought it, we loaded it into the trailer under it's own power. To me it's a survivor.
     
  20. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    My car spent it's entire life in Lebanon, PA and shows no signs of creating anywhere. Of course, it helps that the longest owner put 10K on it in 35 years and it's been garaged it's whole life with one mediocre laquer repaint in the early 80's.

    I discussed this topic with Dano the other day and questioned whether my 50K original mile, NOM but numbers M21 and "ON" 3:64 rear with seemingly perfect original interior would fall in this category.
     

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