[tom406]

I agree with Kevin S. on this one. The "problem" if you want to call it that, is the depletion of rare date coded parts for the authentic cars that "deserve" them. Now anybody who pays the money gets to do whatever he/she wants to do (Turn that NOS ZL1 block into a coffee table stand, whatever), of course. But when folks start buying date coded correct stuff for a clone, it just seems like a waste. I mean you may have a carb date coded to the car, but the car's supposed to have a 307 and a powerglide, so who cares? And since you're building a clone, why not use the best parts that work and look right, rather than the "original" parts. I've heard of guys using real COPO rearends in their clones. WHY? So the one guy in 100 who crawls under your car and reads the codes gets a surprise?

The only upside is, when some of these guys go nuts building their clone with correct parts, the clone can later be purchased as an excellent donor for a "real" project car.

This isn't a bash on clones - I've got a '66 Shelby clone in my possesion as I type this. But I'm not out chasing NOS tires for it or anything. I'm not even hunting down a Shelby-correct '66 t-10 4 speed. I'm putting a t-5 5-speed in it so I can have my cake and eat it too. Vintage Shelby appeal on the cheap, and reasonable cruising on the freeway with 4.11's. And nobody looking at the car as it goes down the freeway will care one way or another about my tranny.

JMO,
TOM