Hi Jim, I tend to agree with your mates, it does have that historic look to it and I really like the stripe treatment, it's suttle but efective, the number rondel had me thinking for a second as at first it looked like a huge Gurney Bubble, then I clicked it was a Rondel, I'm a panelbeater by trade (not practiced for over 30yrs) and in the very late 70s early 80s I worked in a custom shop and did all the panel work so made a lot of Roof turrets for Ford Pops door skins and the likes so I know how much work there is in what you have done, My biggest (and best) achievment was a full restoration of a 55 Chevy. I had to make a complete Floor pan from the fire wall to the rear panel and the customer wanted it to look original so I had to make every fold and swage, then the kicker was it was a 4 door and I made it into a 2 door piller coupe so had to make new doors and rear 1/4s I wish I had taken photos..
Anyway back to your car, there is an original McLaren M1C over here that is bare alloy and they have left the body "aged" and it does look good if a little rough for my taste. I know I'm only looking at Photos but my guess is your body looks like it wouldn't take much to get it good enough for a glossy brush finish, not a full on polish but a brush stainless look and then with the stripes and rondels polished in, Just a thought.
Cheers Leon.