Peter E. Mueller
Letter From the Editor: Finders, Keepers
June 1, 2005
Our objective was to bring an original
car back to original specification, using its own and mostly NOS (new old stock)
parts. A few reproduction items were employed, such as a battery, carpet, hoses,
filters, and anachronistic Blue Dot bias-ply tires. The more we recognized the
pristine condition of the car, the more obliged we became to create a benchmark
example. Chalk marks, cable tie orientation, sound deadening and over-spray
patterns assiduously replicated the well-photographed original.
Vogt assigned
the project to Scott Morton, a body and paint master and accomplished mechanic,
whose attention to detail and patient mind-set made him the right man for the
job. Vogt supervised the project, leaving nothing to chance and allowing no room
for compromise.
Apart from some minor technical snags, the restoration went
without a hitch. We agreed from the outset that fees would be based on time and
materials, and there was no contract other than a handshake—unorthodox, but I
had done my due diligence and learned what I needed to know. Other than one
visit to Cobra Automotive to meet the staff and view the tired old Shelby after
its sight-unseen purchase, the restoration was carried out via telephone and
hundreds of digital progress photos. My recent visit to drive the finished car
has made me a believer—a successful remote-control restoration is possible. In
addition to a clear understanding of terms and objectives, three important
ingredients are necessary: an honest, no-stories car; an honest restorer; and an
honest customer.
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