Restomods vs. Replicas

[ProtoTipo]

Well, it's the same with Lotus Elans.
People forget that a lot of them were first built in people's sheds.

In the case of the L.B. STR, it's a kit car first, and a turnkey product second.
I suppose the labelling would different if it was the other way round.

Perception of Stratos replicas has changed for the better in recent years. 'Not that it was ever that bad.
I wanted a Stratos kit from day one in the 1980s, no matter what other people's perception of them was.
This was a long long time before I could afford* one, or had driven one. (1997)

*I've never actually been able to afford one, but somehow it hasn't stopped me.

[Normb666]

I often think of LBs as about as close as you'd get to restomodding a Stratos. See, a restomod needs an original car as a base, and nobody in their right mind would do that sort of thing to a Stratos - there were simply too few made. E-Types and 911s, however, are just the thing, cos there were (are) loads about and re-engineering a few of those with modern underpinnings isn't gonna get anyone out of shape.

So yeah, a Hawk or an LB are firstly kits, and neither of them is a replica, which is a nut-and-bolt copy of an original. But whereas the Hawk is about trying to get as close to an original as it can, the LB eschews that and uses more modern parts, which is why I think of it as that aforementioned almost-restomod. And as Chris says, perceptions have changed - people, including those with serious car collections, are now very happy to add either car to their stable, and pay accordingly. I do think some of this is due to Lancias generally now being appreciated (at last!), and so these peeps know about the Stratos and its history, and our cars have been dragged upwards in that wake.

Chris, I too have never let affordability stop me when it comes to cars and bikes, except for the really exotic stuff like Ferraris and Lambos. Did have a 911 GT3 for a few years, and it was great, but sold it cos I knew I'd not be able to afford it if any big bills happened along. Still, 20K miles for not a lot... one service, one set of tyres, and lots of petrol and adrenaline

[Normb666]

Meant to say, Caterhams don't fit into the replica/restomod thing cos you can trace them back to the original Lotus, which had different motors and specs all along, so they're the original car, still in production, effectively, even though there's not a single interchangeable part. And because there's so little to them, they're easy to build, so there's no difference in factory or home-built cars...in fact I've got a factory-built one in the garage, and there are a couple of things on it that would have been done better/properly by someone doing their own car. Nothing that's a show-stopper, or not fixable, but it just goes to show. Still great fun though....except at this time of year (freezing just thinking about it!)

[hedge]

Chris, why is an LB STR "a kit car first & a turnkey product second"? Is that due to the numbers of each?

Cheers,
Hedge

[Strat Fan]

Chris, why is an LB STR "a kit car first & a turnkey product second"? Is that due to the numbers of each?

Cheers,
Hedge

Because it was launched, conceived and marketed primarily as a kit in the early days. The turn key side of the market was just a small percentage of the sales back then.
As the kits have evolved and the specs and the finish of the cars have evolved then I think the market for the turn keys has increased.
There is also probably a shift in the market where some of the customers who desire these cars are maybe better equipped financially than they were traditionally.
These customers may also be less well equipped to build their own car due to a lack of mechanical experience & also maybe have no desire to go rummaging around scrap yards for donor parts etc etc.
I think the replicas are best described as homage cars where they take the appearance of the originals but do not mimic the construction methods, materials & components of the originals.
Instead they tip the hat to the real Stratos but use a different chassis structure, body material, brake package, engine etc in attempt to make them easier to construct & more accessible to the everyman.

A true replica or continuation car would be something more like Gerry is working on where you start with a reproduction steel tub and then build a rivet replica from this using remanufactured or authentic parts along with a Dino engine.
As Chris says a restomod would involve the modification of an original steel monocoque chassis'd car which I don't think should really happen. The only other option would be to build from the Marchesi or GTO Tech reproduction chassis and then introduce a more modern Ferrari engine, oversize wheels, larger brakes, some carbon panels & an LCD dash etc etc. Who in their right mind would fit oversize wheels and brakes to a Stratos'.....

[Karnevil]

Because it was launched, conceived and marketed primarily as a kit in the early days. The turn key side of the market was just a small percentage of the sales back then.
As the kits have evolved and the specs and the finish of the cars have evolved then I think the market for the turn keys has increased.
There is also probably a shift in the market where some of the customers who desire these cars are maybe better equipped financially than they were traditionally.
These customers may also be less well equipped to build there own car due to a lack of mechanical experience & also maybe have no desire to go rummaging around scrap yards for donor parts etc etc.

I was just gonna rummage around LB and generally make a pest of myself till they gave me the bits i neededed...........gave/sold/donated...........

[hedge]

Because it was launched, conceived and marketed primarily as a kit in the early days. The turn key side of the market was just a small percentage of the sales back then.
As the kits have evolved and the specs and the finish of the cars have evolved then I think the market for the turn keys has increased.
There is also probably a shift in the market where some of the customers who desire these cars are maybe better equipped financially than they were traditionally.
These customers may also be less well equipped to build their own car due to a lack of mechanical experience & also maybe have no desire to go rummaging around scrap yards for donor parts etc etc.
I think the replicas are best described as homage cars where they take the appearance of the originals but do not mimic the construction methods, materials & components of the originals.
Instead they tip the hat to the real Stratos but use a different chassis structure, body material, brake package, engine etc in attempt to make them easier to construct & more accessible to the everyman.

A true replica or continuation car would be something more like Gerry is working on where you start with a reproduction steel tub and then build a rivet replica from this using remanufactured or authentic parts along with a Dino engine.
As Chris says a restomod would involve the modification of an original steel monocoque chassis'd car which I don't think should really happen. The only other option would be to build from the Marchesi or GTO Tech reproduction chassis and then introduce a more modern Ferrari engine, oversize wheels, larger brakes, some carbon panels & an LCD dash etc etc. Who in their right mind would fit oversize wheels and brakes to a Stratos'.....

Ah, ok, I think I get it now. When you use the word "homage" to describe the replicas, then that is my kind-of light bulb moment. I also didn't appreciate how they were originally conceived & marketed in the early days.

Thanks, all.

Cheers,
Hedge

[ProtoTipo]

I'm from the original group of people who witnessed the works and Chequered Flag cars performing in period. Consequently, aspiring to own the nearest thing I can get to a Stratos is deep rooted.
I think because of that, it matters less to me how the spaceframe kit replicas are pigeonholed these days.

[LPH_UK]

There is also probably a shift in the market where some of the customers who desire these cars are maybe better equipped financially than they were traditionally.

Basically it's gone the same way as many other things and become 'gentrified'

[Normb666]

Back in the day I'd have given body parts for a Stratos... well, somebody else's body parts, anyhow But as time moves on and I've got older and cars and components have developed, although the appeal of the Stratos concept hasn't dimmed, I'm much more inclined towards one with modern components, and therefore that's why an LB appealed to me so much. It doesn't have to be original, or as close as you can get, for me, although I fully understand why it does for others.
The other reason I like the idea of restomods or homages or whatever word you want to use, is because cars back in the day weren't particularly reliable - and that was when they were new...40 or 50 years on and they haven't improved any!

"Better equipped financially"....I like that! However, there are those who might have been in that situation before getting the car, but they're not now they've bought it