Re: [FWDLK] Miss Belvedere News

I am agreeing with Jason also. I think this is the first time I have said
anything on the matter. And I was not at Tulsa, but watched the unvaling on
the Internet. What I was thinking and I don't know if it was
brought up, (probably was as I'm slow to the draw), is IF Miss Belvedere
would have weathered the grave without ANY problems, would others say "don't
wash it--leave it with the rust protection on the body?". It would have
been equally well to wash and clean up the car if she had made it thru as
well as what they are doing to the car now. I understand what I'm trying
to say. I hope other so also.

Jack in Shinglehouse, Pa Hot and Muggy weather now, but we waited all
Winter for it.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jason Rogers" <jasonrogers@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Miss Belvedere News

> With all due respect to those who have done so, I am surprised at the high
> level of criticism being lobbed at the "stabilization"/restoration
> (whatever it can be called) project underway for Miss Belvedere.
>
> Is it YOUR car? No!
>
> I see such criticism being much the same as the perpetual conflict between
> "original restorers" and "rodders." An original restorer says, "How dare
> you make that change and take away from the originality of that car...it
> would've never been made that way from the factory...Walter or Virgil
> would turn over in their graves if they saw you doing that...."
>
> A rodder says, "Hey, I like what I have but I want to do something
> different with it...for the same or less money (or the parts are simply
> not available or are too expensive to remake), I can tailor it to my
> preferences...I can make it more economical to operate and maintain...I
> can make it safer - for me, my passengers, and other motorists - to drive
> on the highway..."
>
> Back to the relic/museum context, when archaeologists find artifacts that
> are ultimately put on display in a museum, are those artifacts displayed
> "as found" - or are they carefully (and "respectfully") cleaned and
> "stabilized" - looking almost as good as they did before they got buried,
> and looking closer to how the ancients viewed them than we moderns view
> them right out of the dirt?
>
> If the current owner wanted to "desecrate" Miss Belvedere via a full
> restoration, it could've easily been completed by now. But no, he opted
> to subject the car to a more "respectful" cleaning process, and the plan
> is to only replace whatever parts are absolutely necessary to allow the
> car to be safely rolled around - or, God forbid, driven.
>
> It doesn't change the fact that it is still Miss Belvedere. There is an
> abundance of video and photos that have documented how she looked coming
> out of the grave - and that's fantastic for historical reference. But to
> see that same car "cleaned up" - getting the rust and mud and other crap
> off - that's even better. It may be a bit rickety in spots, but it
> survived!
>
> It is no different than a man getting out of bed, shaving, showering,
> combing his hair, and putting on clean clothes before he emerges into the
> world for his daily activities. He's still the same man when he got out
> of bed and was "nasty," he's just more pleasant to be around when he's
> cleaned up - and he can be an inspiration to others who see him and are
> encouraged by his presence.
>
> Oh, and yes, I was in Tulsa. I couldn't be at the exhumation site, but I
> watched the parade from there to the convention center. I saw Boyd and
> his belle checking out the car and sneaking peaks. I was there that night
> it was "unveiled" to the public. I attended the car show and saw Miss
> Belvedere up close in her muddy/mildewy/rusty "bed clothes." The entire
> experience was fascinating.
>
> I have no problem with the rightful owner doing what he's attempting to do
> to Miss Belvedere. At least he's doing something with her! And of course
> we have the unalienable right to express our opinions - right or wrong.
>
> But in the end, it doesn't matter if any of us agrees or disagrees because
> IT'S NOT OUR CAR! Let's remember the PERSON who owns the car and minister
> encouragingly to him! That's what this hobby is supposed to be about!
>
> Jason.