Ethical question in restoring RS lightweight

[HughH]

I am seeking the informed views of this board on behalf of a friend who is restoring a RS lightweight.

It is not quite in as bad shape as the car Alan.uk is restoring on this thread http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...ad.php?t=31848 but it is not far off it.

The project has thrown up an ethical issue that I know hits the hot button of a few members of this board – what is the line between a restoration and a “replica”, in particular when there is damage to identifying numbers.

My friend wants to do the right thing, both by the car and the Porsche community, as while the car will be kept at present it is inevitable that it will change hands some time in the future and he does not want to be party to any potential misrepresentation.

First some background to the car to put the issue in context.

The car is a genuine lightweight with a period competition history as a rally car. We do not know if it ever was used as a road car. Obviously while an active rally car it suffered numerous small amounts of damage which were repaired like all rally cars were back then – well enough to get them back in action.

After the rally career finished it appears to have been turned into a circuit racer. During that time (late 1970’s) it had a HUGE accident – effectively writing it off. The mechanical parts were stripped out of it, apparently to be used in another car(s), and the shell and a few residual parts were stored away and basically left there until recently.

The front end and rear are both severely damaged and the roof no longer exists on the car, but the centre part of the shell is in surprisingly good condition.

While my friend does not have the mechanicals (engine gearbox etc) there is a reasonable chance that they may still be found (he thinks he knows where the car with the original RS parts is, but not the condition they are in – ie if the case is still correct etc given the competition history) and if not he plans to put in a genuine RS engine, gearbox and other mechanicals from another wrecked RS which had its mechanicals transferred into a donor shell many years ago.

The Issue

The production number is in an undamaged area of the car and matches the chassis number. However the panel that the chassis number is stamped into (next to the fuel tank) is quite severely creased and distorts the number although it is quite readable. When the shell is put on the jig and straightened the metalwork around the number is likely to be further stretched potentially distorting the stamping further. At least the panel was not cut out to fit a large safety cell like some were.

The issue that is causing the concern is given the existing state of the shell, and the probability that the correct engine etc may be reunited with the car and the wish is to do as good a restoration as possible rather than a “replication”, what is the best course of action:

1. straighten the shell and hope that not too much more distortion happens to the number but document the process so a potential buyer in the future has evidence even if the numbers look a bit funny
2. cut out the number part of the panel, replace it with a “nice” one with a new number stamped in it but keep the old part with the car – either separate or welded to it – to provide history
3. just put a whole new front clip in (maybe a rear one as well) but keep the original part with the number with the car.

My friend’s overwhelming interest is “I don’t want to make a fraudulent car.”

I have my own views as to where a line could be drawn but his and my question to the board is “Where do you see it as fraud where is it “grey”” especially in the case of such a rare car.

[Paul Schooley]

Regarding the number area it would be my thought that, even though it's a bit stretched or goofy looking, it's original to the car and should be kept rather than altering it in any way. I would rather see that than a new number plate welded in if I were buying it. However, that's just one crazee Canadian's view on it. Wish him my very best on his rebuilding and get him to post pictures.

[Guru]

Others will have more authoritative opinions on what may or may not be done with the chassis stamp on a restored car, but IMHO the aspects to consider are:

- documenting any work meticulously so that an ethical seller in future can explain the case properly
- within the bounds of what is legally and ethically acceptable, choosing the solution that best suits the current owner
- (ideally) finding a solution that makes it difficult or financially not worthwhile for a potential "unethical" seller in future to misrepresent the car; perhaps this would correspond to option 1 on your list?

An example for me is the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso watch, of which there are very few fakes. The reason is that making a convincing copy of the "Reverso" mechanism is so expensive that it's almost easier to buy a used original

Good luck!

Best, Guru

[davep]

I would go with option 1. Being that it IS an RS lightweight means that you have to preserve as much as possible and keep full documentation. On a race or rally car, damage is almost inevitable and war wounds add patina of a sort. In view of this, a lesser standard of perfection is acceptable in favour of originality.

[John Z Goriup]

I would go with option 1. Being that it IS an RS lightweight means that you have to preserve as much as possible and keep full documentation. On a race or rally car, damage is almost inevitable and war wounds add patina of a sort. In view of this, a lesser standard of perfection is acceptable in favour of originality.

Amen.......especially given the totally unrealistic and not very authentic levels of extreme concours preparation (even exceeding Pebble Beach standards) performed on all marques during the last couple of decades. Mercifully there are signs that trend is slowly giving way to genuine authenticity in restoration circles.

[gsjohnson]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...must-read.html

[boba]

I have had this conversation with others on this board in the past and we have always ended with more questions than conclusive answers. A lot has to do with "intent" and how to ensure that the process is not subverted at some point in the future. As is often said, sunshine is the best disinfectant. With that being said, documenting everything that is being done and why the choice was made. Do this both with photos and narrative. There is a Registry for the RS's, list the car and provide a link to the documentation. This will help ensure against future fraud. It could be helpful to contact the factory with some of your questions and save all correspondence as part of the cars documentation.
If you are unable to source the original drive train then you will only have a "made up car". I recall the 3 Ford GT 40's with the same vin# all sharing parts from the original. I think all three are recognized, but that is rare.
Back in the day no one ever thought about the future value of old race cars and so motors were swapped, cars were updated as the rules evolved and newer cars came out of the factory, cars were re-tub'ed when crashed. It was about making the next race, keeping the car competitive.
With an old competition car it is as much about that cars history as it is the bits and pieces. Being able to tie them all together in a narrative that tells the story of that car.
With a street car restoration I would expect the boundaries are much more narrow. There is less leeway as crash damage and major mechanical parts swap are not to be expected. Rust repair is a major consideration. In this case the car speaks for itself.
If starting with an un-rusted vin plate do you have a car? If you have the original engine & gearbox? If you have a like engine & gearbox?
Yes, you can build something to drive, but how to value it? Again, in the end it will be the documentation which will allow any prospective buyer to asses a value for himself. If you are doing it for your own pleasure than you also will know what that is worth.

[Alan.uk]

Hi,

I have also had this same conversation many many times and have my own opinions which could go on for ages. If it helps I am happy to send my number and chat. At the moment we are fully restoring 2 RSs for customers (1 x RHD and 1 x LHD) and with the value of the these cars being what it is now, this question has become ever more important.

Alan

[72targa]

Regarding the number area it would be my thought that, even though it's a bit stretched or goofy looking, it's original to the car and should be kept rather than altering it in any way. I would rather see that than a new number plate welded in if I were buying it. However, that's just one crazee Canadian's view on it. Wish him my very best on his rebuilding and get him to post pictures.

+1
Option 1
Full documentation
Hope you find the engine/drive train...

[john rice]

I agree with what has been said.

A battered, but original vin stamping, along with good image documentation of all work, will verify that this is THE correct RS it is represented to be. It will verify the car and be much less of "an explanation" than a pristine, but replicated, vin stamping.

I wish him well.

JR