[Chastings]

I see nothing wrong with a LeJudge.... As long as it's not misrepresented; especially when it's time to sell.

[Garry Sr]

Is the camaro a clone of the firebird or is the firebird a clone of the camaro? Inquiring minds want to know...

[rexs73gto]

Well depending on who you talk to the Camaro was first but in reality the Firebird was first, in development. Becaue of Ford coming out with the Mustang in 64 1/2 Chevy got the nod to build the Camaro first. But the Firebird had been in development since 1962 with several different code names. At one time most know that it was going to be called the Banshee , but during the test phase fro teh name the term Banshee was looked down on because term was thought of as bad becasue how the church looked at it . The name was scraped. The name Firebird was also down on the list but it di make it through. Now the Camaro was also the cheap end like all the Chevys were/are. The Firebird got a better suspension as it got bigger sway bars & it also got stiffer springs that were 1 inch lower then the Camaro. John D. was directly involved with the design of the way it handled & because he was made to wait until after the Camaro was unvailed before he could build & sell the Firebird he was goign to make it BETTER then the Camaro in almost every way. Thats why the Firebids ride & handling is better then the Camaro, & has better interior appointments. So really the Camaro & Firebird are twin sisters just one was born a few min's early then the other. And one was much prettier then the other too. (we know which one)

[Garry Sr]

I'm impressed rex, and now we now how the term came to be: " A camaro is nothing more than the poor mans firebird" My next question is how did a small block chevy end up in my 81 Trans Am?

[Sidponcho]

who cares? buy, build and drive whatever you want however you want. what difference will it make when you're dead? Have fun!

[AdamIsAdam]

I wanted a nice car to drive, and I mean DRIVE, and tinker with, modify, etc. The rest is semantics I suppose.
(And we all agree fraud is bad.)

[72projectbird]

Its hard to hide a clone in the Pontiac world, so I wouldn't worry about it so much.

[69goatboy]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Its hard to hide a clone in the Pontiac world, so I wouldn't worry about it so much.

For the most part yes, but there are some unscrupulous individuals out there that are being creative with swapping VIN tags and whatnot. Heck, wasn't there an ebay seller that was hawking GM style VIN tag rivets a while back?

Having the PHS is a great tool, but it's not a failsafe one.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by 69goatboy

For the most part yes, but there are some unscrupulous individuals out there that are being creative with swapping VIN tags and whatnot.

This is my only issue with them - when people try to represent them as original cars for monetary gain.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by 69goatboy

Having the PHS is a great tool, but it's not a failsafe one.

I was watching one of those "What's my car worth?" shows a few years back, and a guy was on there with an "all-original" low-mile car. The presenter asked the owner, "How do you know those low miles are correct?" The answer was "it's all PHS certified." Huh?

[ho428]

I have no problems with a cloned car, but it needs to be pretty darn close to the original. Correct engine, trans, wheels, trim package, etc...
If it's just got some badging it's just a car with incorrect badging. If the seller wants to call it a clone, that's his right, but a true clone you should have to run the Vin plate and body tag to tell the difference.

The Tribute moniker is fine for rebadged custom creations that well, pay tribute to the original, but don't pretend to be one.

[Garry Sr]

I've been thinking about selling my 73 Formula if anyone fears the clone.

[1966goat]

I have a clone. I call it a GTO because its easier to say since all the emblems say GTO. I'd love to change it back to a tempest custom but no one reproduces parts. Whatever.

If someone really wants to listen, I'll tell em its not a GTO. If there comes time to sell it, I'll tell them exactly what it is, too.

[ANDYA]

I don't consider a Lemans with a GTO hood and badges a clone. It's just a Lemans. A clone is something more specific. For example if someone found a 69 Judge in a field with a bent frame, rusted body and no drive train and decided to bring the car back they would have a clone. In this case they used the Judges DNA (VIN tag) and built a new car with a different frame, new sheetmetal and a replacement drive train. The actual car no longer exists except for the VIN tag, hence it is a clone of a specific car. Just like using a sheep's DNA to clone that exact sheep.

[Garry Sr]

I've got a ragged out 70 bird in the backyard and an extra set of trans am fenders, the thought is there just not the time.

[J GLASGO]

I see both sides on the clone issue,so I don't really care. I hate half a$$ attempts at clones,but I also don't like cobbed up non clones. The absolute funniest thing is that alot of people that hate clones,dont even have an old car!! Whenever we have an SS,COPO,JUDGE,GTO,TA,in the shop,there are a few people who come in who are so worried if its original or not,and then express there disgust for any clone. They don't have an old car,nor will they ever. I always wonder why these people care??

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by J GLASGO

...The absolute funniest thing is that alot of people that hate clones,dont even have an old car!! ...They don't even have an old car,nor will they ever. I always wonder why these people care??

GOOD POINT!!!