Looking for Authenticity How far to go?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by LMH

That's true... but that's where the hobby actually is! To have a replica more accurate than most current originals!

Larry

Au contraire mon frère.

The "numbers matching" and "date code" crowd are a dying breed. Most newcomers could care less, including me. I'm not paying "you" an extra dime for a correct wiring harness, Toploader, dated coded sideoiler/Hipo 289 or Smiths' gauges. Most buyers look at a Superformance or Backdraft and say "looks great to me" and buy it.

IMO, there's a "Law of Diminishing Returns" when it comes to the "originality" of a replica. But whatever toots your horn.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Au contraire mon frère.

The "numbers matching" and "date code" crowd are a dying breed. Most newcomers could care less, including me. I'm not paying "you" an extra dime for a correct wiring harness, Toploader, dated coded sideoiler/Hipo 289 or Smiths' gauges. Most buyers look at a Superformance or Backdraft and say "looks great to me" and buy it.

IMO, there's a "Law of Diminishing Returns" when it comes to the "originality" of a replica. But whatever toots your horn.

I know what you're saying but I think what we've hit on is Cobra person vs Hot Rodder. For a Cobra guy, he wants a Cobra but is bank-account-challenged! (I fit in this category!) Only a close replica is going to give him the experience of owning an original, which is his ultimate goal. A Hot Rodder doesn't care. The car kind of sort of looks like a Cobra and it's fast! That's the hobby for him.
Larry

[MAStuart]

Larry and all. No one is going to let me flog there original car. I have never wanted a kit car. I want the experience of driving an original car on the track. I have to think that some of the kit cars can drive circles around some of the original cars. Knowing that some kit cars may preform better in terms of braking, handling , speed......... I am ok with that. I am scratch building a Daytona coupe as close to original specs as I can . Now some think scratch building is buying a frame from so-n-so and a body and all the parts from someone else. To me this is putting one together with parts. Building an aluminum body from scratch is harder to do than I originally thought. Not the metal shaping but just trying to find the info of where the joints in the body should be . When I get done if ever I will have a pile of junk that will fool some cobra experts. I will be asked many times if it is a kit car. I will say....... if a pile of metal tubing and aluminum sheet is kit car .

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by MAStuart

Larry and all. No one is going to let me flog there original car. I have never wanted a kit car. I want the experience of driving an original car on the track. I have to think that some of the kit cars can drive circles around some of the original cars. Knowing that some kit cars may preform better in terms of braking, handling , speed......... I am ok with that. I am scratch building a Daytona coupe as close to original specs as I can . Now some think scratch building is buying a frame from so-n-so and a body and all the parts from someone else. To me this is putting one together with parts. Building an aluminum body from scratch is harder to do than I originally thought. Not the metal shaping but just trying to find the info of where the joints in the body should be . When I get done if ever I will have a pile of junk that will fool some cobra experts. I will be asked many times if it is a kit car. I will say....... if a pile of metal tubing and aluminum sheet is kit car .

Any time you start with anything more than iron ore and bauxite you're building a kit car.

[MAStuart]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Any time you start with anything more than iron ore and bauxite you're building a kit car.

Hey your right! I told one guy I could not afford the land to mine the ore and make the tubing. Same thing with the plywood for the buck. One guy just could not understand how you could drive a wooden car when he saw my buck.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by LMH

I know what you're saying but I think what we've hit on is Cobra person vs Hot Rodder. For a Cobra guy, he wants a Cobra but is bank-account-challenged! (I fit in this category!) Only a close replica is going to give him the experience of owning an original, which is his ultimate goal. A Hot Rodder doesn't care. The car kind of sort of looks like a Cobra and it's fast! That's the hobby for him.
Larry

A “Cobra guy” is a “dying breed.”

I consider myself a “Cobra guy” and could have built an accurate replica. I could have spent another $25,000 (a pure WAG) making my Kirkham accurate, but: a) the ROI would have been 10 cents on the dollar, if that, b) 1 (“you” the builder) out of 1,000,000 could actually notice any difference and c) no replica (anything built after 1967) will ever be an original.

However, if “you” the builder derive fun from those tiny details, then more power to you. But I’ll need to remind “you” the builder, if you’re building your authentic replica from fiberglass, then “you” the builder missed the most basic and essential detail of building an accurate replica.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

A “Cobra guy” is a “dying breed.”

I consider myself a “Cobra guy” and could have built an accurate replica. I could have spent another $25,000 (a pure WAG) making my Kirkham accurate, but: a) the ROI would have been 10 cents on the dollar, if that, b) 1 (“you” the builder) out of 1,000,000 could actually notice any difference and c) no replica (anything built after 1967) will ever be an original.

However, if “you” the builder derive fun from those tiny details, then more power to you. But I’ll need to remind “you” the builder, if you’re building your authentic replica from fiberglass, then “you” the builder missed the most basic and essential detail of building an accurate replica.

Well you've almost got it! If you think the "A Cobra Guy" is a dying breed, you haven't spent enough time around original cars/owners. (yes, I know you're referring to originalist replica owners though)

Totally disagree with you about aluminum bodies vs fiberglass. An original car having an aluminum body is NOT the essential detail that makes it original and a replica using an aluminum body is the same way. The essential detail (visually) on a replica would be it's shape, not the material it's made of. Besides, no originalist would ever polish a body of aluminum. Always paint and in original colors. On my car, I haven't decided which way to go, aluminum or fiberglass. For aluminum, it somewhat depends on who makes it and the buck they have to make it on. Chassis is the same either way. But the point is that the body material isn't THE main aspect of a replica as doesn't change the experience of what it's like to drive an original car. It's the chassis, suspension, steering, brakes, etc.

The research on how the cars were made has been the best part of it all though! The tiniest details of every aspect of original cars IS the hobby and I hope goes on and on! (thank you Dan!)

Larry

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by LMH

Besides, no originalist would ever polish a body of aluminum.

My motto for both life as well as aluminum Cobras, if you got the body, then flaunt it.

And if you’re “originalist replica” owner, an oxymoron BTW, then IMO fiberglass is a big fail. If you’re purchasing a replica, without buying the alloy body, then what’s the point? Date coded blocks, original wiring harnesses, toploaders, Smith gauges, etc. is moot.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

My motto for both life as well as aluminum Cobras, if you got the body, then flaunt it.

And if you’re “originalist replica” owner, an oxymoron BTW, then IMO fiberglass is a big fail. If you’re purchasing a replica, without buying the alloy body, then what’s the point? Date coded blocks, original wiring harnesses, toploaders, Smith gauges, etc. is moot.

After all these years, I do understand your post! Don't get me wrong, love aluminum but...
Does your car have tube steel suspension and Koni coilovers? Girling calipers and solid disc rotors? Slip joint axles? Cam Gears steering rack?
If it doesn't, what's the point?

Larry

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by LMH

After all these years, I do understand your post! Don't get me wrong, love aluminum but...
Does your car have tube steel suspension and Koni coilovers? Girling calipers and solid disc rotors? Slip joint axles? Cam Gears steering rack?
If it doesn't, what's the point?

Larry

The point? I’m NOT an “originalist replica” owner. Never will be. You are. I’m a hot rodder with a beautiful bodacious body.

I wanted VERY light and powerful. And I wanted the best manufacturer IMO. All that other stuff would just weight me down. Unwanted “body fat” as it were.

I have no AC ID plates and no Cobra badges. The only identification or badges that I have on my Cobra say Kirkham.