Super Cars, What do they tell us about ourselves? (Besides reminding us how poor we are?)

2,998,000.00 Base price for this Bugatti Chiron.
I'll take two!

This Rorschach test blot serves much the same function of that Bugatti pictured above.

The Rorschach test requires us to project our thoughts about an ambiguous ink blot that can reveal deep insights into our psychological functioning. It can help reveal what is important to us. The things that motivate, frighten, and disturb us. We can see what we want to see, which is the whole basis of projection.

The Bugatti is more than just an ambiguous mass, but as an enthusiast I will project my feelings about the car, and it becomes a reflection on me. I have certain preconceived ideas about the Bugatti, the people who own and drive them, and their motivations for doing so. They may, or may not be valid, but my feelings and beliefs are probably quite firmly held. Practically speaking the Bugatti has no real relevance to my everyday life. Just like that ink blot!

At the top of the heap there will always be the favored few. The most talented, the most attractive, the most favored and the most exclusive. These entities move about in a rarefied air. They have their own reality quite distinct from mine and I would guess most of the rest of us.

They are like the Celestial bodies that travel in their own orbits far above the teeming masses below.

These objects display the ultimate: in performance, beauty, cost, and exclusivity. Ownership of one of these vehicles confers this same status to the owner. At least the status of considerable wealth.

The Zonda by Horacio Pagani.
The story behind the man and the car is very compelling.

While the levels of achievement are extremely high and the difference from the proletarian machines is quite substantial, the actual differences can end up being almost irrelevant. The speed that these vehicles can achieve far surpasses any needs rational or irrational. Realistically the opportunity to fully exploit this level of performance rarely exists.

Gotta slip in a picture of an Aston Martin whenever possible.

In Roman times the populace believed that superior beings were inhabiting the heights of Olympus and there they were involved in the intrigues of the Gods. The peasant tilling in the fields below had little connection to the clestial goings on.

As I wrote once before, there are a few different reactions that we can have towards these cars.

One reaction is fascination, awe, and envy. This is the natural response. They are definitely interesting. The story behind the car's development, and in the case of the Pagani, the man, are quite inspirational. These cars are the top strata of the automotive hierarchy. We can be forgiven for wanting to possess such a creation and we can dream about it as a "lottery winning" fantasy.

The other is a blase dismissal. They are irrelevant. They are vehicles that serve no purpose as practical automobiles. They are just the toys of the rich and vacuous.

They can be a hated symbol of the excesses of the rich and a rallying point for the Masses' culture war. An instrument of the "Ugly American" although extreme wealth has never been restricted to just this country.

The crass display of wealth goes back a long way in America.
This image is from the book "The Insolent Chariots" by John Keats.

By their nature these car were never designed to be enjoyed by the masses, and many times they have just been used as a shameless display of wealth.

But what is really new about that?

In the past, the elite lived in palaces and castles. Huge estates with an army of servants. All of this was way above the experience of the mere commoner. Luckily, the history of Democracy in our country has made it possible for many more to enjoy a higher standard of living, and the opportunity to benefit from their labor.

There are many that are focused on the upcoming wedding of the Royals. They are fascinated by the preparations and the goings on. They might say that the occasion will add excitement and the spice of romance to their lives. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as they don't end up detesting the ordinary circumstances of their own life.

As a car enthusiast I do enjoy and appreciate the degree of engineering and performance that these cars display. They can showcase up to the minute engineering that may eventually trickle down to more mainstream models.

Are they rich guys toys? Certainly.  As the Rich have gotten richer so have their toys. I don't mind that they used to buy these high priced trinkets, but I do wish that they hadn't started going around buying up so many desirable old cars!

Oh well. Let the stars shine. Look at the Aurora Borealis, watch that comet crossing the sky. We can all enjoy the view, after all it's free.

Magnificence without any cost.

Nothing about these super cars should dilute the interest and affecction that we have for the cars that we can experience and own in our real world.

The existence of the Bugatti shouldn't affect our interest in a 2015 Mustang GT or a 1954 Ford Mainline coupe, or a '66 VW Beetle.

If it does, then maybe we weren't the car guys we thought we were.

