When is a replica the real thing?

[stu-bee99]

I am thinking of making a supersport replica, if i were to use one of the original major components it still is not valid as a real super sport.

 

Now if i were rebuilding a classic aircraft as long as i use one of the major components it would be registered as the original. Even if i built the rest of the aircraft from scratch!

 

Thought i would throw this one out for discussion.

[stephens_xpack]

I suppose it needs to have been made from new from the factory to make it the real thing and I think thats right. But there is nothing wrong with a good replica, they still command good money if made well, but still a big difference between being made in the factory in say 1972 as opposed to being made in your garage in 2010 no matter how good you make it. thats my thoughts anyhoo...

[Fiesta Steve]

When the log book says Super Sport, its the real thing, until then its a replica, and when it does say Super Sport it'll be a ringer !!

 

The closest you'll get to the real thing would be to use a 1300 Sport as a basis for your replica although these are now extremely rare and sought after models in their own right. Apparently some 'genuine' Super Sports actually had 1300 Sport in the log book !!

[banarama]

thats true ,i had red one in 1986 it said supersport on the logbook. still nothing wrong with replica,except when you sell it.real mcoy is best.

[stu-bee99]

I agree as there are so few originals about, i will be happy with my replica. It also means i can do what i want without the shame of messing up an original.

[bigglesmk2]

I'd be happier with a good replica than a shit original

[l j shaw]

Some quality replica cars out there, and very close to the real thing, but some are totally wrong.

[Fiesta Steve]

I'd be happier with a good replica than a shit original

 

[In The Pit]

The actual shell and ID is the main part of the car and thats what counts. So by putting Supersport stripes on an L doesn't make it a Supersport anymore than taking an engine from a Supersport and putting it in an L makes it a Supersport. Swapping VIN plates and number plates from a Supersport still doesn't make an L a Supersport it just makes it illegal.

 

Ive never been a fan of replicas, i'd sooner wait for the real thing to turn up.

 

So to answer your original question "when is a replica the real thing?" the answer is "never".

[Fiesta Steve]

The actual shell and ID is the main part of the car and thats what counts. So by putting Supersport stripes on an L doesn't make it a Supersport anymore than taking an engine from a Supersport and putting it in an L makes it a Supersport. Swapping VIN plates and number plates from a Supersport still doesn't make an L a Supersport it just makes it illegal.

 

Ive never been a fan of replicas, i'd sooner wait for the real thing to turn up.

 

But what if the owner cannot afford to buy/run/maintain/insure a supersport but can an 1100 L. Surely its better to look out of the window and see the car of your dreams sittng thier rather than a clapped out 'L', and wishing you had a Supersport, don't see the problem, as long as the owner never trys to sell it as the real deal.

[stu-bee99]

Its all down to a peice of paper!!

[stephens_xpack]

Agree with Fiesta steve.

Don't have a problem with a replica as some people make them spot on and mechanically and body wise better than some of the old originals that are about - as long as they don't then try to sell them on as the real thing.

Some cars are just too rare and expensive to ever get the real deal so why not build your own to look like it?

[rsminter]

to me i dont care if its a replica or the real thing its the car that matters not what it says on the log book at the end of the day the name is just what ford called it. theres a lot of originals out there and a lot of replicas and due to the amount of money,time and care by the current owners some of the replicas today are far better than ford could have ever have produced from the factory.

[Yeomans22]

i'm turning my 1100l into a 1600 sport replica, main reason is genuine ones cost loads, and most have had all the major pannels replaced, where my 1100l in nearly all original,

 

there are alot of re shelled rs2000s, sports etc to so you might not even be buying a genuine one either,

 

genuine or replica its still an old ford, ands thats what we all like so it doesn't really matter aslong as you enjoy it.

[.pete.]

theres a fella down the road from me with a white Supersport sitting in his front yard but he won't let me buy it. It's going green as it's under a tree, bits are missing and it's not moved for over a year at least. I'll try again to speak to him after I get the Cortina finished.

 

I've just thought, the logbook is probably worth more than the car then.

[105Nick]

I'd be happier with a good replica than a shit original

 

Damn right! My brother spent 13 years building his Cobra replica, and once its painted I doubt anyone could tell it from an original, though with genuine S/Cs worth millions at least a true petrolhead can own one, as all the originals reside in some sheik's collection. And it can be driven, without the fear that 'I'm gonna smash (or get a stone chip) up a million quid car.

