69 Z/28 tribute car, not clone

[indyjps]

been thinking of a 69 Z tribute car. something im not afraid to drive and abuse. i dont want a clone, i want a car that looks like a Z but will take a trained eye to see whats really going on. thinking a 377 small block so it will wind up like a 302, with a nice lumpy idle, tko 5 speed with hurst shifter thru the console, correct intake, correct appearing engine compartment and some day 2 type headers, moser 12 bolt. correctly badged tribute car that people will walk up to and it will take a minute to notice there is something not quite right.
do you guys think this will suffer the same stigma as a cloned car would, should i just skip the badging altogether. Im wanting a tribute car not a rip off car enough of a difference that it cant possibly be passed off as a true Z. whats your thoughts.

[Dave Rifkin]

I don't know; it seems like you contradict yourself in your post. At first you say you want to create something that only the trained eye would be able to tell the difference and then you say that the car couldn't possibly be passed off as the real deal. Call it what you want I still think it's a clone. Personally I have no issue with clones seeing how the real cars are getting too expensive to own let alone drive and enjoy. The only problem I do have with clones are when some unscrupulous owner tries to pass it off as real, which you've already stated is not your intention.
I say build it how you want and badge it how you want. Whatever you do though I still think the car will be labeled a clone.

[Rick H]

[ QUOTE ]
i dont want a clone, i want a car that looks like a Z but will take a trained eye to see whats really going on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmm, strange statement. if you don't want a clone and it looks like a Z then get a real Z. period.

If it's not a real Z and it takes a train eye to see the difference then it's a clone, tribute, replication, whatever want you to call it.

One thing is for sure, if you do it good enough to fool people and you sell the car then eventually someone will try and pass it off as real.

Skip the badges and build a nice street car.

My $0.02

Rick H.

[HS PROFESSOR]

Tribute car / clone whats the difference?? why dont you just buy a non numbers matching real Z and beat it to death.shop around and buy an X-code car....build your sleeper 302/377 w/tko and moser 12 bolt.and beat it within an inch of its life !!!!enjoy it,show it,race it,and in the end when the funs all over,you still have a REAL Z/28.with a value.not a tribute car/clone/re-creation AKA...... a fake Z/28.sound like fun to me !!!!

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Skip the badges and build a nice street car.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I'd do. Build a KILLER street car, that is. Leave the Z emblems off and avoid the never-ending question: So, is it a real Z?

[indyjps]

OK, no emblems, high winding small block, 5 spd or 6 spd, deep gears. want the look to be original as possible maybe 16 inch ralleyes and a slightly lowered stance. im already building a pro-touring 69 i want the next one to be a more stock appearing/sleeper look.

[Lynn]

Best way to do this IF you do want a "look a like" Z, is find a 6 cyl car to build. That way, the VIN will always denote that the car is not a real Z, even if some scum bag swaps the trim tag.

Just a thought.

Lynn

[indyjps]

yeah it wasnever planned to be numbers matching, just Z inspired, decided against even hanging the emblems though.

[Fhakya]

Another interesting option would be to make it a "Trans-Am" tribute if you like that look.

Possibly paint it the same color as the '69 Penske/Sunoco car w/ some yellow Minilite's and the yellow wheelwell pinstripes?

In that case I think that hanging the Z emblems on it would be an enhancement.

Leaving off the raceday numbers/lettering/decals would give that "Where have I seen that?" effect at a show.

I did a quick photoshop of the idea:

[47Hammer]

[ QUOTE ]
Another interesting option would be to make it a "Trans-Am" tribute if you like that look.

Possibly paint it the same color as the '69 Penske/Sunoco car w/ some yellow Minilite's and the yellow wheelwell pinstripes?

In that case I think that hanging the Z emblems on it would be an enhancement.

Leaving off the raceday numbers/lettering/decals would give that "Where have I seen that?" effect at a show.

I did a quick photoshop of the idea:



[/ QUOTE ]

That's a great look for the '69. My all time personal favorite, just looking at that car gives me goosebumps.