Opinions on Replicas/ Clones

[Hwy145]

What are the prevailing opinions on replica tributes? Probably the only chance of affording a nice/ well-built HEMI car…

 

[fesser]

 

[Don selleck]

I always try to find one with a pedigree, that way you can maybe get your money back, or more if it appreciates if you sell it. but if you plan on keeping it doesn't matter.

 

[Don Frelier]

Follow your dreams.

 

[WileE]

Three words: GO FOR IT ! Three reasons: 1) it makes YOU happy 2) don't have to raid fort knox to buy it 3) you're not afraid to drive it.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I always try to find one with a pedigree, that way you can maybe get your money back, or more if it appreciates if you sell it. but if you plan on keeping it doesn't matter.

And if you look at these cars partially as an investment that's the best strategy... But it also means you need to spend ore on the way in & you'll always have the value of the car in the back of your mind which might limit your desire to drive the car, particularly drive the car hard...

I own numbers cars & I own a clone.... I jump in the clone a lot more than any numbers car... In my opinion it has a higher fun factor cause I don't worry nearly as much...

So it's your choice, future value or fun factor...

 

[68BabyBlue]

I always try to find one with a pedigree, that way you can maybe get your money back, or more if it appreciates if you sell it. but if you plan on keeping it doesn't matter.

No one likes to think about ultimate disposal, but one way or the other, the car will be sold. I was fortunate to find a reasonably priced, numbers matching Hemi GTX on this site. I bought it, and drove it home. At the time, I still owned Baby Blue, not restored, so that car saw way more miles. I sold the Hemi to a member here when I bought my current GTX, and decided to downsize. That real Hemi car actually cost me less than a clone in the long run. It was an easy sale, because the car had a good pedigree, but wasn't top tier concours level with colors, options, or degree of restoration.

 

[33 IMP]

I doubt I'd drive a $250k original hemi car much, for fear of losing it to an idiot. I'd drive the wheels off of a $50k clone.

 

[Davefinan]

I’m ok with them if they are done well and are difficult to tell that it isn’t the real deal. I don’t like the half baked stuff.

 

[Don selleck]

And if you look at these cars partially as an investment that's the best strategy... But it also means you need to spend ore on the way in & you'll always have the value of the car in the back of your mind which might limit your desire to drive the car, particularly drive the car hard...

I own numbers cars & I own a clone.... I jump in the clone a lot more than any numbers car... In my opinion it has a higher fun factor cause I don't worry nearly as much...

So it's your choice, future value or fun factor...

No one likes to think about ultimate disposal, but one way or the other, the car will be sold. I was fortunate to find a reasonably priced, numbers matching Hemi GTX on this site. I bought it, and drove it home. At the time, I still owned Baby Blue, not restored, so that car saw way more miles. I sold the Hemi to a member here when I bought my current GTX, and decided to downsize. That real Hemi car actually cost me less than a clone in the long run. It was an easy sale, because the car had a good pedigree, but wasn't top tier concours level with colors, options, or degree of restoration.

I doubt I'd drive a $250k original hemi car much, for fear of losing it to an idiot. I'd drive the wheels off of a $50k clone.

Some people like to look at numbers in there bank account, I like to touch my investment, its pretty cool. I refer to it as my 401 Mopar. I'm redoing an AAR right now keeping the outside as a driver so I will drive it. I Want people to see this car driving down the road, its insured heavily and if something happens I'll just fix it. I had a very nice 68 RT Charger, silver could not even drive the car way too nice and silver is a bitch to match if something happens.

 

[Don selleck]

I drove the car around last summer before the engine died, and most asked question was "is it a real AAR"

 

[68BabyBlue]

I drove the car around last summer before the engine died, and most asked question was "is it a real AAR"

With one exception, my GTXs were numbers matching restored or well preserved originals, and I drove every one of them, three of them to Carlisle. I've never owned a car trailer. I also started getting the question, "is it a real one?" when I bought the A33 car in 2016. The first three were just old cars, 1977 to 1998. I didn't change my habits after the prices went up.

What's ironic, is my insurance costs for covering six figures worth of real cars was lower than I paid for my $1500 daily driver in 1977.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I drove the car around last summer before the engine died, and most asked question was "is it a real AAR"

My green Challenger is 100% numbers matching & when I restored it back in 95 it took a few first places at Concours & Mopar type shows... It was done to a very high standard... But I drove it to every show & I drove it where ever & when ever I wanted... Thirty years & 100K+ miles & It's still a nice car & worth more than I have invested... But I still feel better jumping in the Red Challenger clone...

 

[65hemi]

A real hemi car is beyond my reach so I built my 65 inspired by the A990 cars. I don’t claim that is real but I get asked all the time.

 

[Hwy145]

A real hemi car is beyond my reach so I built my 65 inspired by the A990 cars. I don’t claim that is real but I get asked all the time.

View attachment 1896977

And this is what I’m looking at, but it’s a Dodge A 990.

 

[66 Cornpicker]

I agree with WileE, I built a 63 Savoy Max Wedge that makes more power than a real one did in 63 and I drive it everywhere around town getting groceries, beer and mainly GAS ! I love it ! hence my bumper sticker "PLEASE buy an EV, I NEED THE GAS" Always a big hit wherever I go

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I drove the car around last summer before the engine died, and most asked question was "is it a real AAR"

BTW I love your AAR & I'd drive it too.... I'm not saying nobody drives the numbers cars obviously many do... But many don't as well...

Add to that I know of clones that never get driven... I guess it depends more on what you want to do with the car...

I don't care much for static displays, Car Shows while I do attend a few really aren't my thing...

I prefer to drive my cars, always have... And there are so many crappy inattentive drivers these days I just feel better driving a car with less value...

Yeah, insurance can pay to fix it but in recent years just finding a shop willing to fix a classic has become very difficult...

 

[R413]

Clones are great. Have your dream car for partial money of a real one. Problems come in when:

Fake fender tags and documents are made trying to make it appear real. The current ownerr says I would never try to pass it off as real, but the next owner (flipper) will.

When a guy builds a clone and later tries to say it's real. A guy did that with a bird. I ran into him where he lives 200 miles away and he said it's a clone, fast forward a few years he comes to my area to a show and telling everyone it's real. I asked him about it and he said for me to prove it isa clone, or it's real. I brought up the fact that of it was real he wouldn't have covered up the VIN tag.

 

[moes]

nothing wrong with clones. I got one. You can get in them and drive the wheels off them and not worry about the paint getting chipped or putting miles on them. The problem happens when guys try to pass them off as the real deal.

 

[Lefty71]

I own numbers cars & I own a clone.... I jump in the clone a lot more than any numbers car... In my opinion it has a higher fun factor cause I don't worry nearly as much...

These cars were made for beating on lol.