Yenko clone on e-bay

[Belair62]

Everyone asks if the real ones are real too !

[Unreal]

AutoInsane.
As a builder of a clone, I am shocked at the prices I have seen lately. I'm also shocked at the escallation of the real ones. I suspect those who buy high (either real or clone) may end up selling low-- just like the early 1990's.

However, value is set "at one point in time" For every seller who "sells for way to much" there's a buyer willing to pay it. Remember the Law of Supply and Demand? Tomorrow, or next year may be a whole different ball game.

[Rat_Pack]

Autoinsane,
I built a clone back in 1990 as a daily driver. That car got more attention and not once did anyone ask if it was real. This was done before the stripes and 427 emblems were available through the normal aftermarket which makes it easier to accomplish. That car was correct appearing from the inside-out including a correct set of the custom face SW tach and gauges. It had a 70 454 with a 69 M21 and 4.10 posi 12-bolt. As a matter of fact it was similar to the orange one that is on Ebay now, except mine was a lot nicer car and more correct. People laughed at me for building that car but they shut up when it sold for $20k a few months after I finished it! Back then frame off restored SS396's were barely bringing that kind of money

The same car sold about 4 years ago to a guy in AL for $39k and the only thing that had been done to it was that the 454 was replaced by a correctly dated 427 from a COPO Camaro. As far as the value goes, clones are a deal because you can have a car similar to the real one for about 1/3 the price. Look at how many Cobra kit cars are out there compared to real ones and they still bring very good money when done right.................RatPack.................

[AutoInsane]

Rat Pack..

I appreciate the insite into that genre of cars. It is true if you want a Yenko (or something that looks damn similar) and don't feel like spending 100k + it is a way to do it. In all respects other than originality it is the same. So in terms of the enjoyment of driving that type of car it's all there.

No one ever asked you if it was real? I am amazed. I guess they all thought it was and didn't bother asking you. But the only problem with the value of clones is if their value goes up more will be made thusly saturating that market. This would also make it more confusing to figure out what is real and what isnt in 10 years from now.

Bill O'Brien

[Rat_Pack]

Bill, back in 1990 there were not that many Yenkos around and those that were, belonged to collectors. I drove the car to Atlanta for a cruise-in, and when I pulled up a crowd gathered and was all over the car. My wife and I were there for a couple of hours and I just could not believe that nobody was questioning it. Now if it had been my RS/SS car that I had at the time, everyone would say is it a "real" SS? That is the main reason I built that car as I was tired of people asking me if my SS was real. Also another reason was a "Yenko guru/owner" told me that I could not build a clone or he would take me to court. Shortly after it was done he received some pictures of the car in the mail telling him I was ready to go to court. I haven't heard from him since, and now I find out years later he was not the "honest" Yenko person I thought he was! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

There was only one time that I was asked if it was real and that was when I went to sell it. Then and only then, did I tell anyone it was a clone. Plus they could have figured it out just by the price alone, and the fact that the trim tag showed the car to be Butternut Yellow and not Hugger Orange. I remember this one Yenko owner coming over to me at Bristol and telling me that my gauges belonged in HIS car and that I was going to sell them to him since my car was a fake. He was a real jerk. So I told him that if he wanted them I would sell them to him for $20k and I would throw in the car for free! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] He and his buddy walked off when the other people standing around at the time just snickered at him.................RatPack...............

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Cool story Ratpack
I feel There will always be cloned cars,or Replicas of the Super Cars for the obvious reason of $$$$.Most can not afford a REAL DEAL,that includes me.We people that love these type of cars and are not able to afford the price of a real one just want the thrill of owning one that looks real (A Replica).I get a thrill and feel like I am 20 years younger each time I drive my car and it is probably the same thrill you guys that own the real cars get when you drive yours.Also I love talking about the cars,the same as you guys.Now I agree that a REPLICA should never be represented as THE REAL DEAL,and I will never represent my car as one.I think it's called INTEGRITY.There are probably some REPLICA owners out there that lack some of this,and that is where the problem is and always will be.HONESTY is always the best policy,I think you guys know where I a coming from here. I am not going to mention any names because of the new bashing policy and I am certainly not refering to anyone on this site,but as you read this post and If you are a REPLICA OWNER OF A SUPER CAR and you represent your car as the REAL DEAL Well if the shoe fits then wear it. But there is a person that I have read about on this site many times,(and I think his business is in Oklahoma,and just had a very expensive Hemi Cuda on e bay recently sort of rhymes with CUDDLE first name starts with D) that I have read about and I am sure there are many others like him,you can never stop people like this!Until they break the LAW and then they should serve time!People like this are just plain "Dishonest" and out for a quick buck.I know that once a REPLICA is built and the owner with INTEGRITY represents it as such,that I feel is OK,but when it is sold to someone else you never know what that owner will represent it as,AND THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES I AM SURE IT IS.I think that is what this Super Car site is partly about,helping to spot the people without INTEGRITY that represent their REPLICAS as THE REAL DEAL.And helping buyers to make sure they are getting what they pay for.Again! this post is certainly not refering to anyone on this site!I just want to have fun and have a car with the Super car Look also

Thanks

Bobby 67 Chevelle SS (Nickey Replica)

[MotownMadman]

I have never built a clone and I doubt I ever will. Keep in mind though that if someone sets out to build a clone, and does it correctly with all correct date coded 427 and other driveline parts, as well as adding disc brakes to the "regular" Camaro, in the end it will cost as much if not more to build a truly correct clone of the real thing, as it will to restore an original. Reality is if you take a car needing complete restoration or set out to build a correct clone, having a reputable shop doing the work, after the cost of restoring or building, either one, the cost is about 40K. So a correct clone would be worth that much if done right, the only difference to real would be history, origin, and that little VIN tag. That takes it up to 150K. So for the guys that dont do there own work, or dont have 150K, 40K would be a reasonable deal for the same car less history and origin. The benefit to the clone would actually be having more fun using it and less worry that someone was going to smack it or steal it. Both real and clone have different positive things about them, as long as the owner represents the car for what it is, real or not, thats what matters. If someone is going to spend 150K on a Yenko Camaro and buys a clone, well shame on them for not doing there homework or hiring an expert. I dont condone fraud on the part of a seller, nor do I condone stupidity on the part of the buyer. I dont know anyone who would spend 150K on a Camaro without knowing what they were buying.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Unreal]

I agree with MotownMadman. It doesn't take much more to restore a clone (or a 6 cylinder, for that matter) than to restore the real deal. Of course some parts on the real deal are hard to find and expensive.

The major difference in the resto cost are:
1. The price of the unrestored car
2. The "might as wells" I would spare no expense on a real deal. NOS or Excellent OEM whereever I could.

I bought my small block automatic for $1500. I will have $21,000-22,000 in the Yenko clone, by the time I am done. I did most of the work myself. (except the body work, tranny/rear rebuild, and seat recover)

It ain't real, and I will always envy those with the real ones, but it will still be fun!

[CWilliams]

Chances are though that you could NEVER start out with a Copo/Yenko/Berger/Motion, etc in any kind of shape for $1500. What was it Reggie said at B/J, "I paid $20k just for someone to find this car(ZL1)"

[Stefano]

Belair62,
A 1967 Iso Gifo with the 427/435 Tri-Power would be a cool ride. One of my all time favorites [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]