Survivor

[HK1837]

Been seeing the use of Survivor lately. Here is the definition as used at the 2010 Monaro Nationals. The term originated in the USA with Corvette owners, to try to preserve the original "time capsule" cars thar couldn't qualify for factory authentic due to faded paint etc, and were being ruined by being resprayed. It is a judging class you will see used more in Australia in the future hopefully. The  next to the word SURVIVOR was a registered trademark logo that didn't copy and past across, so read it as that.

SURVIVOR CLASS


The primary objective of the creation of a new class labeled SURVIVOR* is for the recognition of the growing number of largely untouched Monaros more than 20 years old that exist. Until now, these cars have been included in the Factory Authentic class where the focus is on as-built correctness allowing original examples to compete against recent re-built examples. A car deemed to have SURVIVOR status could often be used as a benchmark for all other classes where the emphasis is on factory original correctness.

A growing interest in as-built condition has seen the number of vehicles entered in Factory Authentic increase – many of these are cars that are largely un-restored. When a true “survivor” makes an appearance, all eyes are on the car as it has the unique ability to take one back in time. Sight as well as smell can do wonders to the memories of those enthralled in the magic of such a car.

The SURVIVOR class will cater for the Monaro owner who has ensured the past has been transported to the present in terms of a Holden Monaro. Often through an unusual set of circumstances, a specific car has escaped the ravages of time in one way or another. The vehicle could a low-mile low-use example or it could be a car that has been meticulously cared for during its life.

This class has the potential to be the most challenging in regard to qualification and as such the clarification/definition of the class is quite involved.


Clarification/Definition

A ‘Survivor’ vehicle shall present as largely unaltered from as-built factory condition. It must be at least 20 years old and retain the original driveline as well as at least 50% of the materials and components used on the assembly line during the original manufacture process. 50% of original finishes accurate enough to serve as references for restoration of like vehicles must be present. ’Survivor’ vehicles act as a time capsule for the future preservation of the Monaro marque.

The clarification/definition states a figure – 50%. 50% means ½ as a minimum as used in the context of describing a specific area of the vehicle. For the judging process, the vehicle will be divided into four (4) areas and the 50% figure is applicable to each area.

SURVIVOR class vehicles must retain at least 50% of the original Holden assembly line finishes (paint, fabrics/materials, plating) that would be considered accurate enough to be used as a reference for the restoration of similar Monaros.

Judging Criteria

The vehicle will be judged in four (4) areas namely – Exterior (excluding wheels); Interior/Boot; Under bonnet; Vehicle underbody (including suspension and wheels). Each area of the vehicle will be judged as one component and a decision made as to whether that component remains at least 50% un-restored, un-refinished, un-recovered or unaltered.


* SURVIVOR is a registered trademark of Bloomington Gold.

[Vombil]

great buzz word to add value to those rusty piles of pg13 on ebay huh

[HK1837]

If they are rusty they would rarely be classed as survivors as rust isn't a factory finish. Some minor rust will pass, but rusted out sils and cowls most likely wouldn't.

[wbute]

50%???????? Surley thats a bit loose? I see it includes 50% of the "plating".
A survivor car has remained as it was from the factory in original paint. Not rusted out and still good enough to breeze through rego. I don't know what every one else thinks, but that description above covers any old crap wagon.

[Robbo]

I don't need to read through a document to know what a survivor is. The term has been around for as long as I remember, and I have attended plenty of car show's since 1973. For some clown to trademark the word "survivor" is just absolute crap. I just find it hard to believe, in my day car and van show's used to be fun. What a sad turn of event's, anyone with a survivor car like the 3 XY GT Falcon's, will have to get permission to call them survivor's now.

[HK1837]

It is the description used by Bloomington Gold in the USA for Corvettes, and has spread to other marques. It doesn't cover rubbish, the car still has to retain 50% of its original paint, trim, underbonnet etc. Anything replaced starts reducing the %. My Premier barely qualifies and it is in very good condition. But it has had some things replaced, like water pump, some hoses, radiator (early on with a genuine one), head gaskets, muffler, mudflaps, tyres, shocks etc. In some areas it is down to 55-60% factory original.

[Beast Master]

How about we trade mark "Original Unrestored" "Barn Find"

[V6HQUTE]

It is the description used by Bloomington Gold in the USA for Corvettes, and has spread to other marques. It doesn't cover rubbish, the car still has to retain 50% of its original paint, trim, underbonnet etc. Anything replaced starts reducing the %. My Premier barely qualifies and it is in very good condition. But it has had some things replaced, like water pump, some hoses, radiator (early on with a genuine one), head gaskets, muffler, mudflaps, tyres, shocks etc. In some areas it is down to 55-60% factory original.

geeze is it that strict, i understand paint/interior but hoses and headgaskets, thats like saying you cant enter your 35+yr old car becasue it doesnt have its original oil

[Taily]

It is the description used by Bloomington Gold in the USA for Corvettes, and has spread to other marques. It doesn't cover rubbish, the car still has to retain 50% of its original paint, trim, underbonnet etc. Anything replaced starts reducing the %. My Premier barely qualifies and it is in very good condition. But it has had some things replaced, like water pump, some hoses, radiator (early on with a genuine one), head gaskets, muffler, mudflaps, tyres, shocks etc. In some areas it is down to 55-60% factory original.

I never quite looked at it like that but see your point. My HJ ute, albeit (two owners of the one family) with a total of 167,000km on it, has had possibly too much work in some areas to now qualify by that criteria outlined. In my 13 years of owning it (so far), along the way (and at different times) I've replaced all the front end bushes, all the ball joints (bar LH upper), reco-ed the power steering box, replaced front and rear shocks (including high lift rears), tie rod ends, pitman and dunno how many idler arms - and that is just the front end! I would think that ANY original fitment upper or lower inners of the early to late 70's still fitted to any HQ-WB being even semi-regularly driven would be beyond shagged by now....

My original fitment 308 has also had the heads done up in 2007 to accept hardened valve seats while I was replacing the cam and lifters that had finally chewed a lobe after 32 years, and while I was there replaced most (not all, the two heater hoses into the heater box still bear GM part numbers but I couldn't answer if these were replaced or not by my grandparents when they owned it) of the hoses, water pump, timing cover (corroded out from sitting for so many years), belts etc etc. It does have the original fine core H/D radiator (in that paperwork I sent you about it Byron) that was opened-up around 10 years ago and just needed rods run through it and a lick of paint after being put back together.

While around 70-75% of my body colour paint would be original, where the black-outs were covered-up in 1975 before delivery is still apparent, especially now I've actually gotten busy on stripping it down, most notable around the front doors and in a couple of spots where the paint was blended in around the rear guards/overspray under the ute tub. The ute was delivered like that and I must say I've been fortunate enough to be able to keep the old girl mostly covered or in a garage/shed while living around the top half of the country over the past 10 years so it has kept its shine.

I've always looked at mine as an original vehicle, especially having known the vehicle all of its life and looked after its needs mechanically since the mid 80's. I feel a bit different now thinking about just how many components (that have been fitted as direct replacement of the parts removed) that are original or direct replacent for original but because those components were not delivered on the vehicle originally... Hmmmm, I feel that the strict criteria of "x% of everything must be original" might apply more to an "Original Unrestored" category, but I guess they could call it what they liked. Difficult criteria to meet if you're fair dinkum about it. But I guess they would have to come up with something. Good on them for doing it.

[wbute]

Ah it takes the joy out of it for anyone but the trophy hunters. You can't have a survivor car and not maintain it. That includes using aftermarket parts where genuine original were no longer available.
I think the totally unused vehicle category and the survivor category have been confused here.