Fins is right - all of our cars (if we have an older Cadillac or LaSalle) have been "modified". (But that does not mean to get out of our club).
I am in process of restoring my 1939 LaSalle Convertible and plan to keep it 100% original, as I like original cars. However, I also appreciate modified cars, including Cadillacs. I especially liked the 2 older Cadillac modified cars (1934 or 1935) that showed up at the GN. While I want my car to be original, there are certain things that I have added that are not as when the car was delivered from the factory in 1939:
a) Engine is being rebuilt, but in the process was bored out .030 and stainless steel valves were added, so engine has been "modified".
b) The car already had an electric fuel pump installed near gas tank, although also has a working (rebuilt) fuel pump. (Extra wiring and switch).
c) Floor mats were replaced, but are not exactly the same as original, as such mats are not available, therefore interior has been "modified".
d) I added two (2) Optima 6-volt batteries as got tired of hard stating when car was hot. Doug Houston likes to keep things original 6-volt, but has a single 6-volt Optima dry-cell battery in most of his older cars. Car did not come with such a battery setup, so our cars are "modified".
e) Using original-style material, installed new trunk lining. While it looks original, it is new - therefore car is "modified."
f) During my installation, I added extra sound-deadener under the floor mats and inside the doors, cab and trunk - so car is "modified".
g) My convertible top was replaced, using "Stay-Fast" which is widely used and is an excellent product - but not same as original, so is "modified".
h) Looking at the replacement light bulbs that I found, noted that some were "Made in China". More modified things to add to my list.
i) I had some of the metal surfaces (bumper supports, air cleaner, spare tire bracket, etc.) powder coated in black, which is not original, as powder coating was not available in 1939. I guess this adds more "modified' items to my list.
j) When repainting the car, did a lot of research to be sure that the original color (Oxblood Maroon) was used, but I did not use lacquer, instead painted the car in R-M base-coat-clear coat. Therefore the paint is no longer the same as original, so my car is "modified".
k) I am adding Trippe Lights - what about them? They were not on the car when it was delivered from the factory. (more wires and a switch too).
l) I am almost certain that the coll was replaced, as it is not exactly like the pictures of original coils that I have seen.
Safety Features Added:
a) I have a fire extinguisher in trunk of the car, nicely displayed in a plastic front bag (see picture).
b) Radial Diamondback Whitewalls (same size and whitewall width) were added for the following reasons:
1) Safety (no matter what anyone says, IMO radials are a safer tire than the older bias tires and should not be charged points at judging).
2) I tore a rotator cuff in my shoulder and found it almost impossible to pull the car in and out of my garage with the older bias tires.
Does this mean that it is better to keep the bias tires and not pull the car out of the garage? I could always take a few pictures I guess.
c) I added a second socket in tail lights and ran a circuit for turn signals and flashers in this second socket (concealed but "modified").
d) I am adding turn signal light fixtures that will be concealed behind the front side grilles. Both front and rear turn signals will require additional wires which will not be original, but I will put them inside a fabric loom to be sure that they look appropriate and old. (I am not sure, but the black fabric loom just might be made in China, even though it looks OK.
e) I removed the older repro style (add-on) turn signal control on the steering column and replaced it with an original turn-signal control from a 1940 Cadillac or LaSalle. While it looks great and appears original, it is not, so my car has been "modified" some more.
f) During the body restoration, some of the bolts had to be replaced. The new bolts had hash marks on the heads. While I ground them off for appearance, nevertheless they are not the original bolts, so again my car has been "modified". I may have even added an extra washer or lock washer here and there. I hope that I don't lose points as a result.
g) I added seat belts, as realize the importance of same, so have again "modified" my car. Maybe I should remove them next week
?
What I am getting at is that when it comes down to it, all of our cars have been modified. During a complete restoration, some modifications will be necessary and even desirable. How far can we go? No one knows, as everyone has their own opinion.
Then there is always the guy that shows up at the shows looking at our cars that finds each and every little thing that is not original and draws this to our attention. Nine times out of ten, that person has either never restored a car or has never finished a restoration and one time out of ten that person does not even have an old car. Let him do a complete restoration some day and see what he can do, but it will never happen.
What I prefer is an original looking car from the outside and this includes an appropriate paint job. If the owner wants to add a modern engine and automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, etc. that is OK with me - even though I keep my cars original except for my many "modifications" listed above. I like some things, others like other things, but all of us are interested in old Cadillacs and LaSalles. Where do we draw the line?
One more thing that we should consider is that exact original parts are almost impossible to locate, so we must adjust our thinking. We should also realize that the younger generation is often interested in safety and convenience and cannot remember back to our younger days and doesn't particularly care about 100% originality. That doesn't mean that they should not be welcomed to our club.
I have been going to Hershey for over 30 years and have a friend who likes to sit in our tent and do "people watching". One day he remarked that the hobby might be suffering some day. I asked why and he replied, "Too many gray hairs". I started to take notice and he was right. No longer do you see a large number of younger serious restorers at Hershey. Some show up, but in general there are "too many gray hairs". Not as many youngsters come with their parents as in the past, as they are busy with soccer or playing with their computers. Accordingly, we had better start to welcome and encourage the younger generation to become a part of our hobby and to join our club and participate in our functions regardless of their preferences. If they show up with a modified Cadillac, so what? If we become too stringent in our requirements we will some day no longer have any members.
I am all for original cars, survivors and mostly original cars, but recognize the importance of "modifieds" and will accept any such owners into our club. Let's simply give them another class at our shows and accept them with open arms so that their cars can be shown and enjoyed.
See picture below that I named, "Ouch1". This is a "modified" Cadillac that showed up at the recent Legacy show - that is going too far, but my bet is that some day someone will do an extreme makeover on this car. Either way, the car was displayed along with the others and the owner was willing to drive it in the hard rain that day. I think he even won a trophy. Other owners of "original" Cadillacs did not want to get their prized cars wet.
Fred
