Are expensive recreations worth it
Discussion
In an idle moment this afternoon I was putting together my dream garage and came to the conclusion that it would have to include an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. The problem is only a tiny number of cars exist and if you could find one for sale you will be looking at £5 - £7 million for one.
So a quick Google search came up with www.aston.co.uk who would be more than happy to build you an exact replica for a mere £475,000 http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/php/action/d...
Now the quality of these cars is truly outstanding and compared to a real one could almost be seen as a bargain.
So the question is if you had the spare cash and really wanted one would you invest in one of these cars? I have to say to complement my perfect garage I would, and as a recreation I would not be afraid to drive or possibly race it as well, what do you guys think?
So a quick Google search came up with www.aston.co.uk who would be more than happy to build you an exact replica for a mere £475,000 http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/php/action/d...
Now the quality of these cars is truly outstanding and compared to a real one could almost be seen as a bargain.
So the question is if you had the spare cash and really wanted one would you invest in one of these cars? I have to say to complement my perfect garage I would, and as a recreation I would not be afraid to drive or possibly race it as well, what do you guys think?
I don't know about worth it" but I would have one like a shot if I had the money. I think they are sublime. Quite a few firms do recreations of the DB4GT Zagato including http://www.brooklandscc.com/dbsz and more interestingly http://www.studio434.co.uk/DB4-Zagato-build-Diary_... who do one based on a DB7 V12 Vantage. I have one of these in my garage but I don't think Lady S would approve of it being cut up.
For the time being I just have to put up with taking photos of the real ones at various race meetings. 1 VEV and 2 VEV are probably the most famous of all spotted this year at Silverstone.
For the time being I just have to put up with taking photos of the real ones at various race meetings. 1 VEV and 2 VEV are probably the most famous of all spotted this year at Silverstone.
Edited by LordBretSinclair on Monday 24th October 15:43
Here's one at an asking price of £200,000.
http://www.buryroadgarage.co.uk/zagato.html
IIRC I've seen similar (or maybe this one????) offered for less.
http://www.buryroadgarage.co.uk/zagato.html
IIRC I've seen similar (or maybe this one????) offered for less.
Elderly said:
Here's one at an asking price of £200,000.
http://www.buryroadgarage.co.uk/zagato.html
IIRC I've seen similar (or maybe this one????) offered for less.
That web site is out of date and the car was sold a few months ago. The guy that built and sold it had upgraded the car in a number of ways and it was based on a DBS chassis. Because of that it only sold for £140k as underneath it was so far from originalhttp://www.buryroadgarage.co.uk/zagato.html
IIRC I've seen similar (or maybe this one????) offered for less.
Thanks for that info Streetrod; so it was one and the same car.
This is yet another example of the difference between an advertised (hopeful) asking price
and an actual selling price.
So many people just look at the asking prices of a classic cars and jump to
the wrong conclusion about their real value.
This is yet another example of the difference between an advertised (hopeful) asking price
and an actual selling price.
So many people just look at the asking prices of a classic cars and jump to
the wrong conclusion about their real value.
I guess it depends.
Do you like them because they look amazing and (one assumes) drive sublimely or do you want one for the history it represents...and because no one else has one?
The only thing I would say is that it's a great shame to cut up a DB4 (I assume that's what they do?) to make it, for that reason alone I'd only want one if I could find a wreck of a DB4 to use for the identity or maybe one that's got no originality to it anyway.
Do you like them because they look amazing and (one assumes) drive sublimely or do you want one for the history it represents...and because no one else has one?
The only thing I would say is that it's a great shame to cut up a DB4 (I assume that's what they do?) to make it, for that reason alone I'd only want one if I could find a wreck of a DB4 to use for the identity or maybe one that's got no originality to it anyway.
Edited by varsas on Tuesday 25th October 08:24
I'd say no. I am sure it's a fine car, but it's not what it should be and that will always niggle at the back of your mind, no matter what you claim. Despite having spent all that money, you'd feel awkward at every event you go to. Like the owners of chopped Daytonas or yet another VdP-style Bentley built on a saloon chassis. It always concerns me when there are more cars out there than were originally built!
I'm also not sure about the investment potential. If you can't aford the 60s' original, then what do the Sanction II cars go for these days? At least there were a finite number of those built.
I'm also not sure about the investment potential. If you can't aford the 60s' original, then what do the Sanction II cars go for these days? At least there were a finite number of those built.
I just like them because they look amazing. I think they are one of the most beautiful looking cars of all time and have done since I first saw one from new in 1961 (there that dates me). Every time I see one I get the same feeling and out comes the camera for another pic to add to my collection.
Here's another pic of a real one - chassis DB4GT/0190/L.
Here's another pic of a real one - chassis DB4GT/0190/L.
