Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Historic Vanwall to return

I had a mate once who always used to say you should never own a car that you couldn't prang into a ditch and write off, his logic being that if it owes you money, you'll never really be able to enjoy it. A bit extreme maybe, but I can see his point.



Indeed, and at least it's (hopefully) giving work to skilled engineers.

Agreed & I admire the skill to build them.

Although there seems to be a bit of a bandwaggon for these 'reps', but I try to see the positive points of income for UK auto specialists, and some (hopefully) spinoffs of training youngsters in classic skills, etc

I say good luck to them. If they can sell them to enthusiasts to enjoy how ever they want then whats not to like?

Thats the question of course. There are so many of them now and in multi millions per vehicle. So who are these people who are happy to cough up so much for something they cant use? Or do, as I suspect, the businesses start off with high hopes but gradually fail and die?

I see that Aston are making rebuilds of the Bond DB5 complete with most gadgets - the smoke dispenser throwss out steam, the bumpers work for ramming but the ejev=ction seat isnt installed and the machine guns are de -activated though whether they will be for Texas is a different matter. 3.5million a pop and not road useable.

Especially when the people most likely to be annoyed are the money-obsessed who are concerned solely about values.

Even a "continuation" is a replica. I have no problem with that as long as it is a reasonably faithful replica, or if it is declared not to be a replica but "inspired by" or "in the style of".

What I do not like is the idea that these machines be allowed to race as though they were the original classics. Modern metallurgy, enginering, machining, and treatments make the reproductions much more powerful and reliable than the originals. Examples of this are the Matchless and AJS modern race bike replicas.

If I had the money I would love to own many replicas. I could never afford the original and there is always the big question of whether or not you can risk driving a valuable original. To be honest it is the style that interests me more and in many cases I could accept a modern reliable engine in a replica but I would never pretend it is an original.

There were many owners of Bugatti T35s that had replicas made by Mike King as the original cars became too valuable to use.

They were fantastic all aluminium bodies with very often Triumph 6 cylinder engines or Jaguar xj engines.

Also Teal cars made very acceptable Bugatti replicas in the 1980s often with MGB engines..which matched the hp of the original Bugatti T37

I agree about the continuation cars not racing against originals for the reasons above. Same for kits. They tend to have modern parts as original spec is unlikely to be available. The Morgan race series have tight Class rules to distinguish set ups. Lord March keeps originality and provenance as a rule. No problems with that but, it could be an idea to have some limited recreation/kit cars from top end suppliers as a separate category for show purposes.
A showcase/boost for the industry and another little earner for Goodwood!

I think they are pretty pointless as they can't be used much but essential to keep the skills going to repair the "real" ones that do get raced.

They are far nicer to look at then say a Veyron or any of the other modern day pointy looking creations so on balance they are a good thing.