Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

[Tom D.]

See article about a major clone job in AUTOWEEK (TWO GT-40 Fords, both with Serial number 1040). The guy who did it is dead, by the way...

While it is not the high point in the article (by a long shot) Craig Jackson is quoted as saying "more 1967 big block Corvettes out there today than there were in 1967 - They're like rabbits". He also claims credit for informing "about 50" owners of clones yearly. I question his numbers.

Tom D.
4889

[Tom D.]

Make that the 8/14 issue - Sorry *NM*

[Steve Antonucci]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

Tom,

Exactly what mechanism would Craig Jackson use to inform any owners about clones?

Could it possibly be the cars he ends up auctioning off? In recent
years, I have become more skeptical of the whole B-J phenomenon. I watch
carefully everything Craig Jackson says in relation to the auctions. I feel
that he is expanding the inventory of cars for future auctions by pushing the
whole clone car or tribute car market.

In recent auctions, we have seen numerous cloned cars commanding fairly good
prices. I believe that Craig Jackson knows the high-end market is shrinking
and that the clone market is the next untapped market. I watched in amazement
last year where he was featuring a 1967 GTO with tons of high end features.
One was a hood tachometer. Only problem is that '67 GTO's didn't have hood
tachs.! Another was the installation of a tri-power setup that wasn't original
to the car *( 4-bbl setup originally ). Lastly, was the addition of a deluxe
white interior. Again, not original. Craig's statement about all of this is
what really floored me: This car is well restored and the options are "correct"
for the car, even though it did not origianlly come with these particular ortions.

Well hell! Using that rationalization, my '69 SS 396 Camaro really could be a ZL-1 !
The addition of the aluminum 427 engine could have come with the car.

[Dave F.]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

I read that article with great interest. Fascinating stuff. The sidebar mentioned the FIA Heritage Certificate that I've posted about here in the past. I really believe it will become the new standard for tracking real cars vs. fakes. High dollar ones anyway.

Tribute is new word to me. I heard it for the first time just a couple weeks ago when I was at the Silver auction in Reno during Hot August Nights (HAN is great experience by the way). I heard the auctioneer introduce a Yenko Camaro, but I missed the word after that. I leaned over to my friend and asked him what was said. He told me "tribute". What?! I started laughing. I said "what the hell is the difference between that and 'clone'? Or 'fake' for that matter." Then after thinking about it for a while I figured that some marketing guy must have heard the auction companies using "clone" and told them they were crazy. Need something better. How about "tribute"? You can just see everybody nodding their heads and and saying "yah, tribute, that's a good one".

Another of my favorites from the marketing guys is "lifestyle event"

-Dave

[Chris L.]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

THe new term I'm seeing alot is "code correct" !!! SO....What's a matching numbers,NOM,code correct,tribute,clone,67 427/435 coupe that has had only one "factory" repaint worth??? And then on top of that...they advertise "super rare" !!!!!!

[Terry F.]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

Steve, I think your opinion is correct. But, Jackson isn't trying to sell cars to NCRS people. He is fishing for people with deep wallets, small brains and still want to live out their childhood fantasy of playing with cars (country is full of them). He doesn't need all those other people up on the stage with him to sell a car. Those extra people are actors that add to the emotional hipe of the sale/auction. They are essential to dragging down a buffalo. They are trying to harpoon these people with the big wallets. These are the same people that watch WWF and think it is real wrestling. Sure, some of them will say it is fake but they watch it and REACT to it like it was real???? What's that about??? We all sit back and watch with amazement because we see those cars differently. Just my humble observations. I wish I could have so much money and be so stupid. Those people that pay all that money are being pulled in like a big fish on small tackle. But, Jackson is an expert at it. Cheers, Terry

[Clem Z.]

i think it is like vegas,get them drunk with

free liquor so they keep playing or bidding.

[Terry F.]

Re: i think it is like vegas,get them drunk with

Sure! The whole Vagas thing is an art and science. In the old days they use to call a person a "MARK or SUCKER" Then they changed the term to "customer" and "client."

In Vagas, it is the loud bells and wistles, the flashing lights, the fresh oxygen pumped in at night to keep you awake, the free drinks to loosen your grip on your wallet, the one person that wins and tells everyone, and THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT LOOSE AND NEVER TELL A SOUL!

Cheers, Terry

[Clem Z.]

terry,sounds like you have been there. *NM*

[Steve Antonucci]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

Yes Dave, "Tribute Car" is the kinder-gentler way of saying clone. It has a
better air to it - doesn't it. Besides, how can Craig Jackson command such
final prices and auction fees for "cloned cars"? "Tribute" is a marketing
approach to the next generation of buyers. If this flies ( and it appears to
be doing so ), Craig can get a new generation hooked on Tribute Cars as
well as those already hooked on the real things.

Scarry time right now.......

Steve

[Terry F.]

Re: terry,sounds like you have been there.

I think that to some extent we all go there. I have often bought things (projects) based not on what they actually are but what they can be. I am "THE EMOTIONAL BUYER." Yes, I admit it. I fall in love with things or rather more accurately the "IDEA OF THINGS." I have a good imagination that sometimes gets the best of me. I love projects and I love to tinker on stuff and I have an artistic nature and I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Makes me dangerous to myself. Sometimes I spend too much money on a particular item but what the heck?? I try to stay humble and I don't have any bad vises that I know of. Cheers, Terry

[Steve Antonucci]

Re: terry,sounds like you have been there.

Terry,

My wife used to say that this hobby and my cars were my vises......

[Terry F.]

Re: terry,sounds like you have been there.

My wife says the same thing. She knows I get a lot of satisfaction from it. I am pretty good at fixing things and she never grew up around anyone that fixed anything with more than a hammer. So, she sort of watches with amusement and my daughter thinks I can fix anything. I need to learn how to post pictures on this board. I could post some intesting pictures. I am definitely a small time operation. Terry

[Jay G.]

Re: Clone Article in AUTOWEEK 9/14 issue

The other problem is they are now preying on the uneducated. e-Bay auctions etc you'll find cars such as 69 camaros are true SS cars with X-11 or X-44 codes. Both were offered with 6cyl. So much for true SS. Can't tell you no. of times I've spoken with people re: X-77 or X-33 what's it mean? Oh Z-28 how about X-22 or X-66? The only real SS small block is X-55. Now Corvettes and Mopar, Cars 68-71 "Tribute" with non-org Hemis are going for more than real 67 GTX with an org. Hemi? The 68-71 is a nicer body style, but give me real evertime for the cash. Of course the Sm Block 67 Vette that morphed into a Black on red 435 was comical last B-J Auction 2005. The Ohio dealer that created it called me on one of my cars. Could'nt hand up the phone fast enough. To the acholol floowing boys in AZ. I say Better you than Me.

[Clem Z.]

all this high dollar stuff has chased the young

performance crowd into the ricers instead of corvettes.once the age group that now owns corvettes has taken their dirt nap there will be no market for old corvettes because the people coming behind have not longed to own a corvette.