I am curious why patina on an old vehicle is important. Patina on a shop tool is not acceptable. It would seem that the tool and the car aged together, maybe?
I don't think there is any one definitive answer to that.
- I'd think a a restoration would be to bring it back to it's original factory look and working condition.
- Then there's guys like Don Long (comes to mind) who go above and beyond with improvements to the originals in both looks and function.
- I think serious collectors frown on any attempt to restore things because they've seen too often how people over do it and damage the item making it in worse condition that they found it in and then covering it up with pretty paint and bondo.
Me? I'm guilty of polishing all the pock marks off an old ax so when I'm sharpening it I won't run into one and have a flaw in the cutting edge etc. I polish the body of the ax so there is no extra friction as it glides through a piece of wood. I want functionality #1. I love old tools but they have to be in top functional condition. Patina comes secondary. This holds true for most of my tools.
We're all different.
