Joe,
I respectfully disagree, and here is why. I have been carefully watching the recent two year spike in the prices of these cars. As I recall it all started two years ago at the BJ Auction when a guy brought two well restored 69 Z-28's to be sold. both brought world record prices. Both had FAKE not even reproduction X-rams but fakes without no MFG markings at all. (See attached photo taken at BJ)
To a fanatic-you are correct. originality matters-alot. But unfortunately there are plenty of people that just want one.
Here is a another perfect example of how this plays out.
527 and 826 exaust manfolds. A little shop in indiana was knocking them off in small batches a full three years prior to D+R getting the agreement from GM to do the real Reproductions. As you may recall (I do) Prices on these manifolds were in excess of $1500.00 a pair prior to the official reproductions. Now they are $300.00 a pop and everybody has them. I recently passed on an original set of new take offs for $450.00 due to slight pitting, as the judges will now take points as they are used to the quality of the repops.
I guess the big issue with the X-rams is each major author who has written on them has stated that they do not run well on the street. When the market is flooded in several years we will again see them at swap meets for sale as people pull them back off the cars, and the cycle then repeats.
Phil
