Patina is defined as a fine coating of oxide on the surface of a metal. The term ‘patina’ is most often used in discussions about collectible artifacts from the past. In many cases, removing the patina from a collectible is a big no-no.
We once watched an episode of the popular “Antiques Road Show,” where a woman brought a nice, shiny Tiffany lamp to be appraised. She polished it up the brass and copper surfaces to a new-looking gleaming lamp. Unfortunately, without the patina, the lamp was worth a small fraction of the antique value.
Patina is not as revered on classic vehicles though. Damsel and I were on our recent vacation when we spotted this old ford truck from the 1950’s. As she was taking this picture she said “I think I need a tetanus shot from just looking at that P.O.S.
Click on the image to enlarge.