Replicas, kit cars and tributes, Oh My!

Is it real or is it Memorex?
( notice that it is parked next to a VW bug)

Do you think that this Lazer will fool anyone into thinking that it's legit? Is imitation the greatest form of flattery?


I have to admit that I've always been a little curious about kit cars and the people that choose to build and drive them.

I've gone to the big Northern California kit car show a couple of times. There were certain themes that were very apparent.

I suppose that the first thing is to define some of these terms, which I will do to the best of my understanding.

Replica. I suppose that any car that is not authentic is a replica of something else. This term really doesn't make any assessment on the quality of engineering or construction. There is a manufacturer that is building a classic Bugatti type 35 roadster that is faithful to the original specifications. It is meant to be an exact copy of the original. There is a video on Jay Leno's garage that covers this amazing car. This is not so much a replica as a re-creation.

photo source: Forbes magazine.
Remember this picture.

Then there are the Jaguar SS100 and C Type replicas built by Suffolk Sports Cars. These are built on a reproduction frame that appears to be period correct but the mechanical components are generally supplied by later Jaguar XJ6 models. Still they are all Jaguar, well built, and miles ahead of cheaper versions.

photo source: performance drive.com.au
This is the C type.

Kit Car. These are usually thought of something that can be assembled at home by a hobbyist. The builder will usually have to source their own drive train components, but the heavy lifting of the engineering has been done by the manufacturer. Over the years some kits were more complete and easier to assemble than others. Back in the 1950s kit cars usually consisted of a fiberglass body with blueprints on building or modifying your own frame. "Kit car" has assumed a pejorative tone from some car enthusiasts. Is a fiberglass bodied, newly manufactured chassis, Chevy powered, 1932 Ford roadster a kit car? How about a Street Beast?

Tribute/Clone. These are usually replicas that are based upon the OEM manufacturers equipment levels that separated different models built on the same basic platform.  Usually performance models from more pedestrian examples. The difference between a muscle car, and a secretary special. The difference between a regular Chevelle and a Super Sport 396 was in the performance and appearance equipment. A run of the mill Pontiac Tempest was differentiated from a GTO in much the same manner. These different models usually carried specific VIN number identifiers. Believe it or not, there were actually early Mustang Fastbacks equipped with a straight six and three speed transmission!

Coachbuilt or bespoke construction. This is a throwback to the great coach building tradition of the past, where craftsmen clothed the chassis of a vehicle that was purchased by a wealthy patron. This is generally considered the highest quality level of construction. However sometimes even the Masters can fall short of the results of a high line production manufacturer such as Mercedes Benz. Specialty builders such as Pininfarina, Ghia and Touring built many one- off show cars for Detroit manufacturers.

Built for Raymond Loewy by Carrozzeria Boana based upon an XK140.
Not every design was an improvement.

photo source: alpar.com
One of several cars that Ghia built for Virgil Exner in the 1950's.

These different manufacturers naturally featured a different level of engineering. Usually based upon market price point.

Probably the most well known kit car chassis is a VW floorpan wrapped in a fiberglass body

One of the most prolific and popular donor platforms has been the humble Volks Wagen beetle. Since the floor pan is easily separated from the body and maintains it's own structural integrity, it was fairly simple matter to design a fiberglass body of different specification. I've seen pictures of very basic VW off road vehicles that consisted of nothing but the plain floor pan.These floor pans can be lengthened or shortened to suit. Almost any body design imaginable has been mated to this platform.

These bodies have been built to resemble late Thirties Mercedes, Jaguars, Bugattis, MGs, Model As. Porsche 356 Speedsters and just about anything else you could imagine.

The torsion bar tube axle is clearly displayed.
How does it look compared to the Pursang Type 35?

Flip open that boat tail and this is what you'll find.

The Gazelle is one of the best known pre war Mercedes replicas.

This is the Jaguar SS100 replica.

This is the MG TD replica.

How come all VW based kits look almost the same? The manufacturer has to work within the limitations of the chassis, so naturally the proportions are going to suffer. Kind of like "Hot Wheels" cars. Ever notice how all the cars are about the same size with the same wheelbase?


