Purista Ka Ba Kamo?

It's funny that quite a few of the "new generation" old-schoolers ( I know, it sounds so contradictory), when engaged in casual discussion during classic car meets, will brazenly describe themselves as "purists" who like to keep their car "period correct". For those in the know, that last bunch of words I just put down is already a sign of ignorance on their part. Normally I smile and politely excuse myself, but there have been instances that I've had to put people in their place. So why all the fuss, you ask? Easy. The classic car scene is something YOU TAKE PRIDE in enjoying. It isn't some club you think you can just enter and then try to get away with pretending to know shit by throwing big words with little meaning. It's amazing how many people think they can fool others who actually know the history of their cars and the hobby.
But back to the "purist" topic. Most newbies don't have a clue as to what the word really means. Simply put, a purist is someone who will NOT alter anything on their car. Or if they restore their ride they will go to great pains in making sure that their vehicle will only get the exact parts, making sure the year and, to some extremes, the MONTH of manufacture is correct. Down to the last SCREW. To help explain further, I have come up with a checklist of what a purist's car should look like as explained to me by a concourse car show judge.

1. Are there any added-on accessories on your car, like a non-stock air filter or map light? Sorry to disappoint, but that isn't a purist's car.

2. Got '82 tail lights on your '87 Box, or is that a '74 grille on your '72 Sprinter? You're out of the running bro..

3. Lowered? Forget it.

4. Are those non-stock wheels and tires on your ride? No chance that's gonna win you anything.

5. Any lacking, replaced or incorrect parts, trimmings or emblems? Take your ride somewhere else..

6. Anything added or removed from your car that was or wasn't there when it left the factory? Disqualified!!!

If you did not meet all of the requirements listed, then please don't go around claiming to be a purist, because you aren't one. Most of us, including yours truly, are PERIODISTS. We like to customize our cars using period correct parts, and we normally do not like being tied to such conforming standards of puritanism. Unless you happen to be one of those obsessive compulsive car geeks, but then again if you are, then you probably won't be reading this...

So, still want to be a purist?