"Patina".....didn't we used to call that rust?

[70']

When did we start calling rust Patina? A buyer used to negotiate a lower price because of rust, but now that it's called patina the seller demands a higher price? People are even intentionally trying to make their vehicles look old and neglected? Lol.....I guess I am just getting too old for all this......

[trac209]

Some guys like fancy paint some don't care. Myself I like to actually use my truck,I don't want to worry about scratches and where I park it etc. tons of trailer queen or car show only trucks around here. Every guy I talk to with those trucks they spend more time inside under a cover than on the road. That said I don't think a patina or rusted truck should fetch near as much money as a nice restored one

[special-K]

Patina isn't necessarily anything to do with rust. It's a time worn appearance. It really just means aged. Antique wood furniture can have a patina, which is what makes reproduction furniture stand out. The origin of the word comes from copper that turns green, which is oxidation. But rust and patina are not one in the same. Faded paint is patina with no rust visible. Most folks only know the word since the trend for the "runs good, needs paint" vibe has become so popular. The worse degree of patina on a vehicle is surface rust, and that's where the confusion lies. I have always liked the time worn look, just like faded jeans. But to pay more for it is ridiculous. It doesn't cost money to not paint a vehicle. It adds appeal, but shouldn't add cost

[Acorn]

I tell my wife that my hair is not turning gray, it's pantina!

I like pantina but I don't like trucks that are intentionally painted to look that way. That's right up there with paying twice as much for a pair of jeans that already have holes in them. You don't have a story to go with em.

['68 Newtricks]

I only consider something "patina" if it has original paint. Anything else is just faked or warn out paint.

[aris_unlimited]

I still consider patina to be rust lol. I see tons of guys that have $20k or more into a ride and leave the body alone claiming "patina", to me it's just a waste. Your body will rust out and you'll need an all new one! Or those guys that pain patina on a car, why bother...

[special-K]

Patina with surface rust is the extreme end of it. The truck has a "rusty patina" would be the proper description. Rusted out is rusted out, has nothing to do with the finish or surface where we see patina. That would be a truck with "patina and rust" or a "rusty patina with rust out" or "body rot".

[hamjet]

It reminds me when I was still living home and every summer(1960s) Dad would take us on vacation to Vermont to look for antiques to bring home and resell. In one antique shop there were these copper weather veins that had that green patina look to them with bullet holes and all. very high priced too. while noseing around the store I happened to look through a door that was left open and there were 5 more weather veins in boxes, brand new copper look to them and bottles of some kind of chemical with rags by a parcially finnished vein. It was about that time I realized not only they were not old, but there was no Easter bunny either....That was a bad year....

[leftybass209]

Another patina thread!? I don't know if this subject is getting patina'd, or rusty and degraded

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by hamjet

It was about that time I realized not only they were not old, but there was no Easter bunny either....

Wait, what? Then who brings me all the candy in the baskets? Next I suppose you're gonna tell me Santa ain't real? Please. I've seen Elf. I know he's real, all the creepy ones at the malls are just helpers.

[46stude]

This hobby isn't "paint by numbers". Its about self expression. A form of automotive art, if you will.

If it's not your thing, move on to the next truck. Seems silly to gripe about it on the ol' interweb.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by 46stude

This hobby isn't "paint by numbers". Its about self expression. A form of automotive art, if you will.

If it's not your thing, move on to the next truck. Seems silly to gripe about it on the ol' interweb.

Yeah....I would have to agree.
I like see the variety myself...and if some trucks or cars go the patina route...great. That makes it interesting...plus some of the detailing that the same line of thinking creates is really interesting and I'm a fan of any creative expression in the vehicle hobby. Now more than ever given the silver potato phenomena that is new vehicle design.
That last thing I want to do on a nice summer night is go to a show'n shine with near identically finished vehicles...thats a yawn fest...and I can see that through the day at the local grocery store with new cars.
I think you can almost (...not exactly...but almost) guess the age of the car/truck owner now by how their vehicle looks. When I see a high quality paint older rod I often guess that its a guy who's 60 (retired?) or more and I'm often right....not that there anything wrong with that.
It would be really interesting to take that type of super high paint/resto/chrome vehicle and turn it over to a bunch of young car guys to see what they would do with it. Sort of like the home make-over shows but for classic cars that seems to now be dated in their restoration.
Bring on the creative stuff guys....and have at 'er.
All Good
Coley

[Matt Cramer]

You can still get rusty beater trucks for rusty beater truck prices. The guy who sold me mine about two or three years ago was asking $2200 for it, not asking for a premium for patina.