But not all the cars look the same. Who can forget the enormously popular Dune Buggy?

The most beloved VW kit is the classic dune buggy.
This itself was actually a copy of the Myer's Manx.

And of course the spiritual cousin of the humble Beetle, the Porsche Speedster. There are some very well engineered replica kits out there. In my opinion they are very attractive and desirable. And they are about the only way an enthusiast of average means can ever afford to experience one. Have you priced any 356 lately? Or would you rather just have a very trick Karman Ghia?

I'll admit that I would love to have one of these beauties.

Quite a desirable machine in it's own right.
I'd take one of these.

Nothing I have written is intended to denigrate the use of the VW platform or the people that choose to build and drive cars of this type. There are surprising levels of performance that can be extracted from this design. If anything, the VW has lead to he democratization of the kit car industry,

Another very popular donor car platform is the Pontiac Fiero. The Fiero was blessed by having a composite body attached to a steel supporting framework. This allows a high degree of customization. Plus it is mid-engined, which gives it a little exotic car cred. This is especially beloved by those building a replica of a Ferrari. Usually the chassis has to be stretched to better match the proportions of the real thing, but not always. Sometimes a Cadillac North Star V8 will find itself in the engine bay.

Usually the proportions suffer a bit in the translation.

Some seem to hit just the right note.

Most of these Ferrari  replicas go the whole route in trying to make the transformation. Authentic looking badges, steering wheels and sometimes even entire interior restyling. The more you spend the more successful the ruse, just like everything in life.


Companies like Factory Five Racing and Super Performance can deliver a replica kit that is simply breathtaking, just be prepared to pay the bill.

This is the Factory Five Shelby Daytona coupe. Not many originals were made.
I've actually seen one of these on the street.

Can you blame anyone for wanting one of these?

These examples of the Daytona coupe and Cobra are completely engineered replicas. There are also  kits that are similar to Hamburger Helper; one kit, one wrecked Mustang GT, equals one Shelby Cobra!



Kind of like these Datsun 240Z based Ferrari 250 GTO coupes.

One of the most beautiful and desirable cars ever.

This upgraded interior was done in good taste.
It clearly is more luxurious appearing than the original Z. 

I've seen several very well done examples of this transformation and a couple of poorly finished ones also. In reality I'm sure that that the Datsun makes a more comfortable, practical, and useful car. But what should the driver tell inquisitive onlookers?

Or would you rather just drive this?

Add on kits to convert 90's T birds to a shoebox Ford? Maybe some questions are better left unanswered.

Interesting is one way to describe it.

I haven't even touched upon the kit car that started this whole genre, the ubiquitous T Bucket.              T Buckets were based upon a cut down touring car which was called a "Lakes Roadster." These were legitimate early hot rods. Every type of available chassis and body was used in this design, generally whatever was available and cheap. As time went on the availability of authentic bodies declined and aftermarket fiberglass bodies appeared on the market. By the time the 1970's rolled in these cars were routinely built from totally inauthentic components, in other words there wasn't any early Ford in them. Not to say that they didn't evolve. The example below features a swept back windshield and steering column. It still retains the cut down pick up bed as well as the "big and littles."

A modern example of the breed.

photo source: pinterest
This is what they used to look like.

So what is the verdict? Should there even be a verdict? And "who" should be the one to stand in judgement?

Should we write off owners of these cars as posers? That seems a a little harsh. A lot of these cars that are replicated were either built in very limited numbers, or like the Daytona coupe never built as a street car. Well engineered high priced vehicles like the Pursang Bugatti, the C type, The Daytona coupe and Super Performance Cobra are real sports cars. They were built to perform to a high level. They could easily be clothed in non replica coachwork and still be admired. The fact that they look like something that we might aspire to is just a bonus.

Replicas like the Datsun Z, Fiero, and the Mustang GT based Cobras exist on a slightly lower level. Their platforms can be enhanced to provide more than adequate levels of performance. These were legitimate performance cars in their own right. The Fiero gets a bad rap because so many builders build the cheaper replicas that just don't have convincing proportions. Spend enough money though, and you will impress.

