Here's one with a repaint, and major engine work, and replaced trim -- but it's a "nice survivor". I guess that means it has survived so far. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buick-Rivie...c7eaf9cd9&item=191103999193&pt=US_Cars_Trucks It's not a bad car, just not a survivor. To me a "survivor" is an original drivetrain, original paint, original interior, original body panels car. After that, it's a project that is underway. Right? uzzled:
Yeah, it's got a lot of survivor new, NOS, and second hand parts, besides a survivor previous repaint. People really have strange ideas of what survivor means. I was watching Rods and Wheels last night where the two sons were working on a '64 Corvette coupe. They prettied it up then took it to the Pomona Swap Meet, telling the prospective buyers that it started out as a shell, bad body, no engine or transmission. Then, in the same breath, they state that it's numbers matching! No clue what they're saying. It really sends up red flags for Da Rod Shop!
The term "survivor is so overused these days. Interestingly, the term "survivor" is now trademarked, but they say they aren't going to chase people and file lawsuits: http://www.survivorcollectorcar.com/?link=trademark
My definition too. Everything original to the car with exception of normal wear items that often were replaced when the car was in regular daily service.
The other term that is overused is "BARN FIND". It has become more prevalent over the last year or 2. The amount of crap that has rotted in a field for years, being called a "barn find" on craigslist, is unreal. Anyone else noticed this trend?
I always get a kick out of so called survivors when they have pink heater hoses and yellow Accel wires. Not.
Can't agree with you on this. To me, "survivor" means that it is still running after years of normal use. Normal part replacement is OK. I drove a friend's Model T Ford in a parade last year. All three doors had been repainted due to (at the time) about 75 years of "normal use." Somewhere along the way, a distributor ignition system had been installed to replace the factory flywheel magneto setup. It had aftermarket "Rocky Mountain" brakes installed. The engine, transmission, suspension, body, etc were as they had left the factory. The car has been in continuous - although limited, use since it was built in 1924. I would call it a "survivor."
Yup; it's definitely abused. But then again, John has a point; - the car has survived years of abuse. However, with most of its componentry replaced, there's no way it can be an "original survivor", which is another term that is very abused. In my "side job" as an appraiser, I love to look at all of these "survivors" with purple piping and crushed velvet interiors running on 3 year old SBCs...in many cases ignorance is bliss; there's no point educating the dumb who refuse to be educated. Let the fiction ride; real collectors know right off the hop what's real and what isn't. I've got a very nice but worn 1946 Super that still is wearing it's factory paint, has never been pulled apart, although it is all shaled up because it didn't get frequent oil changes even though it doesn't have a filter. It leaks, not much, but enough to be greasy. The engine paint is worn off. The rad is damn near plugged, but it's the original one. The interior is coming apart, even though it's now in a garage, and the back seat while virginal (and assumed never to have seen one either) is starting to get threadbare and weak. It's got 134,000 miles (I'm assuming) on it, and it feels like it. I changed out the original 1946 water pump last spring; -I had to put in a 1948 "modified" design in, the originals haven't been available since 1947. The car still runs like a top; - always starts...
I will agree that the car called a "survivor" must be reasonably as it was when it left the factory, but it doesn't need to be absolutely as it was originally. In the case of your '46 Buick, the water pump isn't original, nor is it exactly stock. No matter. I would have no problem replacing the radiator and repairing the rear seat. These are both normal service items. I would even have it repainted - preferably in it's factory color. Again it is simply a necessary repair. To me, a "survivor" is simply an unrestored, mostly original car or truck.
