Carchaeology (Post # 23)

Almost every day I am reminded of the parallels between archaeology, my vocation, and carchaeology, my avocation.  the similarities are broad and deep.  Broad in the sense that both deal with old objects that need to be researched and restored so you can show them to the public and explain their significance.  Deep in the sense that the physical and chemical processes involved in stabilizing the artifact and preventing further deterioration are exactly the same.  Then there is the element of research.  In both archaeology and carchaeology we are dealing with things made in the past that we are bringing back to life. 

Archaeology

Most of our archaeological work involves objects that have been submerged in seawater for centuries, like the cannon below.  That's a pretty harsh environment but under the right conditions all sorts of things can survive in surprisingly good condition.  We call the condition they are in when found their "state of preservation."  We call what we do to the objects after recovering them from the sea "conservation treatment."  Different materials require completely different types of conservation treatments.  All of this applies to old cars as well. 

A bronze cannon fresh from a shipwreck site in its natural "state of preservation."

The same cannon months later following extensive conservation treatments
including pressure-washing and electrolytic reduction .

What do you do when you have an important artifact but parts of it are missing?  This is where research comes in.  The bronze cannon provides a good archaeological example.  The cannon was in great shape, but the iron, wood, and rope artifacts that made up the cannon carriage were gone.  We knew that in order to maximize the visual and educational impact of the cannon we would need to reproduce the missing pieces.  Using construction plans for cannon carriages of the period found in French archives we were able to replicate all the missing pieces authentically. 


The same cannon months later, after extensive historical research enabled
us to replicate the carriage, ropes, pulleys, iron hardware, deck and
gun port necessary to put the cannon in its proper context.

Carchaeology

An old car is like an archaeological site. All its bits and pieces are the individual "artifacts" that make up the "site."  Before going to the trouble and expense of restoring a car, the carchaeologist, just like the archaeologist, should have a pretty good idea of what the final product will be.  If not, there is a good chance the project will drift toward the path of least resistance and lose sight of the goal.

I'm at the stage now where I cannot proceed without finalizing my vision for the Alfatross' future. Because the Alfatross is already well on its way to some form of restoration, and the "preservation" mode is not an option, there are three basic paths to follow:

1. Restore for concours competition,
2. Restore to a somewhat lower standard for participation in actual classic car driving events,
3. Or restore and modify to suit my own personal driving and enjoyment preferences.



Option 1 is to restore the Alfatross to a very high standard down to the last nut
and bolt, foregoing performance upgrades and interior embellishments,
establish its previous competition history (if any) and actually drive it
as little as possible.

Option 2 is to prepare the Alfatross for long-distance vintage racing  and
rallying.  Emphasis would be on a reliable, powerful engine, strong suspension
and brakes and driver comfort.

Option 3 is "suit yourself!" Would a small block V8 fit in the engine room? 
How about some 18-inch mag wheels with fat tires?

In all honesty, Options 1 and 3 are not attractive to me.  Judging from the results of concours events I am familiar with, the Alfatross just isn't a good candidate.  Sure, 1900C SSZs are elegant and rare, but underneath that sexy Zagato body they're pretty plain and simple, particularly the interiors.  They weren't star race-winners in period, either.  I'm still not sure how the Alfatross' authenticity compares with its brethren.  It is the most original of the examples I have seen, but there are many that I haven't. 

Option 3 is equally unappealing for the simple reason that the Alfatross is an important artifact--part of automotive history and design--and as such I am responsible for preserving its integrity until it passes to the next owner.  So no hot-rodding allowed!

That leaves Option 2 as the best course for me to follow with the Alfatross' restoration.  It also seems to have been the same choice that many other owners of 1900 Zagatos have made.  So the goals for the Alfatross are going to be :

• restore and re-use original parts wherever possible
• replace original parts where function or safety may be compromised (rubber brake lines,brake shoes, tires, Plexiglas windows)
• duplicate original finishes and materials where originals have deteriorated (paint, upholstery, Plexiglas, rubber and plastic) 
• rebuild engine, drive train and brakes with attention to robustness
• research and document history 

So now that we have a goal . . . back to work!