 

And remember how much ex-works RS1600s are going for? Roger Clark's Famous Esso Blue (LVX 942J) and the Cossack car are still seen at Goodwood etc, yet Esso Blue was rolled once Ford sold it on and I recall an article on the Cossack car by the guy who restored it saying he re-shelled it and cut the original battered shell in half before loading it in a skip ... So although the numbers match ... might as well say they're just very good replicas

[Vista]

Who on here has been down to Portsmouth and done the naval museum tour?

 

Well, this is the oldest commissioned warship in the world and I for one always get a sense of history everytime I step aboard................the truth however is that very little of her is original as there is only one deck of original timber left. Does that make her original? Perhaps restored? or even a replica?

 

The truth is I don't really care which she is as she's still a major piece of history and mighty impressive to look at. I apply the same philosophy to classic cars.

 

Also worth bearing in mind is that in many cases (though I accept not all), the shells are the same and it's the bolt on bits that make the difference between a base model 2/3 door and the hot version that everyone really wants.........so 25 or so years on, except to the anoraks, does it really matter what it says on the log books?

 

[stu-bee99]

Thanks guys, glad i kicked this one off. Its refreshing to see a good discussion these days

[moredoorAsh]

At the end of the day its your motor and its how you want it to look that counts. If you can look out of your window and drive down the road with pride you've done a good job, the majority of people won't know the difference.

The previous owner of my escort had it stickered up as a mexico, i'm gonna keep it that way as i think it looks smart, to every one on here its plainly obvious its not a mexico but i had 3 people in 1 day remark about my "mexico" but didn't notice it had 2 extra doors

[Grizzley Dell]

all that matters is weather you enjoy it. geeks will say different but fook em. if you love it then no one elses oppinion matters.

[X FLOW EDDY]

I am bulding a mk2 escort 1600 sport rep out of a 1300 L 2 door, the main reasons for this are

 

1,

 

Carnt afford a genuine 1600 sport

 

2,

 

The chances of finding a half decent one in this day and age are next to impossable.

 

Replica cars are ok in my book as long as they are done well, just banging a pinto and some stickers on a 2 door escort does not make it an RS 2000 !!! At the end of the day 99.9% of people will never be able to tell the difference between a good rep and the genuine thing.

[antz]

to me a supersport must be built on a supersport shell. then its original.

 

if its built from a 100cc shell but using a supersport logbook and all the original parts its still not a supersport as the ID goes with the shell and the shell is dead.

 

One shell, one id. Changing ID's and reshelling makes it a replica in my mind.

 

Anything that says HAD A RESHELL to me means its not the real thing.

[Vista]

to me a supersport must be built on a supersport shell. then its original.

 

if its built from a 100cc shell but using a supersport logbook and all the original parts its still not a supersport as the ID goes with the shell and the shell is dead.

 

One shell, one id. Changing ID's and reshelling makes it a replica in my mind.

 

Anything that says HAD A RESHELL to me means its not the real thing.

 

But if it's reshelled into a supersport shell with no ID does it remain the real thing even though the ID goes with the shell and the original shell is dead? (I quote)

[rallyesport04]

cant see the prob myself some replicas are made to look like the real thing at a glance and some reps go deep into detail welding additional parts and fitting rare parts the only thing that winds me up about reps is when people say this is a real supersport/rs etc when its clearly not. good reps are not the easiest things to do to look real be proud of your hard work

[In The Pit]

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that too many replicas make the real thing less desirable, there are plenty of MKI Mexico replicas out there but not so many of the real thing if you go to a show that has 5 Mexico replicas and 1 real thing for the owner of the real car it takes the shine off owning it as jo public just say "theres loads of Mexicos left I had an L now they are rare". If Escort fans go to a show and see an RS1800 its good because there aren't many about however if there were loads of RS1800 replicas turning up at every show knowone would bat an eyelid.

 

With most things collectable be it cars, art, cigarette cards whatever its rarity that makes them desirable.

 

Personally I don't think theres anything wrong with having a car the same spec as the model you want but I just think its dumb putting the badges on and telling people or letting them believe its the real thing.