Why has no one made good replicas of...
Discussion
1. The Ferrari F40
I know there have been a fair few kits made to turn Fiero's and alike into F40s, but they have never been anywhere near upto scratch. Now that there are some good Lambo replica's about (Diablos mainly, I guess) there must be the right skills and capability to do a proper F40 and surely it would be more popular than a Diablo? I know there are also some Murci's and Gallardo's coming to the market as well. I also believe that TWR are designing and building an XJ220 replica. I walk down to Joe Macari every week to stare at their F40, but I don't think I will be stretching to £250k this decade!
2. Bugatti EB110
I think this is a gorgeous car and I have never seen a successful replica, although I believe I may have once seen a dodgy copy.
3. McLaren F1
I imagine that this might be difficult as to get the correct shape without a composite chassis may be near impossible whilst maintaining structural integrity, which may also be a problem for the EB110. Surely this would be a popular car, expecially with a BMW V12 in the back?
I guess a lot of it has to do with lawyers and copyright, but how do they get away with copying modern Lambo's and alike if they can't copy the above?
I really, really, really want an F40 and since it was originally a steel frame chassis, I would have thought that it wouldn't be too difficult. I know a chap in NZ has done it but I think he sells them at something like £100k, gulp! Please, manufacturers, sort me out!
Fran @ RCR... Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase!
I know there have been a fair few kits made to turn Fiero's and alike into F40s, but they have never been anywhere near upto scratch. Now that there are some good Lambo replica's about (Diablos mainly, I guess) there must be the right skills and capability to do a proper F40 and surely it would be more popular than a Diablo? I know there are also some Murci's and Gallardo's coming to the market as well. I also believe that TWR are designing and building an XJ220 replica. I walk down to Joe Macari every week to stare at their F40, but I don't think I will be stretching to £250k this decade!
2. Bugatti EB110
I think this is a gorgeous car and I have never seen a successful replica, although I believe I may have once seen a dodgy copy.
3. McLaren F1
I imagine that this might be difficult as to get the correct shape without a composite chassis may be near impossible whilst maintaining structural integrity, which may also be a problem for the EB110. Surely this would be a popular car, expecially with a BMW V12 in the back?
I guess a lot of it has to do with lawyers and copyright, but how do they get away with copying modern Lambo's and alike if they can't copy the above?
I really, really, really want an F40 and since it was originally a steel frame chassis, I would have thought that it wouldn't be too difficult. I know a chap in NZ has done it but I think he sells them at something like £100k, gulp! Please, manufacturers, sort me out!
Fran @ RCR... Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase!
For fairly modern cars it is probably lawyers. I don't know what Ferrari think of the 360 and F430 replicas based on MR2's and Peugeot 406's, for example. Do manufacturers hold copyright on a car forever or does it become 'public domain' after so many years? It would be great to see replicas of those cars though 
.
.This is exactly my point...
You see more modern, yet still exclusive and expensive machinery being copied, yet people seem to shy away from the F40 etc.
Although I did just find this:
http://speed356.tripod.com/classicars/id21.html
Looks a bit 'dodgy' for want of a better word but if the bodywork was accurate, you could get a chassis made up I suppose...
You see more modern, yet still exclusive and expensive machinery being copied, yet people seem to shy away from the F40 etc.
Although I did just find this:
http://speed356.tripod.com/classicars/id21.html
Looks a bit 'dodgy' for want of a better word but if the bodywork was accurate, you could get a chassis made up I suppose...
Is this the NZ replica you mean? http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredvehicles/142_0311...
It looks a very accurate replica. You can tell with the 'dodgy' one that the front lights aren't right, even though the image quality of them isn't great.
It looks a very accurate replica. You can tell with the 'dodgy' one that the front lights aren't right, even though the image quality of them isn't great.
Edited by ajprice on Monday 29th December 19:03
I was looking seriously into a GT40 from fran around summer this year. Was meant to be a project for me to start early in 2009, but then the dollar pound went to hell in a handbasket, now RCR look very expensive compared with home grown stuff.
Its a shame because fran does really well put together stuff over there in America.
Its a shame because fran does really well put together stuff over there in America.
Fran Hall said:
Dom....no F40 in my future for sure...
Julian,
thanks for the compliments...the exchange rate will turn around...
Quality costs though and I have no changed the pricing in four years, even though the cost of raw materials has risen by as much as 40% in some cases...
When it does, I will be there Julian,
thanks for the compliments...the exchange rate will turn around...
Quality costs though and I have no changed the pricing in four years, even though the cost of raw materials has risen by as much as 40% in some cases...
.Fran Hall said:
Dom....no F40 in my future for sure...
Fran, you are forever disappointing me 
Any plans for a 962 replica yet then? I could still be persuaded to go that way...
Although I am looking forward to seeing Craig's SL-C and I can see me falling in love with that!
I need one plan and then just to stick to it! We move in to the new place (finally) in January, so I should start trying to tie myself down to something in the new year!
Edited to sort quote out...
Edited by dom9 on Tuesday 30th December 14:31
rdodger said:
I had seen that one before, but it was a bit too 'different' to be a good replica in my eyes... Not a bad attempt though and does show that it can be done!I found this:
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/6643/Ferrari...
Just need someone to build me a chassis now! LOL! Simple as that
TVRs
The Griffith, Cerbera and Tuscan could all be turned into kit form cars. If you could get hold of the molds and chasis jigs then you could sell a 100% accurate replica in these areas. New drivelines would be needed but there are plenty to choose from.
Lotus / Caterham
Same goes for the Caterham 21 though it does need a rethink of the hopless doors. A look at the original Elan should give a replica that's actually better than the original. The early Lotus models, Elite, Elan and Elan plus2 might be worth a look.
The Griffith, Cerbera and Tuscan could all be turned into kit form cars. If you could get hold of the molds and chasis jigs then you could sell a 100% accurate replica in these areas. New drivelines would be needed but there are plenty to choose from.
Lotus / Caterham
Same goes for the Caterham 21 though it does need a rethink of the hopless doors. A look at the original Elan should give a replica that's actually better than the original. The early Lotus models, Elite, Elan and Elan plus2 might be worth a look.
cymtriks said:
TVRs
The Griffith, Cerbera and Tuscan could all be turned into kit form cars. If you could get hold of the molds and chasis jigs then you could sell a 100% accurate replica in these areas. New drivelines would be needed but there are plenty to choose from.
Agreed, but you could buy the real thing for less!The Griffith, Cerbera and Tuscan could all be turned into kit form cars. If you could get hold of the molds and chasis jigs then you could sell a 100% accurate replica in these areas. New drivelines would be needed but there are plenty to choose from.
cymtriks said:
A look at the original Elan should give a replica that's actually better than the original. The early Lotus models, Elite, Elan and Elan plus2 might be worth a look.
Spyder and TTR have already done about as much as it's sensibly possible to do with the Elan and Plus 2 and, as with TVR's, the main problem with producing completely new kits is that it would cost much more than buying an original. Then you've got all the problems with SVA compliance and end up having to pay road tax on the damn thing, for your trouble.There has been one decent Elite replica that I know of - the Encore Super 95 - but it wasn't a commercial success.
The Encore used a variant of the Spyder Elan chassis under an exact replica bodyshell, with a Ford CHV engine. I was never a fan of the CVH, but if someone produced the same car with a nice light, revvy engine (Rover K-series or Mazda Renesis, by preference), I'd be seriously tempted.
Edited by Sam_68 on Tuesday 30th December 22:09
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff