Restoration vs Rustoration

[Buzz_Kanter]

So a few people have asked us what we meant at American Iron Magazine www.aimag.com, when we came up with the term Rustoration.

Actually the first time I heard it was from Jim Babchak, the Classics Editor at AIM and he was referring to when a rusty old bike is left alone cosmetically but fixed up mechanically. Instead of calling it a Restoration, the rusty looking bike was called a Rustoration. Not sure if Jim made up the name or repeated it to me.

Over the years we have run features on two Rustorations so far in American Iron Magazine - a 99% original but rusty 1924 Harley-Davidson JDCA, and a mostly original 1965 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead Electra-Glide. Both were done at Wheels Through Time muesum www.WheelsThroughTime.com.

[flathead]

Thanks. I was wondering about that but didn't want to be the only one to ask.

[zaih05]

Ok, then what is a Crustoration?

[Chris Haynes]

It is the are of camouflage. Making something look like something it is not.

[Buzz_Kanter]

Originally Posted by zaih05

Ok, then what is a Crustoration?

A Crustoration was the next step when we took a shiny bike with many new aftermarket parts and replaced the shiny reproduction pieces with crusty original ones and then refinished the bike to look crusty, like it was recently dragged out of a barn.

So we have done Restorations, Rustorations and Crustorations to various older Harley-Davidson motorcycles in American Iron Magazine www.aimag.com.