[FWDLK] What's a "Clone" ??

[Wayne Graefen <WGraefen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the generally accepted definition of clone is along the lines Roger
Van Hoy stated, taking one model and making it into another.  When you look
at some of the muscle cars like "Max Wedge's" that are clones on the most
basic models, though, the definition has to also include adding equipment to
make it a more rare and desirable (and VALUABLE) model.  You'll notice no
one takes a Fury and de-trims its Fury attributes down to a 6 cylinder
plain-Jane.

A clone is a car that does not have factory build documentation showing that
it was originally created with the attributes that make it rare, desirable
and valuable.  The documented original car is a piece of history.  History
should not be "re-written".

Yes, some organizations DO care if options are added.  The 300 International
Club judges cars based on their build documentation.  If air conditioning or
tinted glass or exhaust extensions or special order interiors are added,
points are deducted because it is not an accurate representation of history.

Wayne



-----Original Message-----
From: Exner Fan [mailto:xnr_fan@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: 57 Adventurer Cvt - Barrett-Jackson


On a slightly different note, I have to ask, at what
point does a car like an Adventurer convertible become
a clone?

Take a situation like this (this is strictly
theoretical):

A man purchases a 1958 Adventurer Convertible,
completely rusted out but still containing a solid
frame, VIN tag and cowl tag.

This man undergoes a massive restoration of the car's
body in his garage, replacing numerous parts from
other hardtops and convertibles to make it whole
again, this includes parting out a nice Adventurer
hardtop to get the wheel covers, air cleaners,
manifold, etc.

When it's done, he sells it at an auction for big
bucks.

Unsuspecting buyer purchases the car, based on the VIN
matching to Historical records, etc.  The tag says
Adventurer convert. the cowl matches that and the
frame stamping matches as well.

Did the seller sell a "clone" car?  After all, was it
not made up of parts from other cars that WEREN'T
Adventurers (and one that was, albeit a hardtop)?

So this begs the question, at what point does a
Historical documented and accurate car become a clone?

If the '57 Barrett Jackson Adventurer in question had
simply been a rusted out hulk with a matching VIN,
frame and cowl tag that someone had taken a clean '57
Fireflite convert. body shell to create the Adventurer
body again, would it still be a fake?

I am not trying to imply anything one way or the
other, but aren't the only "true" and "authentic" cars
the ones that were never in accidents and never
restored?

Isn't everything else just a clone?

At what point in the restoration does a car move from
authentic to clone?

How many parts can be replaced from other cars before
it is qualified as a clone?

It still comes down to a Buyer Beware philosophy, but
I am curious to know what other people think about
this.

Leslie Howard

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