Russell's quest for authenticity extends to preserving imperfections in a design. But the welds are in good condition, so Russell will leave them alone. Moreover, he will use obsolete manufacturing techniques if they are needed to re-create the look of the original precisely. However, Russell is quite willing to use modern methods if they will save his customers money without sacrificing authenticity of appearance. He eschewed the original technique for stamping the Ferrari logo, a prancing horse, into new bolts for the Barchetta, because it would have required building expensive machinery.
T HERE is always tension between preserving and consuming an artifact.
The perfection of Russell's restorations heightens this tension, especially because he likes to see his clients drive their cars. Russell is enough of a driving enthusiast that he once took a course in vintage-auto racing. One customer asked Russell to drive his Mercedes Gullwing in the 1986 Monterey Historic Races , ten laps around the track at Laguna Seca, California. When Russell tells the story, a touch of regret creeps into his voice. I put the equivalent of five thousand miles' worth of wear on the car in just that one race.