Quote:
Originally Posted by codyyy
I'm not a fan of clones either. My guess is that it will probably cost about the same to restore a Lemans or Tempest to stock or to clone it, so that's why people do it. More appealing to crowds too.
Personally I sometimes feel that at times it would seem easier to have a less desireable model or a vehicle that it doesn't really matter much what model it is. Like a Catalina, I don't think anyone really cares what submodel it is although a 2+2 or SD would be nice, a plain jane would get the looks as well. You don't need to clone it at that point basically.
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Actually, for me, it cost more, having just finished mine up. When I bought it, it came with '66 GTO front grilles, rear tail panel and lights (uninstalled). Sold those. In the course of restoration, plenty of people make repop 67 GTO front grilles, rear lights, rear chrome trim, rear tail panels - no one makes the same for LeMans. Had to comb through 3 years of auctions to find decent tail light trim (that still needed to be reworked/rechromed) as well as waiting to get a LeMans grille that didn't have those vertical plastic teeth broken... Many similar parts issues.
A lot of people asked if I was going to turn it into a clone, and the answer has always been "No way." I wanted mine to be a LeMans from the beginning, and it will stay that way.
I like to call mine a "restomod," where I've restored some things, but added things I wanted different from stock. I certainly don't warrant it as "bone stock" although I did get the PHS history as well as having the original paperwork (which was fun). Here's some of them, which I agree on a "concours" restoration would be sacrilege.
- 15x7 Rally II's with redlines vs. 14x6 whitewalls with Deluxe hubcaps - loved the look of redlines and Rally II's. The whitewalls and hubcaps were definitely an acquired look.
- 200 4R Transmission with Eaton Posi - not stock, but what an improvement over the ST-300. Uses the stock shifter.
- Edelbrock Performer intake, carb and air cleaner
- 80's Camaro steering box - less boat-like steering
- Disc brakes on front and rear
- Front and rear sway bars (helps significantly)
- Alpine stereo - previous owner had installed what looks like the factory 8-track holder below the dash; great place for the Alpine, which lets me hook up my iPod to it.
- Tach added to blank plate in gauge cluster
- Orange turn signals in front vs. the clear with orange bulbs.