"clones"

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shadango

shadango

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I have been looking for an A body for a bit now, and I am finding I am a bit more picky than I thought I would be...

What do you guys think about the cars that people dress up as clones? IE where they take a 318 car or 360 car and slap "340" or "twister" stickers on them even when they arent either.....

I found a 72 car that is stickered as a Twister....guy claims it is an original v8 car(318)...but it isn't a real twister....he added a scoop and go wing and the sticker....it does have a 318, from a 69, in it.

I kind of feel like that is a "wannabe"...the sticker bugs me...I guess I dont agree with false advertising...LOL...I feel like if it says "340" on the side, it should have a 340 in it.....their are a lot ofcars out there for sale like this....Whydo people do that?

I guess I am being too picky, eh?
 
I agree, if your gonna clone, do it right, with every factory componet, engine, sway bars, brakes, badging, etc. I have most componets for a formula S installed in my car, but I refuse to put badges on it. For one reason my 67 cuda never came as a 340-S. so I just keep the sano-sleeper look. I would put a HEMI badge on it, only if it had a hemi:-D Reminds me of a buddy who has a rat, runing an exposed engine. 318- dual quad tunnel ram, with 340 valve covers. people walk by saying ooh- that things gotta 340 in it.
 
There are Restorers aka purests. That say if the factory did not put it on the car. If don't belong there.


Then there are hotroders who want to look good go fast and wast gas.



Some people can't aford a "real" 340 car so they do what they can with what they have.


There is no wrong or right way to build a Mopar. Just different.



Have fun and happy motoring!
 
I'm putting 340 stripes on my 318 Duster and making a R/T clone out of my Charger and keeping the 383 in it.....wanna fight about it?:-D
 
I agree, I hate to see cars rebadged like that. I think if you want a certain car then buy it. Unfortunately not everybody can afford that 71 Hemi Cuda convertible so the lesser cars are sacrificed to meet the needs. The same sort of thing takes place with A-bodies just on a smaller scale. When I started looking for a car I knew that I wanted a big block, 4 spd., A-body. That meant a 67-69 Barracuda or Dart, so that`s what I focused on and what I bought.
 
Any one is allowed to build a car how they like, in any manner they like.
I'm sure i've pissed off a few purist with mine....
104_0858.jpg
 
as long as the owner or seller are clear that its a clone i dont think there is anything wrong with it. thats what hotrodding is all about swapping parts etc.. to make a car faster or better looking.
 
some guys will put 340 decals on a 318 car and the price will double.
''''and'''' you should offer only what you feel a car is worth.
i dont care what one sold for at bj auction.
thanks
 
Thanks for the replies folks.

Not trying to stir the pot or upset anyone.....true, anyone can build their car any way they want. I LOVE purple dusters...my cousin insists purple is an "ugly girlie color". LOL

I guess I just cant see the point to putting 340 or AAR stickers on a car if it isnt a 340 car or AAR or Real Twister.........I think the cars that have the stickers, etc look great....Mopar had some of the BEST graphics in the 70s.....but saying it is someothing that it isnt hits me the wrong way I guess.

I guess it stems from my other hobbies....I ride a motorcycle as a daily driver.....even in single digit temps...year round as long as the roads are clear.....I happen to ride a Honda VTX1300R...big cruiser style bike. I love the bike. Anyways, in my 12 years of riding,I have seen lots of people try and dress up their Hondas like Harleys......some go so far as to paint the engines black like a HD would have and remove all Honda badges......it sure looks nice, but I dunno...just seems silly to "fake" something just because it looks good.....HD guys call a lot of these guys "posers"...guys who want a HD but cant afford it, etc....the guys who do it counter by saying that they just like a certain look. I agree...itsa look.....but they arent putting HD emblems on the bike when its a Honda.

Truthfully, I dont care what someone thinks about my toy.....so I give props to those here who have used 340 stickers, etc on cars that dont have the mecnanicals to back it up....I understand wanting a certain "look".

