Originally Posted by
jaudette3
I've restored a few cars to level 1 and driven them back to level 2+. I liked them both ways, but I was most comfortable driving them once they broke below the #1 level.
I do enjoy taking old crummy original parts back to #1. But, especially with a material such as leather, I'm increasingly interested in preserving the patina.
Patina is in the eye of the beholder. Perfection is not. Perfection is perfection. And when you strive for it, it is the number one enemy of excellent. I can't even count the number of times I have had something at excellent, went backwards striving for perfection, and have had to start over. I have very high regard for the restorers on this forum and elsewhere who are able to achieve it on a scale much larger than I work at.
John