Is a car that has been resprayed original? New interior? Engine Upgrades? Dial restorations? Shock absorbers? Cars tend to progress with time and technology, even "original" ones. A 60's racing cobra in original specification would never live with the "original" historic racers of today, but they are classed as originals.
So I would suggest that originality is a totally personal issue and perspective.
My point though was that who should place themselves in a position to judge what should or should not be done to a car? What is correct or incorrect? Again I feel they are personal issues. You and I may have our views, but they are ours. The man who placed his bid may have different ones and if he wants to place his hand in his pocket and buy the car and renovate it any way he wishes, good luck to him. If someone wishes to place their own preferences onto a car then they would be advised to place their hand deeply into their pocket and buy it.
I live in a Victorian house, but I have made the improvements of a fitted kitchen, central heating and a lovely bathroom and shower. It may not be original, but I bet the guys who lived here over a hundred years ago wouldn't have complained.
I for one really enjoy looking at the MKIV's on concours day. They all have personalities, some of which reflect their owners and others which are production differences. Over the years of manufacture specifications changed, carburetors gave way to fuel injection, Aluminum gave way to CRS. head rests were added, then there were Lightweights and Superblowers. Dash boards changed and so did wheel diameters. They were not all different, but they varied from car to car sometimes depending on what was available. Add to this owners improvements and I find it the most enjoyable section of all the AC's. None of the other models of the Marque have the same progressions. This was undoubtedly due to a rapidly changing world of technology that Anglis was embracing along the way.
So I raise a glass to the MKIV in all it's guises, and I make the toast "Vive la difference!" It is what it is and they are what they are. But in the modern world they still stand out as a thing of beauty and a car of character.
So to whoever was the buyer of that particular MKIV I wish the best of luck and may it be what he wants it to be.
These cars are for owning and enjoying. Anoraks are for rainy days!
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