Replica E-Types: why undervalued/underappreciated?
Discussion
My mum's husband had a Wildcat and still has a Challenger. For values, his Wildcat looked similar at a few paces but had a Rover V8 and was a bit rough round the edges. His Challlenger however is the dogs danglies and is far more genuine looking with loads of eType bits a straight fit. But I would not call it undervalued? Probobly worth £15k, and a half decent real one can be had for less than double that I suspect.
If a splash was taken (say from a solid shell awaiting restoration),giving an accurately proportioned body shape, then 'period correct' replicas could be possible, I bet they'd sell.. ? Spaceframe chassis, as for the bonnet people used to replace rusty ones with fibreglass ones decades ago !
Owners of genuine E Types would be p*ssed off of course..!
Paul
Owners of genuine E Types would be p*ssed off of course..!
Paul
I'll have to check out a pic of a Challenger. Iam not into convincing people a replica is real, not at all. I just turn onto classic shapes and if a replica pleases my eye, then I'll be happy to own it. I'd want the correct type of motor,for performance and noise,interior again for period appeal. What others think of it is immaterial. If I ended up with a reasonably accurately proportioned E Type replica, with 3.8 or 4.2 XK motor etc, sound. I would expect disdain from owners of genuine cars, no problem.
Paul
Paul
The corrosion in the E Type rear (box section) body work stems from a lack of wax injection etc, the cars were not adequately prepared/finished/protected, nor were many cars at the time. The bonnet again can rot at the seams and above the tyre spray area of course.
If you crave a large engine in your 'weekend toy'; you will find a way to live with one. Many mere mortals like myself running large displacement American V-8s, I wanted the Shelby Cobra experience in a replica and at 12 mpg you consider; 'I won't be doing 10k miles a year and I may not visit the pub so often, I can justify this.'
A 3.8/4.2 XK motor will be expensive to build, not a job for the average mechanic I guess, and it will like fresh 20/50 in the sump and the correct coolant corrosion inhibitor,but that's no more than any motor should receive.
No need for three Webers, even two 2" SU from a normal XK motor will make a fi glass two seater fly.
As the Challenger is no longer made, there is a hole in the market, imho.
Paul
If you crave a large engine in your 'weekend toy'; you will find a way to live with one. Many mere mortals like myself running large displacement American V-8s, I wanted the Shelby Cobra experience in a replica and at 12 mpg you consider; 'I won't be doing 10k miles a year and I may not visit the pub so often, I can justify this.'
A 3.8/4.2 XK motor will be expensive to build, not a job for the average mechanic I guess, and it will like fresh 20/50 in the sump and the correct coolant corrosion inhibitor,but that's no more than any motor should receive.
No need for three Webers, even two 2" SU from a normal XK motor will make a fi glass two seater fly.
As the Challenger is no longer made, there is a hole in the market, imho.
Paul
My neighbour owns a dark green Challenger and it's a wonderful thing. He's also selling a red Challenger on behalf of his father-in-law. Not cheap but very nice.
http://www.mattscarsandbikes.co.uk/COC/page3.html
http://www.mattscarsandbikes.co.uk/COC/page3.html
ok...this advert is telling us a story bout a replica of a e-type....expected sales price 25000 ono....lots of sellers "expect" a certain sales price...sometimes such cars are advertized for years and finally sold for the 3rd of the advert price, sometimes sold within a few hours for nearly the full price....and the truth often lays in the middle....even it does sound ok ..its a replica and easily revealed as a replica...therefore keeping it in perspective: 12k
I had heard from a club member that a Wildcat was used in a TV series with Jonathan Ross (which I assume to be the series Extras). There is an E-Type shown in a very short scene with Ross and Ricky Gervais in it in one episode. I looks identical (barring the different reg number) to the one that's for sale on pistonheads. It does bear a resemblance to a Wildcat.
Yes, that is my stepfathers actual car, that is his job. He supplied the car for filming that day. I will have a look at the ad to see if it is the same car. Bear in mind sometimes the car will not be filmed with its proper reg number for various reasons, sometimes the director was a different number for instance. But I did hear a rumour that actual car went out in style painted red and exploded to a million pieces in a subsequent movie...... I will take a look!!
Yes, that is my stepfathers actual car, that is his job. He supplied the car for filming that day. I will have a look at the ad to see if it is the same car. Bear in mind sometimes the car will not be filmed with its proper reg number for various reasons, sometimes the director was a different number for instance. But I did hear a rumour that actual car went out in style painted red and exploded to a million pieces in a subsequent movie...... I will take a look!!