VW based kits are a bit more problematic. Except for the Porsche 356, none of these looks enough like the original to fool anyone. They are usually smaller than the originals and you can't disguise the sound of the little flat four motor. The detailing of the bumpers, lights, and the use of wire spoke hub caps in lieu of real wire wheels detracts from their appearance. However I don't think that the drivers of these cars are really trying to fool anyone, they are just looking for a little fun.

I've often wondered if the builders should use authentic looking badges and name plates. Take the Datsun/Ferrari for example. I think that these cars look pretty good, but should they include the prancing horse? Would a Datsun badge be more honest, or would it just look kind of silly and out of place? A builder like Factory Five or SuperPerformance has their own logo that carries some prestige. Perhaps an additional badge that proclaims "Tribute" by Datsun or "Homage" by Pontiac would be appropriate.

Some of the cars that these kits are based upon are unavailable due to their rarity, cost or both. Would someone just be satisfied and happier driving a nicely maintained Karmann Ghia, Pontiac Fiero, Datsun Z or even Mustang GT? At least you wouldn't have to explain anything to anyone.

I think that these owners just wants to experience a little of the glory that belongs to the original. There may be those that want to fool others that they have the real thing, but there are plenty of experts around eager to call them out!

But why should anyone want to do that? Hobby cars are for fun. Show the driver some appreciation for their effort to bring some variety to the mix of traffic. They obviously care enough about cars to want to drive something that is distinctive, just like most enthusiasts.

In my old age I no longer take myself so seriously and I think that I could enjoy driving a car like the one pictured below, crazy as it is.

Move over, you've got a bearcat on your bumper.

I'll guess that it was built by a civic group as a parade car.

On the other hand, maintaining a little sense of shame might still be a good thing!

You can go your own way,  1964 Cadillac convertible.

Not my actual car but a doppleganger.

As Fleetwood Mac sung in 1977, I decided to follow my own automotive path.

My 1966 Mustang was a compromise, I had decided to honor my Father's advice and wishes and buy an appropriate  young man's car. But growing up in Oakland in the 1960's had created a deep love for the Cadillac marque and my dream had always been to own and drive one of these magnificent beasts.


While in high school I had seen a 1960 Cadillac convertible parked frequently outside of a small tavern. Everyday as the school bus rolled by on it's way home, I was craning my neck looking out the window, to see if "my" Cadillac was parked outside. An immaculate jet black body with a blinding white top. Chrome baby moon rims with wide whitewall tires, just a dream come true.

Not exactly the same, but you get the idea.

My other favorite fantasy ride was a 1956 Coupe de Ville. This was a result of the cars that I had seen and sat in while cruising the car lots with my Dad. I think that the real encoding had occurred outside of that Oakland Chinatown auto parts store, in the gas station parking lot. That would have been in the mid 1960's, years before I started high school.  This was a Sedan de Ville four door hardtop and it looked just as rakish as the coupe in my eyes. My fantasy car had a small console with a floor shift. I had seen these offered for years in the J.C. Whitney catalog and thought that this would make my car a real stand out.

I imagined driving my Cadillac all over the state, discovering all the places that my parents had never had the interest to take the family.

My Mustang was sold and I'm sure that I told my Dad that I would save up some more money before rushing out to buy something. After all I still had my motorcycle, a Kawasaki 500, to get around on.
There were quite a few used car lots on E14th. St. in Oakland and I would cruise around with my eyes open looking for a likely prospect. I found a ''65 Coupe de Ville for sale at a lot near Seminary Avenue. The car looked pretty clean and the salesman assured me that it ran great. So off we went for a test drive. Well almost, he had a lot of trouble getting the car to fire up. After a lot of cranking, and a bit of swearing by the salesman, the motor caught and came to life with a bang! He started to rev the motor and the weirdest thing occurred. Pink smoke started billowing out of the single exhaust pipe! It was probably white smoke tinged with a lot of rusty powder but it was sure pink to me! Truth be told that was the first and only time I have ever seen this.

