Is There Value in Making a 'Clone'.
I read all of these posts and I agree with everyone which makes what I am about to say ...kinda more of the same... just like a bellybutton
but here goes
1. IF anyone is in this to MAKE money they need immediate induction to a mental hospital. Even the cars on BJ are almost always sold or traded for a LOSS!!! if not break even!! yes 1.5 million can be a loss if you have 2 or 3 into it! And trust me, they pretty much do have more in than what it sells for. Especially if someone did it all for them and most of those BJ folks dont look like they know one end of a screw driver from the other.
2. I live near Woodward just outside Detroit been here All my life 57yrs now grew up racing wrenching watching and doing this.....I can almost tell you by smell/sound what just drove by behind me....BUT to this day I cannot spot a numbers matching car at even 5 MPH!! so I say, IF IT LOOKS HOT and RUNS HOT, IT FREEKIN IS HOT!!! end of story
3 IF you want profit, do not think of your classic in terms of dollars & cents, think of it in terms of driving a slice of history, that can snap your head back thru second gear and is still a really fun way to meet people (especially women) THINK of profit in terms of how much fun it brings you and how many people OOOh & Ahhh at your handiwork, there is tons of "profit" in driving enjoyment and pride of ownership and accomplishment.
4. IF I cant drive it , it aint worth spit to me!!! If you want an investment that you just look at, theres way more money/profit in ART!
5. Really the only difference between a decent "clone" & a "true" formula S
( for example) is that Chrysler assembled one and YOU assembled the other with the exact same parts that Chrysler used...frankly aside from the little tin tag, I dont see any difference.... Parts is Parts, Chrysler does not have any magic dust they sprinkle that makes their formula S superior in any PHYSICAL way. It simply means they identified that particular Barracuda SHELL, the exact same SHELL used for every Barracuda made, to have a 4bbl V8 with a lil stiffer suspension as it went down the line so the humans( like you) that were building it knew what parts to put in/on it, thats it...if you used all the same parts, you are driving a FORMULA S, not a clone made by a different company, a Barracuda assembled by you to Formula S specs is a formula S Barracuda. Take off those little tin tags and I defy anyone to be able to tell the difference!
6. In 1970 Chrysler built approx 652 cuda hemi coupe's....and only 14 cuda hemi convertibles....last year, 2009 I saw a parking lot off Woodward that had roughly 200 plus Mopars, approx 50 of which were 1970 convertible cuda hemi cars.....every one of them, fine as wine...... WHO cares!!! back to my ...original statement....
IF IT LOOKS HOT and RUNS HOT, IT FREEKIN IS HOT!!! followed closely by...if it looks like a Hemi, sounds like a HEMI, runs like a Hemi, is in a 70 cuda convertible... it AINT A DUCK! It's a 70 HEMI CUDA CONVERTIBLE, plain & simple, with or without tags.....the cost to build either was likely exactly the same, just like the parts they both have... same same parts is parts.
7. OK OK OK
I will concede if you start out with a very very clean survivor that is virtually rust free and happens to be a 6 banger, it does have a purist value that is more centered on preserving original integrity and will likely draw attention from an enthusiast that has interest in that specific car
.I agree.
I also know for every ONE of those particular enthusiasts there are at least 100 that would prefer that car had a 340, 727 & 8.75 355 posi
.. so YES you can likely draw decent $$ from the ONE enthusiast
.. and should you change the motor to a 340 set up, likely draw decent $$ from any one of the 100 that prefer the 340 config. Personally I would rather have 100 people looking to purchase than trying to find the one purist
but that is just me.
Build what you love, love what you build, drive it like you stole it, fill your senses with the power and excitement, enjoy the ride.....that car belongs to YOU....if "they" dont like it, sell it to "them" and they can PAY to make it the way they want it! Otherwise they need to quiet down!! LOL