In my observations, the difference between amateur and "professional"
restorations many times is the difference in body panel fit, and in the
skill level of painting and upholstery, assuming the professional had more
experience or farmed it out to an experienced painter and upholsterer. This
is not to say some amateurs don't get good results. On the other hand in
judging for detail points the amateurs generally excel as the amateur will
invest much more time and interest in the research of his particular model.
Many pro shops focus on the bigger picture. This is generally evident in the
erroneous details of some of the cars at the recent BJ auction. In fact one
of the currently popular pros chose to ignore and change major items of
"correctness" and added a little "bling" sell it.
Dallas Congleton
1967 BJ8
1953 MGTD
----- Original Message -----
From: "Reid Trummel" <editor_reid@hotmail.com>
To: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 1:49 AM
Subject: Amateur vs. Professional Restoration
> My recent visit to the auctions in Arizona got me to thinking about the
> differences between an "amateur" and a "professional" restoration. I'm
> really not sure that those are meaningful distinctions.
>
> Why couldn't an amateur do every bit as good of a job as a professional?
The
> "fully restored to concours gold standards" (a truly overused phrase at
the
> auctions) Healeys in these auctions looked pretty good, but had a few
little
> things to criticize. Polished dash pots for one.
>
> Anyway, it got me to thinking, what do people think of as the difference
> between a professional and an amateur restoration? No one certifies
> "professional" Healey restorers, so I lean towards saying that it is a
> distinction without a difference. Restored is restored. Whether you've
done
> it once or a hundred times, what you have at the end is a collection of
Moss
> Motors parts, new paint and new chrome, and almost nothing remaining of
that
> which left the factory.
>
> If I screw on a bunch of Moss Motors parts, it's an amateur restoration.
If
> someone who has done it a hundred times screws them on, it's a
professional
> restoration. No diff in my book.
>
> What say you?
>
> Reid Trummel
> Portland, Oregon
> 100, 100M, Ski-Master
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