We took off down the street with me driving and the salesman doing all the talking. He asked about my last car and I told him about my Mustang and how I had just sold it. He told me that I should have brought it in as a trade and that he could have given me a "sweet deal" on this Caddy or something else on the lot. Of course what else was a salesman going to say?

I thought that the Caddy was driving pretty good until it started losing power. Luckily there was a parking lot just ahead and I made it there before the motor died. The salesman couldn't get the car restarted and went off to look for a pay phone. He told me to meet him back at the car lot and we could figure out what was wrong with the car. I told him thanks, but no thanks, and walked the four blocks back to the dealers lot.

Luckily my bike started up on the first kick. Maybe I should look around a little more.


At the time I was a student of Karate at the Shorin Yu dojo down the street, just a few blocks from my house. However they later expanded to a location in Downtown on Broadway Ave, alternating the days of instruction. So I could take additional classes for free if I attended the new dojo. What does this have to do with acquiring my first Cadillac? Plenty. During rainy spells I would ride the bus Downtown instead of getting soaked on my motor cycle. It just so happened that my final bus stop was right in front of a used car lot.

Following of it's release in 1972 thousands of young Americans were convinced
that they could master the secret. I was one.

The bus windows were high enough that I could easily see to the back of the lot, my favorite hunting ground! Sure enough there appeared to be a '63 or '64 Cadillac hiding in the back. After class I walked back to the lot, slipped under the chain to inspect the car in the glare of the strings of light bulbs.  It was a gold '64 model convertible!

photo source: hemmings.com
Not the actual lot, but they all looked like this in the 70s.

Being on the back row of the lot the best thing would have to be the price, 325.00!

Actually it was in pretty good shape. It was straight with no collision damage or dents. The paint was dull but wasn't worn down in any spots. There was only the slightest sign of rust blistering on the bottom of the front fenders behind the wheel openings. This was where a brace was located that would catch and hold dirt over the years. This  would lead to some rusting and blistering at that location. This was common all the way into the early 1970's. All the glass was good, but the plastic rear window was getting pretty cloudy, a usual convertible problem at that time. The top itself was in good shape, no cracks or tears. The tires looked okay but there were only two hubcaps, maybe the other two were in the trunk? The perforated leather seats had a couple of split seams and cracks but were in acceptable condition. The carpet was worn and dirty and looked like it had gotten wet more than a few times. The car was only ten years old at the time, and it seems like it should have been in better shape. But then it would have cost a bit more, and a bit was hard for me to come by in those days.

There was no way to know how well it ran or even if it did, but it was on the lot, not behind the office so I assumed that it would. I immediately liked the car and decided that I wanted it. I really hadn't considered getting a convertible, but here it was! I decided to come back on my motorcycle and check it out when the lot was open.

I returned the next day and the salesman let me take a look under the hood and started up the car. It fired up easily and ran smoothly. I don't recall how many miles it had on it but the test drive went fine. I hopefully looked in the trunk but there was no sign of the other two hubcaps. It was equipped with a/c which didn't work but I had expected that. The radio, an am/fm job worked but the front speaker didn't, still there was a speaker in the back. The total only came to 340.00. I was responsible for having the thermostatic vacuum advance device installed as well as paying the reg and transfer fees at the DMV.

The thermostatic vacuum control device otherwise known as "the green meanie"was a unit that was spliced into the upper radiator hose. It controlled the vacuum advance to the distributor. The installer would retard the spark setting and the unit would allow the advance when the car got hot enough. It was made from a very bright, yellow green plastic and that accounted for it's name. I can't remember if it really adversely affected the way the motor ran. I just drove the car as it was.

I hadn't told my Dad that I was going to buy the car. I just parked it next door at the curb. When my Dad got home he asked me if I had seen the Cadillac parked next door.  I told him that I had, and that it was mine! He asked me how much I had paid for it, then laughed and went out with me to check it out  I know that my Dad vicariously enjoyed the cars that I bought.

I had to get this can back into the kitchen before my Mom had to wash the pots and pans!

I learned a lot fixing up that car. I scrubbed down the top with bathroom cleanser, which brightened the white top considerably but also left streaks in the paint when I failed to rinse the run off promptly. A good application of rubbing compound followed by a couple of coats of Simonize wax brought the paint back to life.

