My question is "Concourse" to who's judging standards!
MCA, Amelia Island, the lawn a Pebble Beach, Cars & Coffee, the cruise in at the local Sonic?
Is your "Concourse" restoration standard how the car left the manufacturing plant? Condition upon arrival at the dealer? Condition is was sold new at the dealer? What YOU THINK it should look like?
A "Concourse" restoration can mean many things depending upon the " Concourse Judging Standard" IF ANY that YOU are trying to achieve. Metuchen, Detroit, California? Which manufacturing plant standards are you going to "restore" to? Who the hell knows what those standards would be? You do realize that identically equipped cars from different plants in the same model year are DIFFERENT! OK so we look at "known" original cars from that plant. It's 30 years later. What makes those "original" cars the standard for that plant?
Who are the judges? What the hell to they really know? Just because they are "Fat 50 and up", bought these cars new does not mean they know exactly what was correct then and therefore what should be correct NOW. It takes a TEAM EFFORT on a monumental scale over many years to develop a judging standard for what is arguably one of iconic brands in automotive history the Mustang. Now we are talking about Foxbody Mustangs that were throw away cars to many people. Yep cheap fun transportation that Ford sold a LOT of! 3 different body styles, many engine/transmission options, SMOG regulations and so much more.
So who really are the "Foxbody Mustang Experts"?????
Take NCRS (National Corvette Restorer's Society) Please take it!!! They formed in 1974. There goal from day 1 was to develop a "Judging Standard" for Corvettes that was as the car left the St. Louis assembly plant. No car to car comparison. Corvette had only 1 plant to consider. Mustang has multiple assembly plants. Over 40 years the Corvette judging standard continues to evolve as so much so that a Corvette that 5 years was "Top Flight" then will not "Top Flight" today. Obviously the judging standard for Corvette focus's on originality down to the number of stitches per inch on a convertible top. Yes they know that by year and supplier. Is that what a Foxbody Mustang owner wants to contend with concerning a "Concourse Restoration"? Be careful what you ask for.
NCRS is losing members as they now DIE OFF due to old age yet NCRS STILL has a larger membership than MCA based upon current MCA membership numbers that have been shared with me. Shame on the Mustang community for NOT supporting what many would argue IS the marque club for the Mustang brand. With MILLIONS OF MUSTANG sold over the years and a small segment of a bunch of old fart fanatical Corvette restorers have a larger club? Pretty amazing to me!
Yes I know that MCA is trying to up the game on Foxbody judging however the questions still stands.
To what Concourse Judging Standard do YOU the Mustang owner/restorer chose for your Concourse Restoration Dream???
Tough choice!
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