Restoring Back to Original or Uniquely Customized?

At least once a year it seems, I get an email from "movie makers" looking for vintage vans in original condition to play a bit part in whatever production they are working on.  They have been filming up around the San Francisco area, Los Angeles and as far away as New York.  It would be a nice gig, getting to spend a couple of days on a movie set and making a little cash at the same time...  But as most of them are making "period pieces", they INSIST the vans appear stock just as they were back in the day.  


Well now days, those vans are getting rarer and rarer as most enthusiasts are restoring their vans, but putting thier own "something special" on them and making each one truly unique.  And who can blame them?  I myself can't resist taking a second or third look at a van with a mural or theme graphics painted on it.  And if the inside theme matches, that's a bonus! 

The time, work and money involved in bringing these early vans back to life can be staggering...  It is something to be admired and respected at no matter what level of restoration or customization.  Very few vans actually ever get "completed" even after years of working on them.  Why?  Because even though it looks done to many, the owner may have some upgrade, new mod or "finishing touches" in mind after he/she gets home from the show!

So you rescued a van from the crusher, or found one abandoned in a field/garage/barn somewhere...  Do you intend to restore it back to it's original glory?  Or will you create a gas powered work of art on wheels unlike any one has seen before?

I look forward to your comments!