Superbird / Daytona Clone versus original

[70phoenix]

I'm restoring a original Superbird. At one point, before Cuda's, Chargers, etc were considered collectables/valuable someone stripped my car of many of its superbird unique parts. I have managed to find most everything as far as original items that I was missing. However what I keep running into, and to me its quite annoying, is people building clone cars and snatching up the original parts to build clones.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against clones. However, how I look at it is a original Superbird should have a original hood, nose, rear wing, etc not be forced to use a fiberglass Ted Janek or Jack McGuaghey version because clones were built with the original parts making the original parts almost impossible to find. The reproduction stuff should be going on clones, not the original stuff. Anybody else agree ? Disagree ?

[Indygenerallee]

I agree with you but it's a free society and people can do with their money as they choose, is it the right choice? Almighty dollar rules all.

[Troy]

Perhaps you should be angry with the people who originally stripped your car? They're the ones with no respect for originality.

If your car was wrecked and the original parts were mangled then you'd have no choice but to replace them with something. Chrysler didn't make enough spares to last a lifetime though. While I know there certainly are original/NOS Superbird parts available, they are expensive! That's how the reproduction market got started. They didn't fire up a bunch of parts solely to make clones. Some of those guys with clones happened to have original parts laying around (that they collected when the cars were worth a lot less) so it wouldn't have made sense for them to spend money on reproductions. Plus, not all reproductions are very good - and the ones that are can be very expensive. So, if it costs more to use a reproduction then why not use original? I know Brian (1hotdaytona) has an original nose (or part of one) on his Daytona clone but it was a mangled mess that his father was able to pound back into shape.

While it would be great to have every rare car assembled with original parts... it ain't gonna happen. That's part of what separates the truly fine cars from the ones that aren't (originality or the desire for it).

Troy

[moparstuart]

My car has all your parts on it  . made from all real superbird parts expect the wing backets and the wing washers ,      I also have many orginial ( though rough ) daytona parts to make a daytona clone someday .   I have been collection other people cast offs .

[69 DAYTONA]

My car has all your parts on it  

...I'll really whiz you off  

...I used a REAL 1970 Road Runner conv....matching numbers car for my clone (drive train and front sheet metal etc. was all saved)

...a REAL Superbird wing, all original sheet metal, reproduction steel nose

...how many more decades should we wait for all the owners of original cars to get around to acquiring all the right parts, I'm so old now I don't buy green bananas ...in all honesty, the wing was one of the easiest parts to locate, the dirt common '70 Coronet hood was the most difficult

PS...I also own a real SBird and a real Daytona

[montana bird]

I think the rarity of the cars, and  parts, reflect why these cars comand the price. There are allot of orig parts on clones, and fiberglass parts on real birds. Kinda funny how that all works out. Its kinda like HP Speed is a question of cubic dollars, How fast to you want to GO

[Indygenerallee]

69 Daytona, Was that pic taken at the Indianapolis state fairgrounds? looks like it! I love that car I am gonna have to head your way one day and take a gander at it!!

[69 DAYTONA]

69 Daytona, Was that pic taken at the Indianapolis state fairgrounds? looks like it! I love that car I am gonna have to head your way one day and take a gander at it!!

...yes

...you are welcome anytime

[Daytona Guy]

My car has all your parts on it  

PS...I also own a real SBird and a real Daytona

PS...You make me sick   in a good way

Dane

[BIGBLCK11]

Sorry to disagree.  But, if you put all original Superbird parts on a "clone", the only difference between it and a "real" one is the fender tag and vin.  I personally believe the only ones worth as much money as they bring, still have their "original" paint/parts and are true survivors.  I am sure plenty of people won't see it that way, but I do.  Yes, it wasn't ordered that way, but the car itself and all the parts were made by Mopar way back when, just assembled in a different configuration.  Clone, says fake to me, which they are not.  This does not include illegal tag swaps and representing them otherwise.  Unless you find the exact nose/wings/parts from your car, is it actually original at that point or a clone of itself?  Nothing personal, just my .

[dreamcatcher]

  Why cat we all just get along 

[DAY CLONA]

I'm restoring a original Superbird. At one point, before Cuda's, Chargers, etc were considered collectables/valuable someone stripped my car of many of its superbird unique parts. I have managed to find most everything as far as original items that I was missing. However what I keep running into, and to me its quite annoying, is people building clone cars and snatching up the original parts to build clones.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against clones. However, how I look at it is a original Superbird should have a original hood, nose, rear wing, etc not be forced to use a fiberglass Ted Janek or Jack McGuaghey version because clones were built with the original parts making the original parts almost impossible to find. The reproduction stuff should be going on clones, not the original stuff. Anybody else agree ? Disagree ?

Seriously?.....that's the same kind of thinking from those that say,"only original cars should be restored with NOS sheetmetal or NOS parts, that it shouldn't be used on clones or modified vehicles".....they're all just machines, get over it, your car was "original" only once, unless it was stored in a bubble and never used,.....it's just a used car now, with used parts attached, nothing more, nothing less

[69 DAYTONA]

Sorry to disagree.  But, if you put all original Superbird parts on a "clone", the only difference between it and a "real" one is the fender tag and vin.  I personally believe the only ones worth as much money as they bring, still have their "original" paint/parts and are true survivors.  I am sure plenty of people won't see it that way, but I do.  Yes, it wasn't ordered that way, but the car itself and all the parts were made by Mopar way back when, just assembled in a different configuration.  Clone, says fake to me, which they are not.  This does not include illegal tag swaps and representing them otherwise.  Unless you find the exact nose/wings/parts from your car, is it actually original at that point or a clone of itself?  Nothing personal, just my .