But from a buyer's perspective, I have to say that it is un-nerving. You dont know what you are buying unless you are real careful. For a newbie like me, thats tough.....LOL

I guess I just happen to believe that you dont wear a badge if you cant back it up....Kind of like a guy wearing overseas war commendations when he never stepped foot out of his home state...it just seems "wrong".

I am not a purist or a restoration buff....I am looking for a car that I can afford, that looks sweet and that goes good.... When I find a car marked as a 340 when its not, or a Twister that isnt really a Twister, I kind of say "geez...kind of half-baked" and wonderwhat else is not quite right. What has been changed for the sake of form over function, ya know?

Its like meeting a hot bolnd chick, wining her and dining her, and then taking herhome, only to find out she is really a dude. :angry7: :-D

Anyways, good feedback...thats what I love about forums like these....lots of great opinions to help someone learn.

Keep it coming!

Dave
 
shadango said:
Thanks for the replies folks.

............
Its like meeting a hot bolnd chick, wining her and dining her, and then taking herhome, only to find out she is really a dude. :angry7: :-D

............
Keep it coming!

Dave
Click to expand...

LOL well Dave, just goes to show you've got to do your research before taking her home ....girls and cars.
 
sydcuda said:
LOL well Dave, just goes to show you've got to do your research before taking her home ....girls and cars.
Click to expand...

LOL How true....but just like women, most car owners arent gonna let you get too far before you buy.....LOL

So, just to stoke the flames --- to the folks who have stickered their rides with 340 when they are running 318s or 360s, etc....Why not just sticker as a Hemi? :snakeman:

I can see taking stickers/emblems OFF, to make a "sleeper".....

I saw a nice (really nice) Coronet in a Mopar magazine while in my library this morning and it started out as a basket case.....no numbers matching, nothing....pieced together as far as I can tell.....and the guy put slick looking bumble bee type stripes on the back....but put "R/T" in them.

Again, the car was HOT looking....why cheapen it with R/T logos when its not an R/T?

I guess I shouldn't talk...I don't even have my A-body yet....LOL....
 
pettybludart said:
I try to keep the 372 a secret on the street.Nobody needs to know!LOL!!
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man i am glad to see you actually posted a picture of your car with the front showing! i like the fronts of these cars myself! don't by shy with it as it is very nice.....:-D
 
Well lets see my '70 duster originally came with a 318,it has '71 340 stripes and 340 wedge call out on the hood..it currently has a 366 under the hood but the 416 will be going back in.hmmm,do i care that its not an original 340 car??..no way but its valued at a lot more then a "real" 340 car i can tell ya' that...
 
I agree that it is a bit irritating to go check out a car and immediately know it's not a "real" or wasn't originally a 340 or a Formula S. But I think there is a difference between what someone does to their car and when someone is selling one. First, I think we can agree that someone can do what they want to their own car. Now when a car is being sold it's a different story. We expect the sellers to be honest about what their car is. In the defence of some sellers I have found that often A-bodies are being sold by someone who just doesn't know the difference between a Dart Sport, a Duster and a Valiant. Often a car will be sold and re-sold, then the details start to a little bit fuzzy. This is why documentation is so important and can double or triple the value of a certain car.
 
I have both a #'s matching 1971 340 Duster and a 1971 340 Duster tribute car(with a 340). I'll take more pride in building a car that started out as a Grandmas car than I will restoring a #'s car I'll probabaly be too scared to drive when it's finished.
It's each to their own,but for the most part, I think this hobby is about taking something and building it the way you want it to be.Nobody said we couldn't improve on what Ma Mopar made,and if that means putting a callout on the hood,or having a ralley dash in a /6, so be it.........just my 2 cents:neutral:
 
I believe that you own and drive what you can afford.

If that means trying to " doll" it up with tires, stereo, badges, motors , etc that's the owner's decision.

