To patina or not to patina

[squidjit]

Well.. what do you guys think..
I have a 1963 gulf blue notch..
I've always wanted a patina'd car.. I thought this may be my chance.. but the more I strip the house paint off the more of its secrets are revealed..
The roof stripped fine and polished up nicely.. but I started on the rear fender.. the house paint came off fine again.. but I'm finding this fender had a properly done respray that is a hint off.. and the true gulf blue underneath is fairly thin..
I find myself debating if it's even worth saving for patina or just painting it and redoing it all..
Keep in mind that the left door and both fenders are going to need extensive work and will have the be touched up to remain presentable.. this car will never be a purists car either.. while I'll keep the original color and body lines I will add my own flair in the way of a period correct but aftermarket interior, lowering, etc..
How far have you guys gone to save a patina'd car?

[Retrovan]

Your car .. Your choice

Many a purist has taken a rust bucket and brought it back to show room condition...

And yet other non purist have taken a show room car and turned it into a Rat Rod or full patina'd car.

Make it what you want, you have to be happy with it and enjoy it no one else.

even a rat rod fully modified car can be restored in 50 years time, at least you have not scraped it.

Herman
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1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[MonT3]

I concur with retrovan. It's your ride, your canvas and your taste in what you want. Strip it down to its gulf blue, sit back with a few brews and stare at it for a while and see how if grows on you and it's what you want. As long as you're happy with it, you'll be fine. Everyone has their own taste in wheels man. Pics would be nice.
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MonT3
67 Squareback
64 Squareback
63 Squareback
Engine rebuild
Trailer rebuild

[Bobnotch]

Yup, it's your ride, do what you want with it.

While I'm not a purist, I have rebuilt a couple of rusting hulks in the past, including 1 that Tram said "I built the somebitch out of air".
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[squidjit]

Yeh I know it's mine.. and in the end it's my decision..
Just tough deciding between the 2..
The car isn't going anywhere so it'll get done one way or the other..
I'm just unsure if it's worth the effort to save the patina or just go new..

[Bobnotch]

[oxsign]

It's been said, your car. Me personally, it was cool when it started many years back, now it just seems played out and way over done.
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1971 Squareback, fully bagged, 1776.
Build thread here.....
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[OvalinAz]

[Adam]

It's only OG once, if it's savable, by all mean save what you can, if not respray it. But like others have already said, your car your choice.

[HenrikL]

[Mike Fisher]

The pictures he posted of it on facebook yesterday make it NOT a patina candidate IMO.
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https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[Retrovan]

[OhHerrooo]

Let's see some photos!
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'67 Squareback
'69 Squareback
'68 Westfalia
'68 Squareback

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's
www.evenkeelsurfshapes.com

[raygreenwood]

Actually I have a totally different take on patina.

While I have no interest in the look for cars....I do respect patina as its found on old tools and objects....99% of which are now really just unused museum pieces...which is why the patina and original-esque condition CAN be respected and left as is....however these cars are in my opinion...designed to be driven and operate in a harsh environment and need and deserve to be protected properly to do so.

I actually have much more respect for those who strip the car or nearly so...enough to correct rust throughs and cancer and sealing of internal leaks....and work hard with good modern coatings and products...to make the patina. A patina produced in this way requires as much skill and money and provides as much protection...as a good paint job

In that respect...THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS OBSERVED...and that is the absolute preservation of the actual irreplaceable German metal of the car.

Sorry..."OG paint"....is just paint. You can dicker about the quality of it versus new....but its just paint....similar to the fact that real patina is just rust and oxidization...and as original as one thinks it is...its not. The cars did not come with rust on them.

While I highly respect and agree with preserving the original COLOR....to me its no better than working hard to preserve the original German grease in the ball joints or the OG oil in the transmission.
Sadly...paint is a consumable in its own right. Even with the best care it will wear out and should be replaced...hopefully with something in the same actual hue (not just general color) and of the same quality as the original.

Yes...I realize that last point is THE point of contention....that modern paints are not the same quality as original....but by that same token ...original paint with rust and oxidation is nowhere near the quality of original paint.

But as noted...its your car...do it the way you want. If you want a Patina car...by all means do it quality...preserve the metal FIRST.

Far too many people I see....simply take a scotch brite to their rusting hulk and throw on a clear coat. Ray

[Clatter]

"Patina" is just convincing yourself that a junky old car is cool.

It's a lot easier and cheaper than doing body/paintwork.

Self-deception requires no real effort or money,
Just work inside your own head..
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Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[W1K1]

mine was patched/painted in a few places and color matched then cleared over. The clear is just rattle can and will come off with acetone.

I wanted a daily driver, we already had 2 beetles that sit in the garage with nice paint jobs. I drive it to work and I park where I want, and don't worry about door dings.
under the outer skin, it has all been repainted, rebuilt, new interior, and running a 1904cc that keeps up to modern traffic.

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap