Parts Evolution

[jaudette3]

John Goriup mentioned in another thread that high quality reproductions of the factory nudge bars are being made by Bob Chase, owner of Grey Eagle and are available for $325.00. A friend just paid $2,000 for an NOS one.

It appears that the same parts evolution is starting to occur with early 911's as has occurred with 356's. I just acquired my first 356 after a several year hiatus and I'm amazed at how inexpensive and high quality reproduction parts are. A few years ago the quality of reproduction parts was so low that the hard core wouldn't touch them and preferred to search and pay for NOS and refurbished parts. I'm pretty hard core about originality myself, but the new parts that are now available for 356's (thanks NLA and others) are so good that I'm just not motivated to pay a premium for an original part.

Oddly, as there hasn't been a major movement to reproduce early 911 parts at a high level of quality yet, it's less expensive now to obtain parts for 356's than for early 911's. But I suspect that will change rapidly given that the installed base of early 911's and owners is large and avid.

One inevitable consequence of this is that prices of original parts will fall. We've seen that with many 356 parts and it will probably occur with early 911 parts as well. But availability of high quality reproduction parts is sure going to make restoring these old cars more affordable.

John Audette

[210bhp]

John

It could be that original part prices will fall but it will muddy the waters if reproduction items are not advertised and sold as such. One could imagine the temptation on a 325 dollar nerf bar being ebayed at the price of an original by some seller who we know doesn't give a damn.
This is where this board and experts among us become even more important in helping the greener newbie to achieve an effective purchase (especially a few years down the line). Have you ever watched The Antiques Road Show? The experts in each field are always trying to work out 'if it is an original or a fake'.

I'm just not sure on these reproduction items. After all we are very quick to pounce on a car we feel is not 'genuine' when it is put up for sale....remember the famous 'reproduced' RS chassis #406. We were quick to criticise a 'fake' car so what is the difference between that and essentially 'fake' parts?

What would be your take on an Eastern European or Chinese "exact copy, indistinguishable from the real thing" 67S, yes a complete car! Would you buy one? How would it make you feel driving a fake? How would that affect the price of the real thing?

If the price of original parts will fall the more reproduction parts are available then by the same argument so will the price of the whole car.

Regards
Mike

[kenikh]

It's a funny thing...those who want verified original parts will still pay for them, the rank and file won't.

The "specialness" of seeing rare parts is definitely diminished by the repops, but the availability of repro parts only helps in making the hobby accessible to a wider audience. It has been a long time since the average joe could build an RGruppe hotrod or fully restoed 911 at a price tag that could be considered reasonable. Repro parts help take the hobby back to 20 years ago when NOS parts were still plentiful and affordable.

Take a look at what the repro Cibie hood and Puck horn buttons have done to their respective markets. Selling a NOS set of Cibies or a puck at anything above the new repro price is nearly impossible. That said, making your car "yours" is much less capital intensive today than 3 years ago.

I'd be shocked if we don't see a lot of unobtainium items coming online very soon for fractions of the NOS prices. Marek is now selling LWB muffler skirts and will soon be selling 110L tanks for half of what used beaters go for. We are seeing the market speak and there will be no turning back.

[kenikh]

If the price of original parts will fall the more reproduction parts are available then by the same argument so will the price of the whole car.

I'd say history, while supporting the notion of parts prices dropping, does not support the price of complete cars dropping, given the availability of an equivalent replica. The gestalt of a complete car is a very different thing than that of a part and the uniqueness of a VIN helps that (ignoring outright fraud, of course).

I would challenge anyone to support the notion that an Intermecanica Speedster replica has in any way negatively affected the price of a real Speedster.

[preS]

Marek is now selling LWB muffler skirts and will soon be selling 110L tanks for half of what used beaters go for.

Will that be the steel tank for the SWB?

Richard

[jaudette3]

It's kind of funny. When I was heavily into 356's I used to bring up the original vs. reproduction parts issue once in a while. One time an owner dropped by with his show winning 356SC Sunroof Coupe on a trailer. As he proudly showed me the car I couldn't help but notice how almost all the parts were repro's. It prompted me to post a question to the 356 Faithful - Do you reach a point with reproduction parts where the car becomes essentially a replica? Drew quite a response.

And now I'm putting all kinds of reproduction parts on my recently acquired '63 BT6 with no sense of guilt whatsoever.

John Audette

[kenikh]

It's kind of funny. When I was heavily into 356's I used to bring up the original vs. reproduction parts issue once in a while. One time an owner dropped by with his show winning 356SC Sunroof Coupe on a trailer. As he proudly showed me the car I couldn't help but notice how almost all the parts were repro's. It prompted me to post a question to the 356 Faithful - Do you reach a point with reproduction parts where the car becomes essentially a replica? Drew quite a response.

And now I'm putting all kinds of reproduction parts on my recently acquired '63 BT6 with no sense of guilt whatsoever.

John Audette

When the NOS parts aren't available at any price, the scale tips and culture changes. Funny, eh?

[orange911]

I am ready for someone to replicate the luggage/roof racks to the Porsche one, not the AMSCO one

[joegt3cup]

I am ready for someone to replicate the luggage/roof racks to the Porsche one, not the AMSCO one

Perhaps I should sell my original at some insane price now before it's to late !

[orange911]

Please feel free to PM me your insane price. I just might bite