George:
I find exactly the same thing.........they seemed to have bought into the 356 "mystique" more as an investment than anything else. They may know a bit of the history of the car (more like the history of Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche) but know very little about the mechanics and, Heaven Forbid, would they ever take it to anyone but one of those "official Porsche" guys who wear white shop coats and charge $175 per hour to work on their museum piece. HOWEVER! When you talk with them for a few minutes, they can tell you EXACTLY what their model is selling for in Hemmings, Excellence, and on the PCA sites, and then, when you mention that yours is a replica, they change the subject of dash off to talk with someone else.
Having said all that, I recently met a delightful couple from Fall River, MA, who reminded me a lot of the Beese's (remember the "long distance award and chest pain couple from Carlisle?). They bought a 356C in 1964, new, and have been driving it and working on it ever since - know every nut and bolt, and were sincerely interested in my Speedster and how I built it.
To each his own.........gn
When I took delivery of the car back in June, a guy pulled over by the side of the road to watch. As the car sat idling behind the rig, he slowly approached to ask me the year of the car. I told him that it was a 57'.
He proceeded to tell me that he used to race them back in the 60's and early 70's. He commented on what an awesome restoration had been done to my car. I smiled ear to ear and proceeded to tell him that it was a replica. He was in shock when I told him that it was an all glass body on a VW pan. I showed him the powerplant, which he quickly recognized as he grinned from ear to ear.
"Well I'll be..." was the only thing he said as he looked the car over. He loved it, and it was a nice assurance that I made the right decision in buying this replica.
Most of the people in the neighborhood simply keep the comments to themselves. Many of them could buy the real thing, and a different color for each day to boot! But I usually get a nice smile and a nod.
It's even better when I tell them that it once came in a box!
He proceeded to tell me that he used to race them back in the 60's and early 70's. He commented on what an awesome restoration had been done to my car. I smiled ear to ear and proceeded to tell him that it was a replica. He was in shock when I told him that it was an all glass body on a VW pan. I showed him the powerplant, which he quickly recognized as he grinned from ear to ear.
"Well I'll be..." was the only thing he said as he looked the car over. He loved it, and it was a nice assurance that I made the right decision in buying this replica.
Most of the people in the neighborhood simply keep the comments to themselves. Many of them could buy the real thing, and a different color for each day to boot! But I usually get a nice smile and a nod.
It's even better when I tell them that it once came in a box!
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