Hello,

What is most important is the criteria you use when asked to define the words "nostalgic" and "authentic". Establishing exactly what these words mean to you is crucial to the extent of the overall satifaction of your decision. Here's the categories your criteria may fall into:

1. I think most of us have had cars around as kids that we were sorry to see "fade away". For me, it was the 70's and 80's Caprice Classic wagons (my parents went through two of these). So I eventually bought an '88 Caprice and it brings back some of the same feelings as those childhood cars. Perhaps you've watched "Gone in 60 Seconds"? In that film, Eleanor is Eleanor regardless of the VIN #. When you think about it, you're not exactly the same person you were ten or twenty years ago. Nearly all your cells have been replaced, yet the blueprint remains the same. If a vehicle's "feel" is what you want, perhaps the most practical and inexpensive solution is to purchase and drive another complete '71 in great shape from outside the rust belt.

2. Perhaps there is a part of the vehicle that defines it as an entity to you. For some, this is the engine. Clearly, this is not the case with you. Is it that little government mandated number assigned to the vehicle? Does the "soul" of the car reside in it's interior where those familiar smells emanate? If this is the case, your bodyshop man's advice sounds good.

3. Maybe no other car will ever replace the one you have now. Deep down you might feel that you and your father have put blood, sweat, and tears into that machine and no other vehicle will ever be an acceptable replacement. Perhaps you think of it as a museum piece like certain fighter planes flown by famous aces that are restored when it would be easier to refurbish or replicate planes flown by lesser pilots and make them look the same. If this is the case with you, accept no substitutes.

The question you pose is by no means insignificant. Classic vehicle restoration and sales constitute a multi-billion dollar industry. Shows ranging from "American Hot Rod" to "Pimp my Ride" deal with the tough question of how to improve a vehicle while retaining some original character. While I am skeptical of ghost stories, many of them involve disturbing an antique environment or vehicle.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

Regards,

B.C. (1970 Volvo 142S)