There would be a lot of body color on that rag
before I was done.

Nothing fancy or exotic.
Just a lot of rubbing and wiping; Wax on, Wax off!

On an older, somewhat neglected car the chrome bumpers would build up a film of dirt that washing alone wouldn't remove. It took products like Turtle Wax chrome polish to do the job. I also discovered that it would polish stainless steel and remove light oxidation from anodized aluminum trim.

I've always delighted in the image of the turtle sporting a top hat, monocle.
 cravat, and shiny kicks!

The  cloudy rear window was a bigger problem. I tried plastic cleaner and polish, and even this new fangled stuff called Armorall, which had just recently come on the market. There was a noticeable improvement but I was not satisfied with the results. What to do?

The J.C. Whitney catalog to the rescue! 

If you couldn't find it in here, you probably didn't need it.

J.C.Whitney offered three levels of quality of replacement convertible tops, but I didn't think I needed a complete top. Sure enough they offered replacement windows as a separately available item. I filled out the order form, included my money order, and mailed off my request. Then I waited for the three weeks to pass before my order arrived.

Compare that to my online order from Rock Auto of my Mustang's intake manifold. I ordered it Wednesday night and it arrived on Friday morning! Isn't progress wonderful?

I had to disassemble the rear body mount of the top and window and loosened and removed both from the rear top bow. I bought a staple gun to reattach the window and top to the tack strips and bow. It came out pretty good If I do say so myself. Not only could I see out the window, it made a huge improvement in the appearance of the car. 

Old tech but effective.

Now I turned my attention to the interior, I had bought a curved needle and some nylon thread and I "sutured" the split seams and cracks, the perforated leather already had lots of tiny holes for the thread. I also sewed a leather patch onto the upper panel of the driver's seat. Several applications of leather conditioner improved the appearance of all the upholstery. 

I learned from reading my collection of Old Car Weekly magazines that at one time this was considered the standard method of restoration. Just patching the voids and stitching the splits and cracks meant that you were retaining the originality of the interior. While you would lose some judging points for the poor condition, would regain some points for maintaining the originality. How times have changed!

A trip to my favorite wrecking yard  provided me with a matching pair of hubcaps. I had put the other two on the left side of the car where they were visible when parked at the curb. Like my Dad said, "You can only see one side of the car at a time!" I bought an external speaker which I installed with a bracket under the passenger's side of the dash. At least I was smart enough to refrain from dis- assembling the dash. I was worried that I might never get it back together again!

That car never gave me any real trouble and I drove it all over the Bay Area. I even took it up Highway One up over the Marshall -Petaluma road. That car made quite a sight cruising with the top down among the tree lined highways.

I noticed that it was starting to leak some transmission fluid so I thought that I could change out the front transmission seal. A simple job, or so it seemed. At least I was smart enough to rent a transmission jack, but not smart enough to secure the torque converter to the transmission. I managed to knock the converter loose and spill a couple of quarts of ATF while extracting the transmission. After the clean up I replaced the seal which cured the leak. All that work and mess to avoid leaving a few drips on the driveway, which I stained badly anyway when the torque converter spilled it's contents! Live and learn.


I don't remember exactly how long I kept that car. Like several other of my vehicles, it ended up getting sold off the street. I had it parked it at the curb, while I was cleaning my motorcycle in front of our house. A passing driver noticed it slowed, and did a double take. He parked his car and walked over to me and asked me about my Cadillac.

Now I really wasn't interested in selling it but he made what seemed like a great offer. I don't even recall giving him a price. He just made several higher offers until he knew that he had caught my interest. I ended up selling it for 650.00, which seemed like a pretty good profit. I figured that I would find another car, apply some sweat equity, and sell that one for a little profit. Like most of my plans at that time, it didn't exactly turn out that way.

Will my Mark VII ever look like this?

Obviously this car was treated to a full restoration.
I bet it smells good in here!

Yeah, maybe not so much.

Actually this is the worst panel of all the seats.
If I blindfolded you, wouldn't think that you were sitting in a new car.

