Preservation class winning at Hershey? (Update: mix them with the restored ones)

The "Barn Finds' are great to see at Hershey, but not lumped together in faw away lots. Brass Era cars should be side by side, Restored and "Barn Finds". Nice to see so much Brass at Hershey! Bob

An untouched "Barn Find" is a true joy to look at, and the HPOF class for them in AACA is well ment, but they should not park them all in the same area. What do untouched 1903 Oldsmobiles have in common with low milage 1985 Oldsmobiles? NOTHING, unless the '85 was bought to tow the '03 to meets when new. I like to see the "Barn Finds" parked side by side with the restored versions. There are "Fake patina" vehicles out there, but that is another topic. Great to see so much Brass Era stuff at Hershey this year! Bob

Regarding the AACA HPOF Class. I was privileged to be a member of the three man team, Tom Reese, Dr. J. Stanley Stratton and myself, that put together the HPOF Class for the AACA. The intent at the time was to try to preserve as much as possible, the main unrestored features of vehicles so that present and future enthusiasts could visualize how the vehicles were when they left the factory. We realized that by allowing only complete unrestored vehicles, we would be limiting the participation of a great many vehicles that had major unrestored components but were not completely unrestored. Hope this helps to clear up some misunderstandings regarding the showing of vehicles that have had some updates but still retain major unrestored features.

I showed my '14 Overland roadster at Hershey a few years ago in the HPOF class. Joop's criteria of original running engine and polished with an oily rag apply to this car, and it was fortunate to be selected for the AACA calendar. There were other cars in the class that had clearly been repainted OR reupholstered OR even both--the criteria for the class seems rather open-ended, and "unrestored" can be considered in various degrees. My father has a '47 Dodge that has never had an engine rebuild and carries its original upholstery, but was repainted in the '80's. Arguably, it would qualify. But I'm fine with that--it gets some fine old drivers out on the show field. I also know of several cars that have been restored or built up from parts then painted with crackle paint. They always draw a crowd and elicit comments about their originality (a couple even have some of the last paint colour showing through the crackles). Again, they're great cars that took imagination to build. Moreover, they keep the dream alive that there may still be true undiscovered barn finds out there. Ian

A real barnfind with a original engine that runs fine and the outside is polished with a oilrag
and the interior cracked leather seats and all the dials plus dash are original and working should be the standard but
new tyres, engine oil, and a 25 year old owner should be no problem.

In 1997 I took my De Dion steam car to Pebble Beach and won 2 first place awards. At that time, this car was undoubtedly the dirtiest, unrestored looking car ever to win an award there.
The car had been painted to look as if it had just been pushed out of a French Chateau or the Arts et Metiers, ie unrestored. The judges could not tell but fell in love with the look. I told them it was a new paint finish, so they knew. I spoke to them at length about the importance of originality and like to feel I had a small input into the setting up of the unrestored class at Pebble Beach. A good unrestored car has so much integrity and an alluring appearance. You can't unrestore something! Cheers Tim