Topic: Vert top Utica plant decal

[68 S Code]

Thanks. I'll start practicing my penmanship.

[Oz390]

Bad photo. Removed from what was apparently original. No sig.  FWIW.

[68 S Code]

And here is mine before restoration. Doesnt look like a repop. But if a signiture is required then we can conform.

[CharlesTurner]

Entirely your choice on the signature.  You could always get a good print of that photo made and have it available if anyone questioned a blank one.

[Bob Gaines]

Entirely your choice on the signature.  You could always get a good print of that photo made and have it available if anyone questioned a blank one.

This is not nessasarily a response to a single person but could apply to any of us. The sticker was supposed to be filled out that much is for sure however mistakes happen and as Charles indicates keep a good photo available to document the anomaly so you can provide proof that you were not being negligent in not filling it out every single time someone asks . The problem is there will be many times that people will not ask and just think the worst anyway.  I commend you on your effort wanting to discuss,document and be "that guy" who has the blank top sticker and goes to all that trouble to document a inconsequential mistake  because you don't care what people think or because of your "no compromise "conviction.  Or I guess you could fill it out like it was designed to be and not worry about all the other. As Charles said"Entirely your choice on the signature.    Bob

[68 S Code]

Bob and Charles thanks for your comments. I've yet to fill out the decal as in some respects it seems to be contradictory to the whole idea of putting marks on cars where no marks existed. Regretfully many marks disappeared over time and or were not even considered when I started this restoration back in the eighties. Luckily I didn't attempt the top restoration until i had already stated to visit this site regularly. This site had me restoring almost every component over the past 18 months, starting with the undercarriage. lots of research but mostly help from those of you who shared your knowledge. In my mind I know that my tops original sticker was unsigned. I feel I should place a unsigned ECS sticker in its place. But then there is the little voice which says if you go without the signature then in the future someone will say "Previous owner did not correctly restore the top, because he didn't know that those stickers were always signed". I'm not saying it would be necessarily a judge but just someone looking at the car talking to his buddy. Maybe I overhear it and show them the original picture but maybe I don't because I'm not within earshot. And that's my dilemma. If I had been a little smarter I would have gotten another handle and kept the original to bring to shows. Could have put it in a ziplock baggie and put it on the dash.

[Oz390]

Well... here's the question. 

Are you restoring your car for you (I would) based on what you found and documented, or what someone who has never seen you cars says "is right" (based on one signature offered and a handful of examples).

Or are you restoring it to get a $3 Chinese plastic "trophy", or badge, or paper or whatever judges give out, (don't know, don't bother anymore, as have given up arguing the obvious with some... seen cars marked down for "old" carlite glass opposed to cars with new repro as "it's nicer".... in original classes, go figure) and the rights to say "someone I never met before judged my car to their standard".

Me, I also have a top latch/tag I believe to be original with no sig, I will not scribe some scan of a photo of a random sig on mine.  Mark me down as I can't prove your opinon is wrong only show the facts I found on the car (impossible, the judges catch-22, show me a pic... "I've never seen it"... "must be  PO from 1978 who restored it"... right...  so you lose no matter what... unless you have Lee Iacooca there to swear it came off the line that way, but then they argue he didn't work the line and he's been Photoshpped into the conversation...    )

If others feel the need to mindlessly put JR on latches, in 20 years any top without John Raminski's name (is it the full name, initials, or J Raminski, was he consistent on every top on every car and did he do them all?) will be "incorrect".

I have not seen your car in person but from the photos and communication we've had I'd say do what you want, based on waht you found, on your car, and be VERY proud of what you have done.  Agree to disagree, as I guarantee no matter what you do if you show it some "expert" will always find something "wrong", and it won't be consistent judge-to-judge, show-to-show. 

The one-size-fits all mentality is a fallicy IMHO.... told on one hand not to blindly follow what was seen on other cars, then told "do this" as it was seen on a few other other cars... and becomes Gospel... kinda odd....

[ruppstang]

Oz I do not disagree with much of what you have said. It is true that it your car and do what you want and think is right. But when you bring that car to a show and ask for it to be judged do not expect the judge to look the the other way on something that falls out side of the judging guide lines. Insted tell the judge about the inconsistency and take the point if he chooses to give one and move on happy in the knowledge that you did what you thought was right. 
Rich as nice as I think your car is a point or two will not make much difference in any award you may receive, if that matters to you at all.
That is my 2 cents. Marty

[68 S Code]

Thanks for all the input guys. Oz as you said I did this for me. There are some other things I found which may be against popular belief and questioned. I felt compelled to put back as found. I guess I'll group this finding with those and hope for the best should I decide to show it.

[CharlesTurner]

The one-size-fits all mentality is a fallicy IMHO.... told on one hand not to blindly follow what was seen on other cars, then told "do this" as it was seen on a few other other cars... and becomes Gospel... kinda odd....

Concours guidelines have evolved over time from many diligent folks that pay attention to the details.  Trends are noted and rules tweaked to make them the most sensible.  As myself and others have stated, having no signature on the handle decal is outside of the norm, it has nothing to do with "one-size-fits all."  It is very unusual to find one without it, which is the feedback that was given earlier.  We can only share what we have learned over the years. 

One more thing I will say regarding this is that you can't completely rule out that the handle is original.  It's a wear item that does get replaced sometimes.  It's not that far-fetched to think that the handle could have been replaced and possibly the service replacement had a blank decal on it.  I've seen parts installed in the 70's on these cars that if I didn't have the invoice that showed replacement, I might have thought they were original based on look and patina.

Still respect whatever decision you make regarding this.

[68 S Code]

Marty I'm not sure if a replacement handle would have had an inspection decal. I would guess That would have been reserved for tops being assembled for factory install.