Just not getting anywhere.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

That is a new expression to describe some parts of the car hobby, but it fits, and many people find themselves in a position, either by economics or plain, old common sense to bring things up to date and make the machine reliable. I am constantly torn between keeping things original and keeping them on the road. As a result, I 'compromise' all the time. If a car is truly valuable, it is sometimes foolhardy to even consider a respray, and the 'tattered' look can be quite attractive to some. This is what makes the hobby so fascinating and why it attracts such a diverse number of people. Like yourself, I truly enjoy working on my prizes, up to my level of competence. It has taken many years to reach the point where I can admit my limitations, but I have reached it. It is obvious you like the cars, and sending them away would leave a big hole in your life. Not quite like losing a dear friend, but very close. Good luck.