Sometimes we make our own style. Since I consider myself a high-ranking member in el-cheapo club, some of my "rust repair" is professional. I salvaged the good front fenders off my 92 parts truck, and am sanding/rattle-can them for my 94. It looks great... from across the parking lot.
It's a style! A symbol the old truck survived "xx" amount of years.
With enough power to keep up with my brother's bmw 325i, it puts a smile on my face every day!
Who cares if it looks raggedy? It's paid for and does what I need! With all the safety crap and nonsense sensors on newer vehicles, I'll keep the old gmt400 going, because I actually can!
That tape, those paint runs on my fenders? That's character! It's a sign: "paid for, still going strong, and I fixed it myself"!
I'll ramble a bit here. I only ever did mechanical work, never touching body stuff. My truck is my education. With nothing but common sense and a GED, my rolling education is proof of my growing abilities. Today's individuals seem more concerned with paperwork, like educational degrees, than actual proof of ability. At the end of the day, I can pull into your driveway with proof of my ability, rather than a piece of paper that says "I was taught things from a book". Mine looks redneck fabbed because I made the mistakes on my own. Now I know what not to do next time!
Enough of my rambles! Y'all are great!