Silly question, right? The words 'plastic' and 'valuable' really don't belong together. Think glassfibre and you'll probably conjure up images of manky 1950s kit cars, crummy Corvettes and low-rent AC Cobra knock-offs. Plastic = second-rate, yes?
Even a replica 904 is a near six-figure car
Actually, no. Not only do a surprising number of pukka classics have plastic bodywork, it's also amazing the prices they're now fetching. The most valuable plastic car of all time? It's the uber-rare Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. One of these plastic-bodied beauts sold last year at auction for £1,232,000. If a cool million is unattainable, how about
this gorgeous replica
for an estimate of £75,000 - £90,000?
Produced by Porsche replica experts Martin & Walker, it looks completely authentic - not surprising since moulds were taken from an original 904, and plonked on an accurate steel chassis. The engine is a six (not a four as original), based on a 2.7-litre 911 crankcase with a 2.2 crank, resulting in a 2.5 engine with 220hp. With a weight of 700kg, it should knock Caymans for six.
GRP not exotic enough? Stratos begs to differ!
It's got me thinking about all the other plastic cars 'of value'. There's plenty of pricey plastic crying out for you to flex your very own plastic. Pre-eminent among these is the resin-reinforced
Lancia Stratos
- one sold at auction a couple of years ago for nearly £300K, so the asking price of £475,000 may not be fanciful.
And then you have fiberglass Ferraris. What plastic Fezzas? Yup: the original 308 GTB of 1975 had glassfibre bodywork, although doesn't the Italian phrasing - 'Vetroresina' - sound so much more romantic? Maranello's experiment to save weight didn't last long, so this is a rare sight: only 808 Vetroresinas were made between 1975 and 1977, just 154 of those with right-hand drive. And while prices of steel-bodied 308/328s remain resolutely affordable (such as this £45K 308), the plastic version has suddenly rocketed in value.
Lotus has long been associated with plastic bodies
No fewer than two of 'em are up for auction later this month. The cheaper of the two - a
1977 71,000-mile example
- is estimated at £100,000 - £120,000.
Another '77 example
once owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed, no less - has fewer miles (25,000) but an even higher sale estimate of £110,000 - £130,000.
Classic British glassfibre
And let's not forget that weight-loss obsessive Colin Chapman loved a bit of glassfibre. Many of his early plastic creations will now hit your plastic hard. The best examples of the monocoque Elite are nudging the £100K mark these days, and have you seen how well Elans are doing, too? This fully restored 1972 Elan Sprint is up for £35,000 - £40,000. Makes the Esprit Turbo seem positively cheap at £11,000 - £13,000.
Can't forget TVR in this roll of honour!
Other examples of classic British plastic going under the hammer this month include a
rare Trident Clipper
(more likely a Venturer converted to Ford 289 V8 power), a
TVR Taimar Turbo
Aston Martin DB7
for £14K. Hang on - DB7, plastic? Yup, I once lost a bet to Andy Noble of Caterham Cars on that point - most of its bodywork was not hand-beaten, but lovingly popped out of a mould.
So don't knock plastic - it's acquiring genuine value.