[Malamute]

Originally Posted by 46stude

This hobby isn't "paint by numbers". Its about self expression. A form of automotive art, if you will.

If it's not your thing, move on to the next truck. Seems silly to gripe about it on the ol' interweb.

Well said. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

FWIW my '71 is original paint with patina and doesn't have any rust on it. I'd be a fool to paint it.
Rust =/= Patina

[DarkFlounder]

Sure, patina looks good on a blue or green truck. But on my '72 Medium Bronze GMC, it all looks like baby-**** brownish-red.

[Heavymetl]

Patina ia just a trend, which will undoubtedly fade with time (haha).

That being said, I'm loving this trend while it lasts. Paint is stupid expensive and doesn't add much "enjoyability" to an old truck that functions well and gets driven regularly.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Another patina thread!? I don't know if this subject is getting patina'd, or rusty and degraded

It seriously has become a dead horse, yet still continues to get beat.

[jeffahart]

Can I call my dents patina?

[ptc]

Just FYI.....


Full Definition of PATINA

1a : a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color.

b : a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use.

2: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character.

3: a superficial covering or exterior.

[Eddie H.]

I tried to convince my wife that I have patina, but she says that I just look old and worn out.

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by 70'

....I guess I am just getting too old for all this......

i suppose you are right after all

[special-K]

I started off in HS fixing up '50s cars to drive. I went after the mechanics and performance first. I never had my car (same one) good enough for paint till after HS when I was 20. Other guys were buying shiny 5 year old '60s cars and doing the Hijacker,Cragars/L60s, and Thrush mufflers with exhaust in front of rear tires thing (incl. stickers for all that in the window). I'd see them broke down and think,"Those mags didn't make it run any better". I bent a shifting fork jamming gears and people asked, "Why are you fixing that old thing?".

Nothing has changed in all these years, to me that is how you do it and a patina ride is just that. The original hot rods were built to run, with looks coming along later. It wasn't till magazines followed the hot rod trend that most were introduced to hot rods through pretty cars. The right way to build is get it together, run it to work the bugs out, then blow it apart to paint (or cut-in first and paint after the shakedown). The old addages, "Chrome won't get you home", and ,"Runs good, needs paint", both apply here. Once you've built enough cars/trucks/bikes to show condition only to find you don't want anything to get messed up, you begin to appreciate one that just runs good, you can leave parked anywhere and, and leave the folding chair, Hawaiian shirt, straw hats to the rest and just drive your chit. It's that DILLIGAF vibe reflected to the highest degree. It's not supposed to take great effort. If it does then you just don't get it...yet.

Now we see patina rides in shows and even fake jobs. I've won trophies and had my stuff in magazines, but I'm past that now. I dunno, not for me. I like to go to shows, park in the parking area, look around, then go drive the rest of the day while others sit there all day. It ain't me and if it's you that's just fine with me. I'm glad someone does it so there can be a show. I'm into doin' more than havin'. I like them all

[CG]

I didn't bother to look at this thread when it was started, then I see a fair amount of comments so I did a quick skim through.

My take ...The look, or fad, or whatever you wanna call it has been around for a long time. Some people love it, some people hate it, some people don't really give a rip either way. Its a dead horse.

[NTIMID8R]

....individuality......it's what makes the world go round

[factorystock]

Inspect closely when the word "patina" is claimed, dents, rust holes and chewed up sheet metal, which have nothing to do with patina, often are included( at no extra charge) in the deal. Almost as bad as the word "original".