Through the 356 Registry, I have made local connections with Porsche-OEM owners. It’s helpful to be in contact with them so I can have real live examples of concours cars to model off of, to the extent I wish to. One fellow invited me over to show me his collection, including his concours Convertible D.
He was very accommodating and invited me to a local 356 event. I asked him whether my replica would be welcome, and what he thought of replicas in general. His answer was interesting but logical. He said he looked at replicas similarly to non-replicas. The beauty is in how well the owner has created his work of art. With an OEM car, it could be to recreate a showroom example, to gracefully update certain things, or even to go full custom. With a replica, OEM owners are looking at how replicators do things, how well the original is replicated, and whether the car is a thing of beauty.
He enjoyed explaining details of what was correct for this and that, and had suggestions for what to add or change first. His first easy fix? Reflectors. Second, rubber mats under the cocomats. Use euro tail lights if you are going to add our small bumperettes. Stuff like that.
I expected a purist attitude, and was pleasantly surprised not to find that. I was particularly surprised coming from a concours enthusiast.
At any rate, he has been very helpful so far.
He really echoed some of the reasons we purchase replicas too. He talked at some length about how he couldn’t drive his car where there would be traffic. He doesn’t leave his car, ever. He appreciates his Convertible D as a work of art, not a drivable automobile. In a way that is a shame, but it’s understandable that a rare car, worth that much, would be treated in such a way. I actually would not be surprised if he ends up with a replica at some point. He really liked the car.