For some unknown reason, no matter how bad the car looked when I bought it, I've never felt disgust towards it.

Besides starting some mechanical repairs I've been just playing around with the Mark since I brought it home. My plan is to clean it up and see what I've got. I rubbed out and waxed the paint and found that some areas would respond with a little shine. It looks like the fight fender has been repainted some time in the past.

I got out some Simichrome and steel wool and went over some of the brightwork, such as the door window frames which are chrome plated. They have responded with a brilliant shine.

I think that this is fun and challenging, trying to improve on and preserve what is here.


The veneer on the dash is in pretty bad shape. As you can see it is flaking off in large pieces. There is no way to smooth and reattach it. The veneer on the main instrument panel is cracked and dry but is still intact. I decided to try and save it.

There are a lot of uses for this as I will demonstrate.

The first step was to clean it with Goop hand cleaner. This non abrasive formula can dissolve years of layered on grease and dirt. It also contains lanolin which can help to add some moisture back into the surface. I learned about using Goop on the ARF, the Antique Radio Forums. The first step with an intact cabinet was to clean it up carefully.

Then I applied some dark walnut wood stain which will penetrate the cracks and add a little color. Remember that "Old English" brand  scratch remover for furniture? Same idea, just dab some on, then wipe off.

Finally I applied some Howard's Feed and Wax. This is a blend of carnauba wax, bees wax, and orange oil. It is a thick waxy slush that is rubbed into the surface of the wood, where it can penetrate the finish. It is allowed to dry, then gently polished. The thinned wax penetrates the surface and remains after the distillate evaporates. Repeated applications will build up a thicker surface layer. It also smells really good!

Here's how it looked before staining.

There was no way to save the failing veneer on the upper dash, so I just decided to remove it. I used a scraper on the more stubborn spots but was careful not to damage the base wood. I then used some steel wool to remove traces of glue and smooth the surface. Then I applied a couple of coats of stain which darkened the wood considerably.  A couple of  applications of Howard's followed. It's not glossy but has a mellow glow.

I learned about Howard's wood restoration products from the ARF and they are usually for sale at antique stores and many hardware stores.

I was pretty satisfied with the results. Most of the wood trim will lose it's flaking veneer but I think that staining and waxing it will help bring the interior up to a presentable level.

Now I'm not pretending that this stained wood is the end product, perhaps someday I will be in a position to apply new veneer. But that is a long way down the road.

It wouldn't fool anyone into thinking that I had redone the woodwork
but that's not not what I'm going for.

I'm just looking for an improvement over this.

The front carpets have worn out and deteriorated. I vacuumed the floors then laid down a large rubber floormat that I had used in my '66 F250. I wont say that it looks great, but at least it looks cleaner.

The back seat and door panels still look pretty good.
They just needed a little cleaning.

Goop or other water less hand cleaners can also be used on the vinyl seats and door panels. Cleaning is always the first step. The seats and door panels have been redone in blue vinyl, the seller told me that this was done in the 1970's. While it is not original it is still in pretty good shape. Would I ever have this interior redone in the proper leather? I don't think it will ever be a possibility for me. I've read some comments where I've been mildly chastised for not wanting to do a proper, complete restoration. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think that it is better for me to bring this car back to life. Someday, if a future buyer wants to invest the money I will have saved and preserved the car as best as I could. I find no shame in this.

One of the areas in the poorest  condition are the front seat bottom cushions. The headliner is pretty old looking, but the majority is still intact. But again, I'm not going to mess with it for now. The headliner of the sunroof panel is hanging down. I hoping that this is just some sound deadening that has flaked off the underside of the panel.

I plan on going to the fabric store, JoAnns, to look for some matching blue vinyl material. I'll buy a couple of yards to do the seat bottoms and have some to use for carpet welting, I'll be looking for  some carpeting in a similar blue color. The interior is not really that bad.

Is any of this cleaning and polishing an improvement? I think so. This car is in the worst deteriorated condition of any car that I've ever bought. But, it is straight and complete and I believe it will run again without tearing down the motor. Hopefully this car will allow me to experience some of that Jaguar magic from the 1950's

Someday.