"Clone" doesn't mean to the nth degree...and a zillion dollars.....

Talked to a guy the other day who claimed to have 80K in a 1968 Shelby GT500 clone. I said-"Why didn't you just buy a real one?" "I've seen some needing restoration for as low as 25K." "I saw a nice driver quality one for $44,500 in Hemmings, and I've seen concours show winners for 50-70K."  " No offense, but if I was going to drop that kind of cash, I'd want the real deal."  "None taken." "I thought I could build a clone for about 25 grand, but it just kind of snowballed." What this guy did was buy everything to make a Shelby GT500  "Just as it left the factory". Except it wasn't a Shelby, it was just a garden-variety 289 fastback Mustang that he was starting with. "Do you know how hard it was and expensive it was to find a 428 and a Top-Loader 4-speed with 1968 date codes?" "And then I had to have them rebuilt." "And I had to chase down the clutch linkage because the base car was an automatic." When I pointed out that any junkyard 390 from 1963-76 would look just like a 428, and with help from Edelbrock-( Performer RPM Heads, cam and intake ) could run like one, and that there were automatic GT500s and that using a junkyard or tranny shop C6 or FMX automatic would have been a lot easier and cheaper than the 4-speed conversion, or that he could have used a BW T10 for a lot less money if he had to have the stick, he was stunned. "But it wouldn't be right!" He wailed. "I hate to break this to you, but it's not right now." "You still don't have the Shelby serial numbers, so if you ever want to sell it, no one's going to pay 80 grand for a fake, when you can buy a real one for 50!!".  He had paid 3 grand for a real Shelby steering wheel!!  Grant and other companies sell aftermarket wheels that look just like the real deal for about $200!!. This caused me to think that I needed to address this topic. Let's say your dream car is a 1969 Pontiac Trans-Am. Only 697 were built, so unless your willing to cough up 40 grand on up, as they say in mob movies "fughetaboutit."  However, you could buy a nice 350 2bbl powered base-model 1969 Firebird of which over 110,000 were made, in really good condition for around $6,500. For a couple grand you can buy the T/A hood, fender extractors, and spoiler from Year One. 14 or 15 inch Rally II wheels are the proverbial dime a dozen at swap meets. Another grand or so for a decent Cameo white paint job, another $500 for the body shop to apply the stripes, and for 10 grand, your car looks to all but the most discerning Pontiac fan just like an ultra-rare '69 T/A. A factory or aftermarket 4bbl carb and intake, a mild cam, dual exhaust and a shift kit in the TH350 ( unless you got a 4-speed model ) will give it the balls to back up the look. And you'd be in it maybe 12 grand tops. If you wanted to be a real badass, spend another $7500 for a 550hp Butler performance 455 Pontiac "Turn-Key" crate engine, and it's way faster than anyone could ever dream, and your still under 20 large. Way better than trying to find a "real" one for 50 grand. But, if you do like the Mustang guy, and try to hunt down a for real 1969-70 Ram Air III or  Ram Air IV 400, with the correct heads, intake, carburator and exhaust manifolds and Ram Air air cleaner and ducting, dash or hood tach, original steering wheel, shifter, and a 1969 date-coded "Rock Crusher" M22 Muncie 4-speed or TH400, you'll either be severely disappointed, that you can't find the parts, or you'll have more money in it than it would cost to buy a "real" one!! See what I'm saying?  You can buy a 68-70 2dr Coronet or Satellite pretty reasonably. Any 1967-78 440 will do with a stock-type rebuild, a Mopar Performance or Crane "Blueprint" 440 Magnum cam, and Summit Racing sells the manifold, the carbs, the linkage and the air cleaner to make a Six-Pack setup for about $2,300. Depending on what you paid for the base car, you can have a "Six-Pack" Road Runner or Super Bee clone for about 15-20 grand. Less than half of what people want for the "Real" six-Pack Models!!  Again, if your hunting down a '69 vintage 440 / 6 anything, good luck. It's like the Cobra Replicars running a sideoiler 427. It's nuts, The car's a fake, everyone, especially the owner / Builder knows it;s a f ake, so why didn't these guys enjoy driving a unique car and go on with their lives Mastermind