LotusOmega375D said:
I'd say no. I am sure it's a fine car, but it's not what it should be and that will always niggle at the back of your mind, no matter what you claim. Despite having spent all that money, you'd feel awkward at every event you go to. Like the owners of chopped Daytonas or yet another VdP-style Bentley built on a saloon chassis. It always concerns me when there are more cars out there than were originally built!
I'm also not sure about the investment potential. If you can't aford the 60s' original, then what do the Sanction II cars go for these days? At least there were a finite number of those built.
The thing is these car are exact copies, as a matter of fact they are actually built to a higher standard.I'm also not sure about the investment potential. If you can't aford the 60s' original, then what do the Sanction II cars go for these days? At least there were a finite number of those built.
But you are right it will never be a real one and you will have to answer the odd awkward question but that is the price you pay.
But with price of a real one going for no less than £5 million a £500k replica starts to look like good value. Even at half a million some might be able to stretch to that but a real one would be way out of reach for all but the few.
As long as you are honest about your motivations for having one I think I could live with that
I also remember a story a good few years back in a classic car mag where they took a gaudy wide-bodied 289 engined Mk3 Cobra replica to France. When they got to the ferry and much to everyone's discomfort the loader unwittingly summoned the replica to park up directly behind a lovely genuine narrow-bodied 289 Mk2 that happened to be on the same ship. Whilst they were getting out, some random guy wandered over to the fake for a chat with the journos. After that he walked across to the real one and asked the owners: "So has THIS one got a Rover V8 in it then?"
Without wishing to degenerate this thread to an argument over whether kit cars have a legitimate place in classic car circles, a lot depends on the reason for the car becoming a replica.
For me, I would love a pile of scrap jag parts turned into a C type replica. As for the AM above. I couldn't care less that it is a replica. If I had £500k of disposable cash, I would have one and risk looking like a fraud next to a real one.
For me, I would love a pile of scrap jag parts turned into a C type replica. As for the AM above. I couldn't care less that it is a replica. If I had £500k of disposable cash, I would have one and risk looking like a fraud next to a real one.
As someone who has built a high profile repica, it amazed me how it was taken to the hearts of the classic world, but that I feel was because it was a car that hadn't existed for nearly 60 years. It's like the Lancia Feraris and the shark nose Ferrari, all of which have been invited to race at Goodwood because they are the only chance people will get to see such a car, the originals having been destroyed. Somehow, for me, (and I have a Lynx D since I'll never afford the original) while the car gives me an enormous amount of pleasure it can never give the same buzz as the real thing, and it would be the same with the Aston replicas. I mean, thanks to Reg Parker I actually got to have a go in the real think 15 years back! Just think, he paid £5,000 for it too!
lowdrag said:
As someone who has built a high profile repica, it amazed me how it was taken to the hearts of the classic world, but that I feel was because it was a car that hadn't existed for nearly 60 years. It's like the Lancia Feraris and the shark nose Ferrari, all of which have been invited to race at Goodwood because they are the only chance people will get to see such a car, the originals having been destroyed. Somehow, for me, (and I have a Lynx D since I'll never afford the original) while the car gives me an enormous amount of pleasure it can never give the same buzz as the real thing, and it would be the same with the Aston replicas. I mean, thanks to Reg Parker I actually got to have a go in the real think 15 years back! Just think, he paid £5,000 for it too!
I agree, I saw the shark nose at Goodwood Festival of Speed some years ago - just beautiful. Phil Hill loved it too and nobody should question his judgement.They are stunning cars, and normally very well put together.
However the accuracy of these cars can vary enormously. I'm not talking about the Lynx or Proteus jags, which appear to have been well honed over a number of years but some rep DB4Zs and 250 GTSWB/GTO's out there would look fairly odd next to their originals. The other issue with these is that they have historically struggled to hold value in the same manner as a similarly priced classic. They are expensive to build, but appeal to a very small percentage of buyers.
I don't have an issue with them - imitation being the highest form of flattery - although if I owned an original DB4Z I'd feel slightly miffed if a 300k replica was lining up on the grid at a historic race meet.
For me I'd spend my 300-500k on a Lusso or DB5.
However the accuracy of these cars can vary enormously. I'm not talking about the Lynx or Proteus jags, which appear to have been well honed over a number of years but some rep DB4Zs and 250 GTSWB/GTO's out there would look fairly odd next to their originals. The other issue with these is that they have historically struggled to hold value in the same manner as a similarly priced classic. They are expensive to build, but appeal to a very small percentage of buyers.
I don't have an issue with them - imitation being the highest form of flattery - although if I owned an original DB4Z I'd feel slightly miffed if a 300k replica was lining up on the grid at a historic race meet.
For me I'd spend my 300-500k on a Lusso or DB5.
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