Enhanced or bone stock?

In the latest issue of Classic Motorsports we see two examples of "enhanced" cars. Both the Mini and the TR6 will be better for the improvements but are the masses at peace with the changes?

Having driven a "prepared" Mini I understand the softer suspension and the basically stock motor. What I had the chance to motor around in was best though of as driving from inside a gearbox. The sounds and smells have left a lasting impression.

Having a 5 speed in your classic is a no brainer. I have done my time in a number of older cars at 4000 RPM just to stay out of the way. But what does it do for the resale?

I guess I will keep the stock stuff in a box and put in the trunk when I sell the car. To include the points/condenser that have been replaced by the pertronix unit in the re-curved distributor. As they say, always start with the ignition!

Many of my classics that I've owned have been "enhanced" in one way or another by myself- usually improvements to engine and suspension. Both my TR8's are putting about 100 hp over stock along with suspension mods and wheels/tires. Driving a box stock TR8 would seem a bit anti climatic after driving a modified car.

Some cars lend themselves to enhancing more than others - especially those that were successful in competition. A classic Mini-Cooper S for example is almost a no brainer to enhance. It seems most Coopers you see have been hotted up in one way or another. I owned two of them and couldn't have imagined keeping them stock.

Minis are easy to upgrade, and stock they are...a bit anemic, unless it's a 1275. True Cooper 'S' models are so collectible now they are worth more stock.

Electronic ignition is a pretty non-invasive upgrade. I'm all for improvements that are bolt-ons that can be removed with no damage should moods change later in life.

As much as I love old cars and their character, I no longer feel compelled to keep them factory stock. No way I'm going back to bias ply tires, drum brakes or single exhaust on my pickup. 3 speed column shifter? Yeah, that I'll keep.

Cars are, IMHO, meant to be driven and enjoyed. It gives me pause to actually start cutting metal, but in the end, the car I put together the way I want it is rarer than any stock restoration. It is a production run of one, with classic looks and updated performance and manners.

Just try not to make a hatchet job of it. But plenty of people manage that just doing (or not doing) maintenance.

Ultimately it doesn't matter whether people are "at peace" with it or not. It's your car. As a general rule, it's best to hold onto the old stuff and make your upgrades reversible. But there are a lot of old cars that I would not be able to enjoy for more than a few minutes in their stock form. I tolerated an ill-handling '64 Ranchero when I was a kid. Now, unless I'd done at least the Shelby a-arm mod, front disc brakes and sway bars I'd get bored because I couldn't drive it with enthusiasm.

Everything gets enhanced. Every car is a collection of compromises, so it's a matter of fine-tuning the compromises to suit you. I don't own a single stock vehicle and never have.

kreb wrote: I tolerated an ill-handling '64 Ranchero when I was a kid. Now, unless I'd done at least the Shelby a-arm mod, front disc brakes and sway bars I'd get bored because I couldn't drive it with enthusiasm.

I did exactly that, too! Which explains my shopping list for the '63 in the driveway.

I think it's one of those questions we all face. My 911 is stock--well, except for the Turbo wheels, duck tail, ARP head studs, fuse box upgrade, etc. The wagon has received a few minor tweaks, too, like Konis and Hella headlights. And the dog dish hubcaps.

I've wondered about resale value as well. I suppose it depends on the car. When I restored my TR4A I made certain "drivability" upgrades. Five speed conversion, electronic ignition, tube shock conversion, etc. I still have the original overdrive transmission and my logic was, it's a TR4, not an Aston Martin. Perhaps Andy Reid could weigh in on this...?

I have 'improved' just about every car I have owned, and certainly every car I now own except for the Lamborghini, which frankly was a streetable race sort of car and needs no improvement. What improving them does to the value is never an issue, even though it generally devalues them from what they would be worth as dead stockers.

62 MGA Mk 2 coupe - most stock car I own - uses a 3 main MGB engine for a bit more poke, and a tuned suspension

69 MGC - custom triple carb tuned engine with 175 bhp (stock = 145 on a good day)

1957 Jamaican MGA - rebody and GM 3.4 V6 drive line.

1958 MGA Twin Cam - race car with one off 1950 cc DOHC engine

88 Fiero - 300 bhp turbo 3.2 engine in place of 140 bhp stock. Tuned chassis

2009 Pontiac Solstice - completely tuned chassis, 350 bhp (stock = 260)

72 Jensen Interceptor - high compression 383 engine. ~350 bhp vs. stock of 300

65 Jensen CV-8 - high compression Chrysler sixpack engine (370 vs. 330)

I try not to do too many irreversible things, but my prime motivation is to enhance my enjoyment of the cars during my ownership, not the eventual resale value.

wspohn wrote: I try not to do too many irreversible things, but my prime motivation is to enhance my enjoyment of the cars during my ownership, not the eventual resale value.

Well Said! Isn't enjoying a classic more important than banking a classic?

Yeah, I sometimes catch flak from purists about what I do to my cars. Early on when I bought the 1988 Fiero GT (only rare compared to most American cars, with a bit over 6,000 made) I was told that I should keep it dead stock as it would be a 'collector's item'. Well the collectible bit turned out to be much overstated but had I listened to it, I'd have deprived myself of 20 years of driving a dead stock looking sleeper with more than double the stock power!

All my other mods to the cars improve performance and pretty much leave the appearance/bodywork alone. The Jamaican MGA is the exception but it came to me 'prebuggered' with the body already on it, so it wasn't me that destroyed a decent MGA!

Plus old car prices always seem to soar when I am not interested in selling and drop when I am......might as well just enjoy them (anyone in the market for a Lambo or old Jensen?)