Continuation Or Abomination?

The case for and against clones of historic racecars

- Mike Blanchet

The revelation that a limited edition ‘reproduction’ 1958 Vanwall VW5 F1 car is being created by Hall & Hall has been followed by a similar announcement concerning BRM’s fabled 1950’s Type 15. Jaguar had already pre-empted the dash to cash with its ‘continuation’ of the Le Mans-winning D-Type sports racer, preceded by XKSS and lightweight E-Type reproductions. There will undoubtedly be more such examples, as current technology means there is virtually no limit now to what can be viably reproduced, given people with deep enough pockets to buy them, of course.

Purists have no doubt thrown up their hands in horror, especially those fortunate enough to own the pur sang racers. What effect will there be on the stratospheric values of their prized investments now that just rich – rather than super-rich – folk, whose offshore accounts can stand being dented by a couple of million, can obtain an ostensibly identical car?

Providing these high-quality reproductions aren’t churned out by the dozen (unlikely, although there will always be the temptation to sell more than the initial run), it won’t make a jot of difference. Much is made in the presentation of these new cars of how faithful they are to the team cars of the time. But unique patina and history cannot be replicated, in the same way that even a brilliantly faked Van Gogh is never going to raise the same emotions as one of the Master’s originals. To see and touch the real thing is to see and touch history.

Exciting times