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SkunkPrince
·200 vintage cars sounds like a high class problem.
Submitted without comment.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/how-many-cars-does-jay-leno-have/
What's more valuable to you? Untouched vintage or...
Submitted without comment.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/how-many-cars-does-jay-leno-have/
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1st speedy
·If the watch is for use - serviced
If the watch is for collection - untouched (you can always have it serviced later)
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1st speedy
·You gonna fire up that that AC Cobra's engine on a 55-57 year old battery, depend on 55-57 year old oil for lubrication, drive it at speed on 55-57 year old rubber? For the purposes of discussion we'll assume that you won't take the car out on a rainy day so won't need the 55-57 year old wiper blades.
How far are we going to take this originality with this hypothetical AC Cobra? I mean ... we wouldn't want to disturb the original configuration of the factory's original application of original wheel bearing grease by rolling the car up and down the ramps of its transport trailer.
Remember you said: " ... and running."
Only one opinion on this topic, but if I am to buy an all original AC Cobra then I am going to possess it and experience it and not just as an ornament for my garage. I might save all those original maintenance items for display, but the car would be put in running order so that I might drive it.
If a person gets their kicks out playing museum curator, conserving a pristine example of an object they possess, then great! I'm grateful that there are those kinds of collectors in the world. I'm not that person. I'm a member of the hoi polloi, a consumer, a collector (accumulator?) who wants an experience with the collected object beyond being its museum curator so it would be best to keep my mitts off the rare stuff for I'll use it every time.
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Dan S
·I much prefer finding something that is untouched. I would rather arrange for service and repairs myself rather than trust that it has been done correctly by the previous owner.
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amfalconer
·I don't have a dog in this fight, being neither a collector (yet) or able to fund vintage purchases, but at what point does maintaining originality become neglect?
I can understand the car analogy a bit more than watches, and whilst I understand the comments about the AC are tongue in cheek, there's a reason that fluids, belts, rubber items have a lifespan. Personally I'm of the opinion that enjoyment comes from using things, not looking at them, and I'm sure Jay Leno would back me up on that!
If I have to work on my car, (it's nothing special, but I like it) it gets OEM Alfa parts, the fluids are the recommended spec, and checked and changed on time, any work I can't carry out personally gets done by a local, well respected Alfa specialist - and I have receipts, invoices etc to back this up, knowing that when it gets moved on, it'll stand out above the others.
I'd personally see more value in a used, but well maintained item, than I would in an item with an unknown history, unless it could be proven to be NOS.
I can understand the car analogy a bit more than watches, and whilst I understand the comments about the AC are tongue in cheek, there's a reason that fluids, belts, rubber items have a lifespan. Personally I'm of the opinion that enjoyment comes from using things, not looking at them, and I'm sure Jay Leno would back me up on that!
If I have to work on my car, (it's nothing special, but I like it) it gets OEM Alfa parts, the fluids are the recommended spec, and checked and changed on time, any work I can't carry out personally gets done by a local, well respected Alfa specialist - and I have receipts, invoices etc to back this up, knowing that when it gets moved on, it'll stand out above the others.
I'd personally see more value in a used, but well maintained item, than I would in an item with an unknown history, unless it could be proven to be NOS.
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jaguar11
·Not much use if you can't wear it so I guess it will need a service...
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SK13
·I have old racing cars. If you don't use them regularly they deteriorate & break when next they run & that's why ex museum or storage cars (including road cars) need re-commissioning before use. Preventative maintenance is so
named for a reason. Watches suffer less stress but the same principle applies. The world seems to divide up into collectors that prefer to look at their prizes & those that want to enjoy using them as well. Being in the latter category I have to accept that as I'm not super fastidious when allowed out on my own that my watches (& cars) will suffer some evidence of use. I'd like to enjoy them (& anything else I collect) for the purpose they were designed for.... perhaps with the exception of my "curly" Hetchins racing cycle that I'm afraid to ride on the roads of London.
named for a reason. Watches suffer less stress but the same principle applies. The world seems to divide up into collectors that prefer to look at their prizes & those that want to enjoy using them as well. Being in the latter category I have to accept that as I'm not super fastidious when allowed out on my own that my watches (& cars) will suffer some evidence of use. I'd like to enjoy them (& anything else I collect) for the purpose they were designed for.... perhaps with the exception of my "curly" Hetchins racing cycle that I'm afraid to ride on the roads of London.
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SpeedyPhill
·it's only original once...
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SK13
·Not from what I see on Ebay & Chrono24
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AlphaToOmega
·What if it were overhauled but all the original parts were retained so the process could be reversed?
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SkunkPrince
·What if it were overhauled but all the original parts were retained so the process could be reversed?
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AlphaToOmega
·I can't think of a remotely-sane reason for that, but collectors are weird. 😁
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aleksejeremeev
·I agree with the above. If the clock is used, then it must be serviced.
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SK13
·I'll have to take photos of the bike. Classic FF is Van Diemen RF79, Historic FF is Crossle 16F "Modern" FF is Reynard (photo from 1987) & current project is Royale RP29 still to be built up when chassis comes back from powder coaters..
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Ascalon
·I'm having my Speedmaster Mark II serviced privately at the moment. The movement is getting the works to make it as reliable and accurate as possible, so modern mainspring, new jewels, NOS on one or two critical bits, and clean and refurb for the rest. But the dial, case, bracelet and clasp are all staying as is. I'm toying with new hands. It will be a daily wearer.
What's the point in having a birth year watch if it looks like it was bought yesterday?
What's the point in having a birth year watch if it looks like it was bought yesterday?
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Dimitris
·Keeping something as original as you can is crucial in my opinion, but sometimes when its essential to change something because of wear and tear and the parts are original then why not swapping them if you find a sweet deal. The important thing is for the dial to look harmonic and of the same era as the hands lume writing etc. I wouldnt like to have a watch with a NOS dial and hands with patinated lume..
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Syrte
·In the end it’s a bit of a theoretical question. In the real world, you come across a watch- either it’s unique or it’s not. You just have to weigh all of the pros- and cons.
Why and who said so?
Remember, this is for collection.
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François Pépin
·As Syrte said, I am not sure there is one answer here. First of all, you have To distinguish between two kinds of things. One the one hand, there are the regular or normal service changes: mainspring, sometime wheels or other mechanical parts. On the other hand, there are the “cosmetic” or external parts.
As far as I am concerned, I also distinguish between moving parts and other mechanical parts. I really prefer a vintage with original bridges, but have no problem with wheel replacements.
As far as I am concerned, I also distinguish between moving parts and other mechanical parts. I really prefer a vintage with original bridges, but have no problem with wheel replacements.
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