Fake '68 Formula-S on Ebay!!!

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68340fish

68340fish

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Just a "heads up" for all my A body brothers & sisters. Just saw this '68 340-S convertible on Ebay for sale. Item #280160059308. This is NOT an original 340-S car. Not listed as a dreaded clone, but it should be. Just because it has emblems stuck on the fenders (incorrect placement) does'nt make it one! Decoded fender tag & it is a 318 2 barrel car. No vin # shown or listed. Also has some '67 parts on it: dash bezel, dr door, etc. Under fuel type this ''person'' has it as steam. Wow that must be RARE!!
 
I will report it & see what happens. With that "buy it now" price the seller MUST know its not original, so why mislead people into thinking its something that it clearly isnt???
 
It sold for a hair over 12 grand. He didn't call it a Formula S he said "this engine is a correct 1968 motor,it has the S emblems on the fenders" he being honest but still a bit shady at the same time. Not coming right out and saying it's not a Formula S. Trying to nab up some $$ by someone that comes across it at the last minute and sees "Formula S" still dirty to me.
 
I asked him for the first 5 of the VIN and if it was an original 340-S car.... His responce was S emblems only. I don't think you can stretch the truth much further. He didn't lie about the car, and he didn't come clean about the whole truth. IF the car is what he said it was ( I mean as clean) it's a good deal. I wouldn't trust him or buy anything from him though.
 
Yeah I was looking at it too. I noticed it did not have a 8 3/4 rear end in it. Then I started to look a little closer at the listing. He was very careful how he worded everything. He did not actually come out and say it was a real formula S 340 car. He was being sneaky if you ask me. It was still a decent car and a fair price, but origionally I thought it was a steal till I started looking closer. Dave.
 
He called it a "1968 Plymouth : Barracuda 340 S" in his listing which is about as far as you could go without being called a liar.
 
Dread is paying the 'for real' price for whats actually a clone then having those gawkers at shows who walk the extra steps lick the wheels on a 'for real' and then turning their noses up at the tasteless clone.
My definition anyway :)
 
For me it is the word "clone" like they are trying to make it sound better. I like to call them what they are, "fakes" or at least it is what we (the people that had the real version of the car they were faking) called them in the late 70's and early 80's. It really sucks to have the "real" one at a show and some dork comes up to you and says "my buddy has one of these" so you check it out and it is a fake. Or the best one, "These aren't that rare I just saw one the other day". I actually had a guy tell me this once when I owned my GSX's. These guys are why I no longer own these rare cars and just build my play cars out of the plain jane models. So there is my little insite to the "dreaded clone". Yea, I admit there is a little bit of sour grapes on my part.


Chuck
 
The car I ended up buying was listed as a real 340 Formula S. He was a motorcycle guy, and took the car on trade. I called for the VIN before I looked at it. It was a 318 car. Whoever had it before him had a Formula 'S' badge on the trunk trim panel.

I still bought the car because it was in great shape & had a nice running 340 six pack in it. The drivetrain had been improved too.

I'm sure somebody must have told him it wasn't a Formula S before I got there. I didn't bother to mention it because I just wanted a good solid car that didn't need tons of work. I can't do stuff like I used to.

Sellers really need to be honest, and do their homework. I just hope the buyer realized he wasn't getting what he thought was a Formula 'S'.

"buyer beware" again.
 
Lets assume thats its not 100% the real deal,but if you are taking the position of,wanting to get just a super clean car to fix your way,I would buy it yesterday.Can you build that car ,that way for 12.5G,even if,its not the real deal.If your plans are big block,you don,t give a rats *** about the power train as its going to be sold,and the 440/426 is going in with the banjo diffy or dana.Have no problem buying this car,as all the true info is on the fender tag,and in the vin,and the bottom line is if you want a daily beater to start a personnel project your way,NO BRAINER,I just spent 1/5 of the total project budget,mrmopartech
 
I guess my take on the whole clone thing is different. I couldn't give a @#$% if it's a clone or not. If no one has altered the VIN then it's no fowl in my book.

I certainly don't think a clone should receive less consideration at a regional show just because it's a clone or should matching numbers mean anything either.

In the case of A-body Barracuda's there is so little unique content in a Formula S it's hardly worth considering.
 
dgc333 said:
I guess my take on the whole clone thing is different. I couldn't give a @#$% if it's a clone or not. If no one has altered the VIN then it's no fowl in my book.

I certainly don't think a clone should receive less consideration at a regional show just because it's a clone or should matching numbers mean anything either.