The only Wildcat I can find on PH is a red one with a 2.0 pinto? the Ricky Gervais / Johnathan Ross car was I am (99%) sure was painted silver when filmed? ( cannot find clip on YouTube ) But it was 100% Rover V8 powered, I drove it. If you can find the link to the ad I will have a look, and I can probobly give you its full movie history... :-) It was in another movie fitted with a "stunt bonnet" as there was a fight scene over the car and he did not want the original bonnet damaged. Unfortunately the fight scene went a bit wrong and the stuntmans head genuinly smashed the windscreen and rendered him unconcious for a while! I am sure the scene was left in as it was so realistic!
a very "nice" example showing that those cars are wrong from any angle:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380434
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380434
Edited by GinG15 on Sunday 12th May 21:16
GinG15 said:
a very "nice" example showing that those cars are wrong from any angle:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380434
The Wildcat was never marketed as a replica - the company were up front that it was significantly different as were all the kit car reviews of the time. The Challenger is a different animal...http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380434
Jukebag said:
I have been unable to find the link to the silver Wildcat that I saw for sale on pistonheads; must have been taken off, but luckily I saved the pics: 
Regarding the Extras episode, here is a link to the clip with the car in it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGvS6xdWPGE
Do you know what film the red Wildcat was featured in?
Hi, I am sitting here with John who used to own this car, and definately this IS his old Wildcat used in Extras with Ricky Gervais and Jonathan Ross, although it appeared with the reg no. 595 DFD ( now assigned to another Jaguar ) not the DAP plate it has now. It also appeared in Our Mutual Friends with Alexander Armstrong ( Armstron & Miller ) driving it. The car definately has / had a Rover V8 fitted. It has also been used on several other TV / films / photoshoots for magazines. To his knowledge nobody on a filmset EVER twigged is was not a real E-type, even to the point of someone who heard it's Rover V8 revving saying " Wow you cannot beat the sound of those Jag straight sixes... ! " . Alexander Amstrong did not want to get out of it, and said ( albeit a while before he became as famous as he is now ) " I hope i can afford one of these one day!!!!".... Regarding the Extras episode, here is a link to the clip with the car in it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGvS6xdWPGE
Do you know what film the red Wildcat was featured in?
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Thursday 16th May 15:29
Hi, the car would already have been like that when he bought it so no idea? The only thing he ever had done really was have a " stunt bonnet " made for when cameras and mics needed to be strapped to it ( like in Extras ) and for when stuntmen needed to crash across the bonnet. I think a movie company props dept moulded one off the original, but that bonnet was sold and unbelievably went to live in Japan on a Japanese Wildcat!!
i´m always wondering that people spent at first a forunte in "visual" things instead of concentrating on the car´s most important issues...like engine, drivetrtain suspension and brakes!!!
i think the 900pound spent on the right places would have reduced the amount of mot failures tremendously.
i think the 900pound spent on the right places would have reduced the amount of mot failures tremendously.
I don't understand the appeal of lookalikes and I wouldn't like to spend money on a car that has so many details compromised.
There is a thread here about a DB5 replica which I suspect could turn out like these cars did.
The reson the cars do not command a lot of money is because they are so compromised. The reason cars like C type replicas command so much is because they are great cars in their own right.
To enjoy cars like the Challenger and Wildcat, you have to accept them for what they are. A pity really as a well engineered accurate copy of an E in GRP could have been a great useable car in a way an original sadly isn't.
Too many people feel as I do about these cars hence the values we see them at.
There is a thread here about a DB5 replica which I suspect could turn out like these cars did.
The reson the cars do not command a lot of money is because they are so compromised. The reason cars like C type replicas command so much is because they are great cars in their own right.
To enjoy cars like the Challenger and Wildcat, you have to accept them for what they are. A pity really as a well engineered accurate copy of an E in GRP could have been a great useable car in a way an original sadly isn't.
Too many people feel as I do about these cars hence the values we see them at.
Eh? Challengers look good and make good money - typically mid £20Ks - it's the Wildcats that appear a little unloved.
They might not float your boat but the bulk of the industry is based on look alikes - be mad to swim against market forces as frustrating as that might be for people looking for originality
Anyways, how could you not love this slightly left of centre Challenger take on aa E Type lightweight - sold for £15k last September. I love it!
They might not float your boat but the bulk of the industry is based on look alikes - be mad to swim against market forces as frustrating as that might be for people looking for originality
Anyways, how could you not love this slightly left of centre Challenger take on aa E Type lightweight - sold for £15k last September. I love it!
Edited by smash on Tuesday 16th July 16:57
smash said:
Eh? Challengers look good and make good money - typically mid £20Ks - it's the Wildcats that appear a little unloved.
They might not float your boat but the bulk of the industry is based on look alikes - be mad to swim against market forces as frustrating as that might be for people looking for originality
Anyways, how could you not love this slightly left of centre Challenger take on aa E Type lightweight - sold for £15k last September. I love it!
I can't argue with that. They might not float your boat but the bulk of the industry is based on look alikes - be mad to swim against market forces as frustrating as that might be for people looking for originality
Anyways, how could you not love this slightly left of centre Challenger take on aa E Type lightweight - sold for £15k last September. I love it!
Edited by smash on Tuesday 16th July 16:57
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