Vintage Vandalism

[Ian Williams]

Hmmmm this is a very difficult subject isn't it, a good many of todays highly respected historic specials were years ago created from perfectly salvageable saloons. In some cases they were created from quite exotic sports cars as well, actions most people would decry today and some did back then. Now besides the destruction of good restorable cars we have a situation where occasionally important historic specials are converted back to their original form or robbed of parts. There is probably one the most significant A7 special's in the A7 world which suffered this fate. I guess the difference today is cars in original condition are becoming increasingly scarce and once originality is lost it can never be replaced. We all have different views and I am often accused of rivet counting or some such because of my desire to see and create cars with period authenticity. That said I am a special builder, but one who would not fit hydraulic brakes, dampers, electronic distributors, alternators etc etc. Ironically to me some of same people who decry the actions here may well not bat an eyelid at these additions and alterations on their seven. What ever our personal views we need to accept that the rest of the world may not share them.