What classifies as a "museum restoration"?

[robwok]

I have a 64 Overlander. I'm getting ready to sell it, but was wondering about classification. I haven't seen any of the restorations on the classifieds that did what I did. When you walk in, pretty much everything is completely original, or made vintage. The stove and fridge are original and work very well, and have just been cleaned and polished and necessary repairs made. All cabinets, counters, tub, toilet bench are original. The floors cut to 9" tiles. The bifold doors were carefully disassembled and rebuilt with new sunbrella fabrics that look very close to the original.

I added gray tanks and a new black tank, but they all are in the belly pan and I kept the profile on that smooth, and put the valves in the same location as the original. The marker lights are reproductions of the original, but have LED lights. The Astrodome is new, but same as the original.

Last night, I was running some wiring for a tiny night light I'm putting in a hidden location. It lights the floor when you open the front door. I saw an old phone jack in the closet. I just took it out, but then was thinking about it. It will never be used.

Does anyone really try a museum restoration? If you knew what you were looking at, you'd know the 9" tiles on the floor were VCT and not asbestos. the little digital module on the wall for the heat pump is obviously not original. And the faucet on the sink is not original, but looks as period as I could get and still get something I knew didn't have lead in it.

So, is there a definition? Is mine restored, but not museum?

Thanks,

rob.

[InsideOut]

Sounds to me you have a true "restored" trailer per the Price vs Condition Guide.

Shari

[robwok]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Sounds to me you have a true "restored" trailer per the Price vs Condition Guide.

Shari

That's helpful. Definitely restored vs reconditioned.

[idroba]

And probably a Museum Restoration would be just like it came out of the factory or off the dealer floor. That is things like incandescent lights, if that is what it had originally, exact countertop materials, same water and electrical systems as it came with, period tires and wheels, jacks, and on and on and on.

Most of us want an improved trailer, which might look like (as much as possible) the original but functionally is better, with newer technology items. Museums are nice but can be hard to live in.

I would judge that most do not want a museum quality older RV. But they may wish it to have the feeling, flavor, texture and so on of another time. But with some more modern things which were not available when it came off the line.

[Zil]

My dad said, "I don't want something old. I want something new that looks old."

[AtomicNo13]

Museum restoration is an exact duplication of the original specimen. The most minuscule detail can be verified. This goes as far as identical screws, manufacturers.....

In auto restorations points are lost by using incorrect styles of wiring, connectors, tape, glue, etc etc.

A museum restoration typically is never to see the sun again let alone used!

[DKB_SATX]

In the automotive world, what you've done would probably be called a "RestoMod" since it's restored where practical (and visible, where possible) and modernized/modified where that's genuinely better and essentially invisible (gray tank, LED lighting, modern converter-charger, etc.)

[robwok]

Thanks. there were a couple places where I replaced the slotted screws with Philips head just because they were such a pain, but not where it was obvious. I was trying to come up with a way to make the heat pump digital readout less obvious by using some vintage parts from other things, but I didn't want to affect the airflow, so I left that alone.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

Museum restoration is an exact duplication of the original specimen.

I suppose "Museum" condition would also apply to an original Airstream that has never been altered, rarely if ever used, and is in original showroom condition - somehow, miraculously escaping the signs of time...

I doubt any of those exist...

Personally, I would feel sorry for such a trailer, never having served it's purpose.

Shari

[AtomicNo13]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

I suppose "Museum" condition would also apply to an original Airstream that has never been altered, rarely if ever used, and is in original showroom condition - somehow, miraculously escaping the signs of time...

I doubt any of those exist...

Personally, I would feel sorry for such a trailer, never having served it's purpose.

Shari

Kind of like the little old lady who only drove it to church on Sunday...

[NavyCorpsman]

Look but don't touch. Where's the fun in that?

[robwok]

I just posted a bunch of interior pics in a new thread..