In the case of A-body Barracuda's there is so little unique content in a Formula S it's hardly worth considering.
Click to expand...

I agree...there's no wrong in building a clone as long as you tell the truth when asked. If it looks IDENTICAL to the $100k trailer queen sitting next to it at a car show kudos to the builder! I personally would rather have a clone car so that I can actually enjoy it...that means taking it off the trailer and temp-controlled garage ;)

Somebody build me a CLONE '68 HEMI Barracuda!

As long as prices keep going insanely out of control people are going to build clones...that I do not see changing anytime soon.

Jim
 
dgc333 said:
I guess my take on the whole clone thing is different. I couldn't give a @#$% if it's a clone or not. If no one has altered the VIN then it's no fowl in my book.

I certainly don't think a clone should receive less consideration at a regional show just because it's a clone or should matching numbers mean anything either.

In the case of A-body Barracuda's there is so little unique content in a Formula S it's hardly worth considering.
Click to expand...

Didnt mean to offend anyone, I just prefer having an authentic model of something, even if it is just a lowly, "not unique" Formula-S. Maybe I should get rid of it & buy a camaro or mustang.
 
The problem is people like I explained earlier don't know the difference so they treat it with the same respect as the real thing which is crap. You guys that say it is fine kill me, you want Mopar to build muscle cars again yet it really doesn't matter if they do because you will just make fakes anyway so what is the point of a real one, see the catch 22, or maybe you don't. If you want to put a hemi in a Barracuda fine but why do you have to make it look like it is a real hemi Barracuda, must be a low self asteem thing I guess. Like I stated before I knew that this fake thing would only get worse before it got better that is why I decided to bail out and sell my real muscle cars.

68340fish, you have no reason to apologize to these type of people. If you own a real one kudos to you.


Chuck
 
I personally don't care whether a car is orginal or a "clone". However, I do look at the VIN and if there's an E,P,N,M or H, I like it even more :)

Grant
 
340mopar-Chuck you are the man! A quick story that is relevant to this subject--In the late 80's when I was around 20, I went to a cruise/show here in western Pa in my first '68 Formula-S fastback. The restaurant parking lot where it was held was packed with cars. People were standing shoulder to shoulder watching the cars coming in. The mass of people were literally inches away from the idling cars. When I pulled the Barracuda into the lot I stopped next to this young kid & his father. The kid got a great view of the "S" emblem on the right front fender & when he saw it his eyes lit up. He said "look dad a Formula-S, WOW!" That is something I'll never forget. That same kid now would probably say "look dad a Formula-S, I think, wait let me go check the VIN #.
 
I guess the real point (as someone stated) is if it is a clone car,LET IT BE KNOWN.Trying to sell a car as a original if it is not is BS.I am building a 70 Dart which in alot of ways will be a 340 clone car.I will be proud to say that is is not an original 340 car,and that I built it this way.Just one look at the dash should be able to tell you that it is not a 340 car,or the 360 on the front of the block.:???:

Picture 540.jpg
 
Johnny Dart said:
I guess the real point (as someone stated) is if it is a clone car,LET IT BE KNOWN.Trying to sell a car as a original if it is not is BS.I am building a 70 Dart which in alot of ways will be a 340 clone car.I will be proud to say that is is not an original 340 car,and that I built it this way.Just one look at the dash should be able to tell you that it is not a 340 car,or the 360 on the front of the block.:???:
Click to expand...

Amen brother!! Engine looks Awesome!!:rock:
 
Jeez guys. A cool car is a cool car. Good work is good work. If a guy has a fake or a clone, that doesn't mean he's a dork. If you're offended by someone having a clone because it gets confused with your real thing that's your problem. You probably have some insecurity issues you should deal with.
 
Johnny Dart said:
I guess the real point (as someone stated) is if it is a clone car,LET IT BE KNOWN.Trying to sell a car as a original if it is not is BS.I am building a 70 Dart which in alot of ways will be a 340 clone car.I will be proud to say that is is not an original 340 car,and that I built it this way.Just one look at the dash should be able to tell you that it is not a 340 car,or the 360 on the front of the block.:???:
Click to expand...

Agreed, mine could be considered a clone then, I don't care. Putting Formula S badges on it would be wrong, it's not. Same goes for new cars, say a Charger V6, putting a Hemi, or RT badges on it is dumb. That can also be applied to GM's and Fords.

There is nothing wrong with building a car the way you want it. There is, if you try passing it off as a rare, or sought after model. Just my 2 cents.
 
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