Original 40 Ford Coupe, Buff it or leave it alone?

and for the leave it chalky crew, as we all know it is imposible to not get ANY grease, oil, french fry droppings etc on the fender or bottoms of fenders/doors from sliding underneath...and there isn't much cool about a car with greasy fingerprints all over it..

 

I love untouched cars. They are few and far between. Leave it alone. You can't fake patina but lots try, and it never looks right next to a real untouched virgin. Why? Because patina is truly unique, the product of time passing. This cars is a witness to the passage of time, share it with others. If you have to have a shiny car, sell this one to someone who will preserve it, and but something that NEEDS help.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Some people should keep their hands off these treasures, so they may last another generation

 

I'm not sure what your photo is referencing but both of those cars are clean and have some sort of paint preservation. If you're going to keep it, you may as well preserve whatever is left of the integrity of the body, no?

 

A friend of mine had a '40 coupe in very much the same shape as yours. He went through the brakes, motor and wiring to make sure all would be good enough as a daily driver. He never buffed it out and it was as hard as nails! Went to a meet in Texas and got OUTRAGEOUS money for it because it was different then all of the other beauties there. Someone sure appreciated that fact. Leave it alone and smile.

 

Agreed. Patina is for gold chainers trying to look like ratrodders. No sense in letting that fine 40 Deluxe look like it was just pulled from the ghetto...clean it up, don't let it look like an ebay find....
Yes, I just used 3 taboo words in one post, lol

 

I would rub it... but not with a wool pad.. try a foam pad and compound. . Mine looked very similar when I got it. .and see now. Painted in 1960. I wouldmake that car look as best as possible. It deserves it!

 

Survivor cars / bikes are the coolest ...

 

And yet that Plymouth you posted is shiny...

 

Groucho patina and neglect are two different words.

I love the look of old paint, especially when it is crazed from time (not crazed from being a crappy paint job).


I get the impression that some of the fellas think that buffed it will look like a new two stage paint job. But it will not at best it will have a nice low sheen. And it will look like you care about it.

Your car is a representation of who you are. That's why I don't believe in check book cars. Those cars reflect the builder not the owner.

 

Do not touch that paint! Mother nature has a lot of years invested in making it look that cool.

 

well said!

 

Yeah, and don't water or seed the lawn...let it die. Don't fix the roof or the broken shutters on your house. Don't fix the loose boards on your porch.... Mother Nature's spending years making that look like shit as well. Hey, I couldn't help myself. Nobody's telling the guy to put a $10,000 paint job on the car. Just make it look like you care. Make it like you want the car to survive for yet another generation to enjoy. Just show like you have PRIDE in what you own. That's all. I'm going to lunch. Carry on

 

If I understand the OP correctly,the only thing this car has been witness to since 1963 is the inside of a storage facility.Exposed to the elements without some serious TLC beforehand she might start deteriorating damn quick.
Paul

 

If it were mine, I'd clean it up to look just like Djangos....
I Love the patinaed look of a car that has be "simonized" so many times that the primer is showing through on the high spots. I think the "chalk" look is harder to maintain anyway!

 

Polish the chalk off the paint. There is plenty thin paint and scratches to give it natural character. Don't leave it looking chalky and shitty looking.

 

FWIW, my Dad told me he wants to see my coupe repainted before he dies. I pray to God that he has another 30 years left in him, but you never no what cards life will deal you. So I think after the cabriolet is finished, we are going to hopefully start heading in the nice glossy black direction. Sorry Don (Moyer)!

 

I know you believe that.

My hot rod Nash sat outside for over thirty years, (1974 to 2005) before I started the build. Since then it hasn't deteriorated with any measurable degree. Do you mean that sitting outside 'toughed it up' made it more resistant to deteriorating???


Somebody said in a previous post that if it ain't shined up or painted it'll look shitty(chalky paint fade) I think otherwise. "Shitty" is in the eye of the beholder.............

 

Titus and I played with some of our Turbo Cut on his 32 Fordor that had spent 40+ years in a barn. Great results applied by hand.

Follow that up with some of our Shine Master or Supreme Seal for a layer of protection.

 

WOW! Even has the optional stainless inner beauty rings! Do what you want, but leave it as a survivor!

 

Winner: "Dumbest post award"

I have come to hate the word 'patina'.

 

Chop It! And take it to bare metal

 

My 2 cents. Take all the trim off and either buff it up or use fine steel wool on it to shine it up a little. While the trim is off, wash the car really good, getting all the junk under the trim off. then do a really lite buff, straighten out your grill, try to get the drive train running good and SAFE, throw an indian blanket over the seats so you don't rip them up and drive the shit out of it. Take it to a car show or cruise & you'll get more people looking at a true survivor 70 years barn find, than a $40,000 show car. Enjoy your ride dude. Keep us posted, on your progress.

 

I'd buff it and wax to protect that original finish - it would look not so much like a long forgotten old car as a reasonably well maintained driver. Also, some light surface rust (like what appears to be peeking out from under the side trim) could be buffed off carefully with the polish or compound, further improving the condition without redoing anything. Just my 2 cents.

Steve

 

29nash;Fair enough, but in my experience with my truck after importing it from Kansas and before it had it's paint job, keeping it out on the drive and using it regularly caused paint to blister and chrome to rust. I would class that as deterioration. In order to prevent this from re-occuring, I buff polish and wax. In my opinion, prevention is better than cure, or pretty soon "patina" will become rust, will become rot. If you see things differently, that is your right, best of luck.
Paul

 

My concern would be the visable rust. Get that under control before you do anything with it. That's an old Sarpy County car, Where did you find it?

 

Bunch of replies already, I just read the first page. I'd wax, buff, whatever to make it look like you care for it.

 

Most don't know what "patina" is. Rust isn't "patina", it's rust. Some do remove the patina in removing rust though.

 

Yeah, after reading everyones replies and looking at it some more I think I will wax it and get it to look the best I can. It definately was painted at one time after looking at it close, that is a bummer. I have only had it for 2 days and haven't even washed it yet. So first thing is first and get to cleaning it. I will post up progress pics. Thanks everybody!

 

Just like this.... that's all it needs (other than a dropped axle, big and little Cokers).