Pros and cons of a rat bus

[idris]

I dare say this sounds like a stupid question from an ignorant noob, but forgive me …

I get that the rat look looks kind of cool. That it keeps busses, especially commercials, as they originally were … which is cool. That in a world full of Chelase tractors it's non-conformist … so cool. That patina doesn't necessarily mean mechanically unsound.

But if you cut me in half it would say Frustrated Engineer and my gut says rust isn't cool.

What are the practicalities of living with the rat look? Cost of buying? MOTs? A damp interior?

[nige1171]

Park it anywhere and not worry about scratches?

[pokey]

Mot shouldn't be difficult should still have sorted mechanicals, don't see why you would get a damp interior? Also with the lack of paint it's easier to see what your getting isn't full of filler

[split999]

If it gets nicked there's a likely chance it will get pulled over by the Police anyway?

[paulbugman]

the only downfall i get from a ratty bus ,is people asking me when i`m going to paint it , "not going to "is my answer

[maddison]

stop using the term rat look !!!! its not cool



are you talking about an original bus that showing its age
or
are you talking about a bus that been intentionally made to look in worse condtion than it is
or
Are you talking about a bus , that actually IS a piece of sh!t deathtrap

[Hongkongphooey]

^^^^ This ^^^^

Van with sorted/uprated mechanicals & original paint is the best for me, no worries of shiny paint to get scratched, means I can use it and not be paranoid.

[silversteve]

stop using the term rat look !!!! its not cool

Beat me to it

[clymoj]

There is a difference between a bus which has had a few lower panels restored and blended, waxed to within an inch of its life and kept in a garage...and a bus that someone found in a yard, bled the brakes and is driving what's left of it to work every day.

OK so I'm exaggerating but I have noticed a difference in particular between UK and US versions of terms like 'patina' (rust), 'rust free' (needs welding for MOT), 'survivor' (needs light restoration), 'usual rust' (needs full restoration), 'rat look' (not economically repairable)...

[type21f]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sounds like the OG NOS debate.....LOL

[scottish splitty]

my gut says rust isn't cool.

Hi
Always trust your gut,
plus do you really want to drive about in a van that looks like a piece of .....
Just make it shiny,use it ,park it where you want,if it gets scratched/bashed just fix it(or don't ) .....

[Archie3781]

I was on the fence for a while, looking around at buses and trying to find my next project, after seeing some really dismally finished vans displaying really awful "restored" paint jobs, I started looking at OG buses, then after maybe 5 more overpriced again poorly finished rides, purchased a Californian 65 microbus, with OG paint.
Being a complete perfectionist at heart, I cannot wait till it's ready, with it's faded worn out OG paint, a few dings here and there, plus some life scars giving it real character, and yes I've restored everything bar the body, reusing all the bits it's been wearing for the last 50 years, because it seems right, everywhere I've had the bus it gets admirers, so I'm sold, no more worrying about it getting scratched or door bumped at sainsburys....
Here's a thought, next time you see a totally restored bus, look really close, the ones at a lot of the shows this year, just don't have any life left in them, and seem, well characterless.

[type21f]

For Peebles, I have gone...restored body shiny paint retored interior panels and wood work and pp top. Trying to retain some OG character...
The VW seat covers were beyond saving being brittle but the interior looks well lived in..
So Keep it stock almost..
My 65 is totally OG OG OG, dents dings rust and all...LOL

[idris]

Ha ha! I knew it was a stupid noob question. So today I've learned that "rat look" isn't cool … even if it looks cool. (Oh ******. This is more complicated than I thought.)

I'm surprised there are busses with well weathered, but original paint (I'm guessing that's what OG means) that don't need a shed load of welding to stop the rain getting in, (or filler falling out) but what do I know!

[type21f]

I think there is lo's of sense is mechanical restoration. ..even with a slight upgrade.

Whilst maintaining the original patina and metalwork by blowing in paint to blend into the OG .....

But I do not like purposefully making a bus look rough. ...and so up in. .

But then I am a stock man...
LOL.