If you want to build a copy of a "Movie" car or something else do it!! .....Just don't go batshit crazy making it "Correct"...

I talk to many enthusiasts who'd like to copy a "Movie" car or something else but worry it would cost so much they couldn't possibly do it. Now I mentioned the one-off factory-built manual transmission BMW 733I driven by Jason Statham in the original "Transporter". Yes, if it could even be done-converting a 740i  from automatic to stick would be astronomically expensive. However-the 540i Sport models have the same V8 as the 7 series and were available from the factory with a 6-speed manual!!  So if you want to live out your "Transporter" fantasies-start looking for a stick-shift 540i !!  If you want a "Bullitt" Mustang clone-you don't need to spend $25,000+ on a for-real '67-68 390 GT.  Buy a 289 Fastback and play with that. Torq-Thrust mags and a Dark Highland Green paint job and you've got the look.  Since it's a fake anyway-you could swap in the engine and 5-speed tranny out of a '90's fuel-injected "5.0". Or buy a nasty 351W crate engine from Ford SVT or Blueprint engines. Want to play "Magnum P.I?"  I see 308 / 328 GTB / GTS Ferarri's for anywhere from 25-50 grand all the time, depending on mileage and condition. That's not chump change-but I'd much rather spend 40 grand on a for-real Ferarri than 100K+ on an "Eleanor" clone!!  Or you can hop up a base-model. I've talked before about a friend who bought a 6-cylinder / 3-speed '69 Camaro at an auction back in the '80's for $900. A mild 350, a Saginaw 4-speed, a cowl-induction hood, some Rally wheels and paint and emblems-and everyone "oohs" and ahhs" over his "Z/28". Total investment-$ 3,500!!  Even 30+ years ago that was unbelievably cheap. With only 697 built you can't touch a 1969 T/A for under 100 grand. But 15 grand will buy you a nice example of the other 115,000 V8 Firebirds built that year. Year One, Ames,NPD and other places sell the scoops and spoilers, hood tach if you want it, etc to clone a Trans-Am. It's a fake anyway-so who cares if it's a 350? Or if you just "gotta have" an RAIII or RAIV spec motor-It wouldn't be that hard to find a 400 if you wanted one,put some Edelbrock heads and other goodies on it, and even with paint work and everything for less than 25K you'd have a car that no one would know wasn't the real deal unless they checked serial numbers or you told them!! And it would still be big fun to drive. Ditto for a '65-68 GT350 or GT500 Shelby Mustang. Tony Branda and other companies sell the body trim. You could hop up a 289 or swap in a 347 crate motor for a cool "GT350". Want a GT500?  428s are hard to find-but 390s are plentiful and externally identical. Edelbrock claims 452 hp from a 390 with their "Performer RPM" package. That'll get you down the road quickly!!  The point I'm making is you can have a fun toy for not a lot of money if you don't go crazy. Don't scour the galaxy looking for an overpriced "Li'l Red Express" pickup with a smog-dog E58 360. Buy a '74-79 Dodge 1/2 ton, put a stompin' 440 in it with dual-quads or a Six-Pack,( or a 472 Crate Hemi!! ) paint it monochromatic black and get a license plate that says "TRMNATR"!  See what I'm saying?  Mastermind