Looking for Authenticity How far to go?

[Chicagowil]

I used to be involved with Porsches. The question you raise as to "what's too far" was a common issue with purists. It got to the point that if you did not have the right tires on a daily driver- some owners would look down on you! I would remind them that Dr Porsche was one of the original "hot rodders". The same is true of Shelby. Even ars varied from car to car as to what was available from his suppliers and what would work better from experience. Shelby would have not used the 260 if the 289 had been available. The same way he swapped 427s and 428s. It was always about performance, cost and availability of components.

If you like a specific car and its exact features- copy what you like and substitute better components where it does not matter to you that its not exactly the same.

I am in fact finishing a CR1 which is not even close to the original for size. But at 6'2" and 220 lbs, an original is too tight a fit to be comfortable. I remember not fitting in my first ride in an original as a teen, much less now in my 60's with an artificial hip! But I am still in love with the overall lines. And I can now fit rather then just admire from the curb.

To sum up- there is no "bad choices".