...my survivor Bird loaded up for a trip to my house...it's so original it still has all the scratches and dings from the last 40 years

[41husk]

Great shot 69 Daytona!  My clone has reproduction parts but if something happened to my car and real parts were available at the same or near the same price I would install them.  For what I have it insured for, if something happened to the clone I would probably pony up a little more cash and buy a real wing car

[33yeartoy]

  divorce sale ?  there might be a couple wing cars and hemi,collection  for sale if she gets her way. going to look at today in badger state. all been appraissed last friday.

[Ghoste]

Before the cars were collectibles, the parts weren't worth so much either.  A lot of the real parts you are talking about came off of cars when the car and parts were just old stuff.  I can't imagine too many of the modern clones are stripping real wing cars for their parts.  Now as for real parts they are buying today to use, if I were building a clone I cant say I would be so noble as to say well, I can't afford a real Daytona so on my clone I refuse to buy this real nosecone when there are repros.  I would buy the real part if I could afford it.
Soooooo, I guess what I am saying in a roundabout way is that if you are restoring a wing car and you are mad because all of the good parts are on clones from years past, well, they were just old parts then.  If you are mad because clone builders today are buying up parts instead of you, maybe they are just willing to pay more?
If I were restoring a real wing car, I would want real parts on it as well, but if the parts are out there and clone builders are beating me to the punch, as upset as I might be with them I think I'd have to give myself equal or more blame.

[oldcarnut]

I guess that would mean that if real original parts should only go on real original cars,  then your going to have to restrict all sellers of original parts to only sell to customers with original cars. Maybe one year they might have someone needing it but if they need cash now its just wishful thinking.  If I got a part bringing $XXX,  my interest is in what it gets me, not what its going on.  If it was a tie between 2 folks with one needing it for his original and another for a clone then perhaps more thought would go into it.  All the cars I've had, I bought hard to find spares for them as I ran across them for just in case something happened.  Most time something never happened so now I have a group of spares for cars I don't have anymore.  It real unfortunate somebody took parts off your car and I feel for you and anyone else in that situation. Most all my clone parts are repro'd except the back glass which may or may not be original glass but if I found original parts for a deal as good or better , sorry but I'd bought them.

[moparstuart]

Sorry to disagree.  But, if you put all original Superbird parts on a "clone", the only difference between it and a "real" one is the fender tag and vin.  I personally believe the only ones worth as much money as they bring, still have their "original" paint/parts and are true survivors.  I am sure plenty of people won't see it that way, but I do.  Yes, it wasn't ordered that way, but the car itself and all the parts were made by Mopar way back when, just assembled in a different configuration.  Clone, says fake to me, which they are not.  This does not include illegal tag swaps and representing them otherwise.  Unless you find the exact nose/wings/parts from your car, is it actually original at that point or a clone of itself?  Nothing personal, just my .

...my survivor Bird loaded up for a trip to my house...it's so original it still has all the scratches and dings from the last 40 years

are those 71 charger tips ?     

[69 DAYTONA]

Sorry to disagree.  But, if you put all original Superbird parts on a "clone", the only difference between it and a "real" one is the fender tag and vin.  I personally believe the only ones worth as much money as they bring, still have their "original" paint/parts and are true survivors.  I am sure plenty of people won't see it that way, but I do.  Yes, it wasn't ordered that way, but the car itself and all the parts were made by Mopar way back when, just assembled in a different configuration.  Clone, says fake to me, which they are not.  This does not include illegal tag swaps and representing them otherwise.  Unless you find the exact nose/wings/parts from your car, is it actually original at that point or a clone of itself?  Nothing personal, just my .

...my survivor Bird loaded up for a trip to my house...it's so original it still has all the scratches and dings from the last 40 years

are those 71 charger tips ?     

...maybe off of a later Road Runner ?...the owner of the Bird claimed he was nearly killed in a car accident and the only good parts left of the car were the exhaust tips, so he put them on the Bird as a reminder...that's all I know...I have an NOS set for the car if I want to change them

[pettybird]

better just part the car out now.  wrong tips. 

[moparstuart]

better just part the car out now.  wrong tips.  

i can go take it off his hands     he needs a green convertible to park next to that awesome black one   

[Aero426]

Stuart, I am going to put you on the spot, for no other reason than your comment taking about Larry's car off his hands.     Just curious as to how you feel.

Your Birdable is very nice.   In fact, I think it is as nice as any "real" Superbird, and with the factory parts, it is fairly hard to duplicate.   Let's say the money was "in the ballpark".  Would you give up the uniqueness of the Birdable for a running driving project Superbird? 

[41husk]

 

[69 DAYTONA]

better just part the car out now.  wrong tips. 

[moparstuart]

Stuart, I am going to put you on the spot, for no other reason than your comment taking about Larry's car off his hands.     Just curious as to how you feel.

Your Birdable is very nice.   In fact, I think it is as nice as any "real" Superbird, and with the factory parts, it is fairly hard to duplicate.   Let's say the money was "in the ballpark".  Would you give up the uniqueness of the Birdable for a running driving project Superbird?  

First off doug thanks you very much for te compliment on the car...  Means alot coming from you . I dont think i could let it go for a project ,  I am very attached to it and I think i would have to either get enough cash to get into a drive quality real bird or trade even up for a driver quality bird .   I know the car may not be worth that much but thats what i would have to have out of it to let it go .  Love the car , but I also would love to have a real deal bird too .  I would even take a modified real car like larry ropers black ice car .  I would how ever maybe trade for a project daytona if it wasnt a major project .  I could always try a troy trade multiple cars for a nicer Bird or daytona also but i am happy with what i have for now .