What does unmolested mean to you??

[stutt66]

I'm just curious what unmolested means to you? In my opinion unmolested means the way the car left the factory. Of course maintenance may require worn out part to be replaced.
I just see so many adds on this site that are titled unmolested 911 for sale. Then you read the description and there's a list of updates or after market parts. For an example, I saw an add I believe it was titled unmolested turbo. Then the description said complete with updated chain tensioners and covers. Well isn't that molested?
What your opinion? Inquiring minds want to know!!

[Trakrat]

It's a horrible term used to describe a car that has not had anything modified, upgraded, or altered from the original design.
While parts that failed may be replaced, they were replaced with the exact same part from the manufacturer.
The important thing to think of here is that parts that are prone to fail should have been replaced to the same parts that are prone to failure.

Another way to think of it is that... nothing was added or done to the car to make it appear that the car was owned by someone. It's also expected that the car was not driven or used in a manner that it was not intended... not tracked, dragged, rallied, etc...

[yelcab1]

To me: unmolested means:

Factory equipment, with reliability upgrades (if done at all) such as better head studs or chain tensioners, all maintenance up to date and not deferred, paint or repaint in 9/10, interior clean better than 8/10, original wheels no BBS crap, no failing components (such as throttle shaft bearings out of whack on your Webber carburetors.

Molested means: after market wheels, after market bumpers, bumperettes removed, flame jobs, turbo where there was none, coil over shocks where there was none, roll cage, big ass shifters, cut out to allow engine drops, door pull straps where a handle was supposed to be, after market fender flares or slant nose, 3.6 conversion, 3.2 conversion, bypass pipes for cat converter, weird exhaust, 2-1 exhaust with a cut out valence, and many more.

[ossiblue]

Well, I'm going to post before the jokes based on your title start to flood in.

I would consider the chain tensioners and covers a desired upgrade rather than a "molestation" though, technically, any change from factory specs could be considered a "molestation." In that same vein, a 2.7L engine with time certs to prevent stud pulling would be considered a desired upgrade rather than a molestation.

To me, a molestation would be a change beyond a bolt-on that is not easily reversible either because of the type of change or the cost to reverse. Addition of flairs or any sheet metal changes, incorrect interior for the year, non-matching engine and/or transmissions, panel cuts for speakers, would be examples of molestation, to me. Even bolt-ons (or bolt-offs) would be considered a molestation if they changed the original appearance of the car--ie. aftermarket wheels or removal of factory pieces.

If you want a "factory correct" car that has some defects due to the technology of the day, then any change from factory could be considered a molestation. Outside of collectors, however, most enthusiasts don't consider the upgrades you listed, along with others like Carrera oil coolers and tie-rods, as a molestation, IMO. If the car you describe is all original--paint, body, interior, engine, tranny, etc.--and only had the tensioners and valve covers changed, I would not consider that a molestation at all.

[theiceman]

unmolested to me means a museum piece . and i wouldn't want one. i agree with yelcab. I would want any reliability upgrades done.

[manbridge 74]

It usually means someone is trying to sell you.

[KTL]

Well I would strongly argue that updated chain tensioners (and hopefully updated wider, bushed chain idler arms too, because the un-bushed idler arms are a known failure point that was often improperly stated to be chain tensioner faliure) is definitely not molested. That modification is a proven and accepted fix designed by Porsche. Porsche actually issued a technical bulletin recommending the updating of the tensioners. That said, old tensioners can be rebuilt and made less failure prone with some other means of attention.

To continue using parts that have been identified as problematic or less reliable, simply because they're what the car was originally equipped with, is a dangerous game of chance in my opinion. But if it's just going to sit in a garage as a showpiece and never be driven, which is a shame in my opinion, well then by all means keep it as original as possible if that's what floats your boat.

I would consider unmolested as something that can be easily reversed, with the caveat that the original parts are still on hand. My former '87 911 was pretty much all original. But there were some things I wanted to change. However I always had in mind that whatever I did needed to be easily reversible, should I ever sell the car. So I kept all the parts I changed-out and when the time came to sell, I put it all back together mostly like it originally was. One upside to that modify-then-de-modify adventure is that the next owner received a massively cleaner car inside, out and underneath, than he would have gotten had I not done all those things to the car and then un-did them. I just can't take dirty stuff apart and put it back together dirty.

Opinions vary. I personally believe some folks need to adjust their perspective on fixes or modifications done to these cars. Sure it's a highly regarded car. But please don't tell me what I can and cannot do to my car. If you don't like it? Too bad and I say please look elsewhere for your 911 purchase because i'm not going to discount the price simply because our beliefs don't align. However I completely understand that the recent market craze tends to value originality far above all else.

[BE911SC]

It means that the person choosing to use the term sees a modified car as having been mistreated by someone against its will. It is, to me, a derogatory term with a sarcastic element meant to show disdain for a modified car.

mo·lest
məˈlest/Submit
verb
1.
assault or abuse (a person, especially a woman or child) sexually.
"he was charged with molesting and taking obscene photographs of a ten-year-old boy"
synonyms: (sexually) abuse, (sexually) assault, interfere with, rape, violate; More
2.
dated
pester or harass (someone), typically in an aggressive or persistent manner.
"the crowd was shouting abuse and molesting the two police officers"
synonyms: harass, harry, hassle, pester, bother, annoy, beset, persecute, torment; informalroust
"the crowd molested the police"

It goes along with the sexual terms "virgin" and "cherry." It's still a virgin and hasn't lost its "cherry." Thus, it is more valuable.

What do we want? The virgin original. The one not molested by the hands of some careless brute. Why? Because we want to be the first one who gets to do that.

I'm talking about cars. (Get your mind out of the gutter!)

[Rawknees'Turbo]

"Unmolested" means a performance car that has had its spirit and intent disrespected by having been left it its remarkably neutered, full of compromises, as delivered state.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

"Unmolested" means a performance car that has had its spirit and intent disrespected by having been left it its remarkably neutered, full of compromises, as delivered state.

Agree. But if you go to the car auctions and even classified ads you'll see that those cars pull the most money. Not that money is the be-all and end-all but the term "unmolested" tends to be most often used when one is trying to sell their car and maximize the profit.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

^^^

Ya', I know how the term is typically used, but can never pass up an opportunity to sling feces at how backwards that concept seems to me.

Similar to how some people proudly trumpet, "bone/box stock", like that's a good thing - weird!

[Gamecock]

"Unmolested" is pure puffery by a salesman trying to get attention.

[garm]

I don't count things like wheels and bolt-on changes, where the car can easily be returned to original stock condition. Must have original motor in it or with it.

My car, for example, isn't a candidate.

[911 Rod]

The opposite of outlaw.

Realtor's are calling houses with an unfinished basement as an unmolested basement. wtf?

[kent olsen]

Here's molested and abused!

[KTL]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

What do we want? The virgin original. The one not molested by the hands of some careless brute. Why? Because we want to be the first one who gets to do that.

LOL well said!

[Matt Monson]

I ignore buzzwords like molested or original condition and look closely at the details of the ad and the actual condition of the vehicle. It's so subjective, as the discussion of whether or not tensioners are a molestation, reveals. You are buying the car, not the description.

[quattrorunner]

Raped.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

Raped.

I've used that term in my years of 1st generation Camaro ownership. American musclecars in general.