BUT the problem I have is the " poor" guy that goes out looking for a #'s matching car but some dis-honest seller takes advantage of his desire but limited knowledge of what to look for.

Before I bought my # match 340, a guy responded to my desire by stating he could create " whatever I wanted" by cutting out sheet metal stamp #'s and welding them back into a clone.

Buyer beware. Do your homework IF you are looking for that special car.
 
Thanks 7Demon2,My car is a 73 Dart Sport 340,4 speed with the fold down back seat.I bought the car from an older friend(I,m 45)He owned the car for nearly 20 years.When he bought it,a rod was hanging out of the #,s 340.He found a 72 340,rebuilt it and had the car painted(in 1991)When I bought the car(in 2006)most of the frost plugs were leaking,rad was plugged,heater core was leaking.I think the PO never changed anti-freeze and it was rotting from the inside out.Since the motor was not #,s matching,I had it stroked to a 372,replaced clutch,also swapped the 8 1/4 s.g(snapped an axel)now 8 3/4,4.10 s.g.This is how the car is today with it,s 18 year old paint job.It,s mine,paid for,and guess what?I drive it all summer.If it was #,s matching,it would be under glass.Not much fun in that!Here,s a couple more pics. for your enjoyment!LOL!!Goes to show,if you keep your car clean.It will shine forever.paints almost 20 years old!!Sorry for being longwinded!And yes original colour is Super Blue.Cars been painted once.

OCT 08 006.jpg


May 2007 043.jpg


mt.nemo 4.JPG


DART 009.jpg
 
The bottom line, as others have touched on, is if you try to sell a clone,tribute,re-creation car as a original. Thats where the problem is. Some of these guys (Crooks) go as far as changing vins,fender tags,etc. They should be shot.

As long as your up front with the car,and what it is,and what it is not,then to each his own.

Here is a pic of my 340 replica. By the way,it is a 360. 8)

faucet pics 737.jpg
 
chev1171 said:
I believe that you own and drive what you can afford.

If that means trying to " doll" it up with tires, stereo, badges, motors , etc that's the owner's decision.

BUT the problem I have is the " poor" guy that goes out looking for a #'s matching car but some dis-honest seller takes advantage of his desire but limited knowledge of what to look for.

Before I bought my # match 340, a guy responded to my desire by stating he could create " whatever I wanted" by cutting out sheet metal stamp #'s and welding them back into a clone.

Buyer beware. Do your homework IF you are looking for that special car.
Click to expand...

OMG!! Did you save this guy's name and number? We need to make sure people are aware who this crook is! Much less, probably should let the authorities know about him as a potential VIN Fraud perpatrator!
 
Ok folks, my '73 340 Dart Sport "Convertriple" is a #'s matching car throughout, I have the original broadcast sheet, documentation, and all that jazz, but I changed the interior color, from Parchment to Black, and exterior color, from Bronze to Sublime, painted the bumpers, and added a go-wing. Is this taboo? I think not. It all can be changed back if desired. Opinions? Here's a pic.

73 340 Dart Sport 000_640x480.jpg
 
To me, there's clones, and there's hot rods. A clone is an exact copy, done to the nth detail, using the right parts. And yes, I've built them to where you can't tell except by the VIN. A 318 car, with a 440 swapped in, and rally hood and rally wheels is not a 440 Cuda clone. Ignorance is the responsibility of the buyer. I wouldn't go buy a guitar with out either researching it, or using a trusted guide. Why the heck would a guy buy a car like that? I can't tell an orginal chevelle 454 car from boo. So I'd need documentation, appraisals, and others' opinions before I bough. I had a couple guys swear my car was a wicked rare 383 SuperBee. It had 383 4bbl emblems, home-stencilled billboard style stripes, blacked out hood and trim, 15" rallys, and a small functional owner created hood scoop. BTW, this was a '71 Chrysler Newport, 4dr. Ignorant? Yup. Clone? Of what??
 
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