Let's start a thread of cars before the restoration started & after it was finished. Regardless of how nice it turned out. As long as it looked better when done
I have redone two cars.
The Pontiac I bought when I was a kid. My son & I restored it about 15 years ago and he has it now.
When the 'bird was finished I bought a Duster and did that myself - for the most part.
An original 1948 Crouse-Hinds traffic signal removed from Woodward Ave in downtown Detroit and redone in original colors with original "smiley" lenses. I'll have to dig for the before shots.
Sorry, don't have a good before... Just imagine a very original car with a few scratches, door dings and a heavily damaged left fender.
*(found the pic that kicked off the resto. Wheel came off after being driven home from storage. Theory was that someone tried to steal a tire and didn't finish. Amazingly, didn't get loose the entire time on the expressway (40 miles) and collapsed on a side street at low speed.)
Eventually, I did return the OE stripes and wheels (before I sold it)
This is the 65 I am the caretaker of, It's my Father-in- Law's and some day it will belong to my youngest son.
It was done when he purchased it. The PO gave him the pic's of it before/during the rebuild.