Fakes or Replicas?

Sir,

I was very interested to see that C.R. and D.S.J. are bringing to light some of the more obvious replicas. In the art world they would be considered fakes, but replica seems more respectable. To Joe Public if it looks like, sounds like and goes like, then why bother, but when vast sums of money are asked the buyer must always beware.

A typical case amused me some years ago when a typical Mk. One member of the public (not to be confused with the average walking encyclopaedia) said of a pretty Austin 7 “they don’t make ‘em like that anymore” to which the driver replied “No, some parts are nearly two weeks old!”

Of course your article on this subject has squashed my plans, as I have collected some wiring conduit from a garage where a Lancia was stored, a chip of paint from the Lancia Museum in Turin, some sea water from the spot where Ascari crashed in Monaco, and a piece of thrown tread from Castellotti’s tyre, all of which I was going to use as a basis for my completely original D50 Racer. Still I can always buy a VW Type 35B replica!

Newbury, Barry Crowe