Tank and T35 tearjerkers.

[quote name="Phil Wallace"]Rather than looking like it has been "neglected and left in a barn most of its life" I see a car that looks to have been used,loved and enjoyed for most of its life! Fantastic![/quote]

It certainly looks as tho' it has been used, and abused! I think that if it had been 'loved' it would not look as shabby as it does now. My original posting was voicing my concern that this 'oily-rag' fad is in danger of going too far. I hate over restored cars but equally I hate cars that look totally neglected. There is a happy medium when the car has been used all its life by careful owners who have looked after it with love and attetion to detail. If an owner can allow the exterior of a car to degenerate to 'oily-rag' condition what do you think he does to the mechanical components? I hate to think!

Rather than looking like it has been "neglected and left in a barn most of its life" I see a car that looks to have been used,loved and enjoyed for most of its life! Fantastic!

I'm reminded of railway modellers making steam engines look dirty to be more realistic

I think you can even order a T37 or T35 in Argentina in this oily-rag state. After finishing it they put the car in the EB-garden between the flowers for 12 months at a modest $ 10.000 extra. Gathering dust is the big craze nowadays ;-)

Agreed, David. 'Oily Rag' was not, originally, a compliment at all and the spectrum between 'oily rag' and 'unroadworthy vehicle' is a narrow one. The 'Rat Bike' faction seen at some shows, in which a bike is confected to look as un-cared-for as possible while still running, is beginning to be reflected in the old-car movement, since 'oily rag'has become an accolade.
Intact, well-maintained and old - yes. Rusty and un-cared for - no.

I would say far from a totally original car - looking at its racing stickers my guess is it has had more wrenches on it than one could imagine. Nice mix or restored and unrestored though.

Friends picked up a magnificent unrestored 1939 Packard recently and they were fortunate to find the original owners daughter (who interestingly had photos of the car near new) and she was quick to point out that her mother would never have been seen in public with a chip of paint on the car much less all the chips it has on it now.

keep them original if you can there are plenty of over restored dont want to get them dirty cars around
and they are so much more interesting

I have never been one to covert anothers car, nor a great lover of the T35 but I do SO So want THAT car ! Nice house in the Uk and slightly used wife offered in exchange! Sorry you can't have the dog I will need someone to travel with.

I'm a bit unsure about the current fashion for this "oily-rag" condition. Yes, it is wonderful to see a car that has never been restored or even repainted, but the fad seems to be going rather too far for my tastes. How much better it would be if the car looked as though it had been looked after by a series caring owners rather than as it does now, as though it has been neglected and left in a barn for most of its life. A racing Bugatti is a wonderous thing and should be treated with respect and be a joy to look at, not make you cry!