Stock versus Modified

[Ray Mead]

Hello all, I'm new to the wonderful world of the T34, but in looking at pictures on this site, and on the web, I can't help but notice how many T34s have been modified from stock - slammed to the ground, etc., etc......... Was wondering if anyone has given any thought to the percentage of these cars that have remained stock,,,,,,,,,,,,,? Ray

[Brad Bull]

In my opinion 100% too many have been modified. ;D But that is just personal taste. I think sometimes they were modified because parts were not available to do it stock. (Or the knowledge of parts available.)

[Jim Schield]

Personally, I prefer stock. What I really object to is when there are modifications that cannot be easily reversed. While I don't like it, a lowered car (unless it's been cut for airbags) can be raised up again. Changes to increase the safety of the car are certainly worthwhile. Even the 1500 CC motor can be zipped up a bit without changing the carbs, or appearance of the motor. I built a high compression 1500 CC for my Puma, and while it cannot smoke the tires, it's great to drive around town, and will still approach 100 mph. I have not checked the MPG yet, but I believe it will be over 35 (when I am not goosing it)
Best regards,
Jim

[Lee Hedges]

This topic is a polarizing one ... custom or stock. Over the years I have discovered that the custom guys don't like to be labelled custom and the stock guys don't like to be labelled purists. When I founded T34 World it was done to embrace ALL T34 owners regardless of the condition of their T34s. These decisions are personal and in the end it's up to each owner to decide which flavor is right for their T34.

Custom/modified can mean so many things to so many different people. I, for instance, believe that modified means any deviation from how the T34 was built originallly. So that means ALL our T34s are modified in some way (except a few low-mileage ones).

When restoring my 1962 into a Cabriolet replica I chose to remove the roof, certainly a modification, but in the original style. So there are (in my opinion) two aspects (original/custom & unmodified/modified). Tom Reay's Sea Blue 1965 is the same, modified wheels/brakes/rims on an otherwise original T34. Carsten's black 1964 Lorenz Cabriolet can also be considered modified since it was once a Coupe. Even replacing the original black steering wheel with a wood one (altough it may have been a VW accessory) is another modification. And upgrading the electrical system from 6V to 12V is another form of modification. So you see there is little to compare between T34s these days. We all have modified T34s in some ways ... they are either done in the original style or the custom style.

What is the custom style? For me it means 1) a lowered stance & 2) non-stock rims. Beyond that it's typically 3) hot engine, 4), non-stock exhaust, 5) non-stock steering wheel, & 6) non-stock paint color.

As for whether the modifications are reversible or not ... in my experience once a T34 has been modified it's a rare case when a new owner will reverse the modifications. Disk brake upgrades, 12V upgrades, engine upgrades, & interior upgrades all typically remain with the T34 for its life. In the rare situation when an owner decides to reverse the modifications (like Rick Hasse from PA is doing with his 1965), the owner finds it far more difficult to locate parts & fix the mods than ever anticipated.

If I had to estimate the ratio of original style to custom style these days ... I'd say it is 75% original & 25% custom. Some countries have more custom T34s than others (USA, Belgium, France) but other countries have very few customs.

Do custom owners choose that style because they can't find parts? I don't believe that. They choose that style because they want the racer look, the hopped-up performance, and the personalized accessories from the Cal-Look era. In some cases the owners are not connected to know what is original or where to get original parts/colors/material. But usually when they discover sources for the info/parts/colors they usually choose the stock style. Of course the younger crowd typically prefers the custom style and the older guys (40+) typically choose stock.

Is one style more valuable than the other? In my opinion for the vast majority of T34s there is no difference. With low-mileage originals then their value is in their originality & unmodified condition. But the basics of rust, previous damage/repairs, completeness, paint condition, interior condition, & mechanical condition are still the most important determining factors of a T34s value.

I'd love to hear your opinions ...

[John Kanters]

I think if any T34 is in the hands of an enthusiast then it doesn't really matter if its stock or modified, the main thing being that another T34 is being driven and kept on the road instead of sitting somewhere rusting away.

I can appreciate both camps having had stock and modified cars, Some cars deserve to be kept stock more than others due to rarity / low production numbers etc.
Modifications I have done in the past were fully reversible (and have done so on a few occasions)
When restoring any car its not really original anymore, with rust repair, paint, replacement parts etc any "originality" is lost.

[bobnotch]

I've been trying to stay as close to stock as I can with my 64. However, there are a couple of things I did, that would make it custom. The first is going with a dual circuit master cylinder (for safety), and the second is converting to front disc brakes (again for safety, but also for ease of finding parts). When I did the conversion, I wanted to stay wide 5 though, which meant more work, but it's still completely reverseable (as is the master cylinder swap), since it's a bolt on swap. I do have ALL of the parts that were removed, and IF I ever sell the car, they will go with it.
I do think some of the "custom changes" are owner preference (like the ones I've done), as they make the car more enjoyable for use on the roads with all the other idiots out there.

I do agree with John Kanters though, in that quite a bit of the "originality" was lost when I literally rebuilt the entire car (chasing out the rust, repairing the 40+ year old crash damge, repainting the car, replacing the old dried out seals, etc..). However, it's back on the road, which is something that hasn't happened since 1968. ;D

[Tom Reay]

With my 68 everything is going to look bone stock, but I am going with a much larger torque engine. Yes it will be modified, like Bob I have had to replace allot of rust and bondo with real steel. But, when it is all done, I think it will be an excellent example of a stock late t34. A rare thing in the USA. Plus, it will be a car I can use like a modern car.

However, if you want to see the best examples of stock T34s my votes would be for Johannes Krasenbrink's 62 and at the other end of the production, Paul Peter's 69. Two awesome cars I have had the pleasure to ride in

[Deleted]

Modified does not mean Custom.... Lets get that right.... Custom means exactly that.... It's be not only 'modified', but it's also been changed.... As in 'restyled'.

My 60 Bug is heavily modified from an engineering point of view.... It's a turbo charged monster, but the body is stock in style and rolls ERCO's.... Stock interior (but its a bitsa), even the paint is OG.
My 60 Ragtop is again, stock in body and interior, but narrowed with either BRM's or stock smoothies and a mild 1776.
My 68 Bus also rolls a stock body and interior, but it's got efi, turbo, is narrowed (linkpin beam) and soon to have FUCH rims. And finally my T34 is stone stock body wise, with stock paint and a custom lace pattern painted roof (but the car is not a custom in the true sense), but it's now 12volt, has disc brakes planned and and FUCH's are waiting to go on too.... And I have fitted short axles to the stock transaxle.... The engine will remain as built.... The awesome little 1500S is so sweet!

Not one is custom, but they are all modified...