I'm a car guy too, and have decided that it's the difference in use life. The car has a very limited use life since it begins to wear out from the first moment of use and gets progressively worse rather quickly when compared to the life of the owner. A gun OTOH will normally last several lifetimes if cared for, and so its battle scars tend to be somewhat charismatic and even legendary at times.
I think J.D.'s above statements define the situation pretty accurately.
And if you follow the historical "collectors' groups" of both cars and guns......the pinnacle of cars is an all-out accurate restoration. They have shows and awards for such.
In the gun world, a well-cared for period piece likely has more appeal than the same having undergone a complete restoration.
And of course we also adhere to a "culture" that likely existed before our interest. Guns frequently fall into the same category as antique furniture.......the less you attempt to restore beyond functionality......the more value they retain.
If money was no object, which would you likely restore......Clark Gable's Duesenberg (already been done BTW), or Jack O'Connor's Model 70?
The respective cultures likely dictate you do the car and not the gun.
