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| (From top): A Jaguar D-type; Jaguar F1 driver Mark Webber in an XKSS (left) and Jaguar F1 driver Justin Wilson in a D-type at the Born to Perform Media Track Day in Indiana, USA; the SS Jaguar 100 |
The Jaguar SS100. The MG TD. The Porsche 356. The infamous 550RS. The Mercedes SL300. Even the brutal Shelby Cobra. Glorious cars all ? cars that any auto-lover would dream of having grace his/her garage. These and many like them were the stepping stones of automotive history, the building blocks if you like. Only a few exist today, cherished by their owners, who in turn are envied by those who’d love to have them save for two reasons ? there aren’t any around any more and those that are, command exorbitant prices ? and that’s only when their owners are in the mood to sell them.
So what is a car lover to do? Well, one could go about building a Morsche (a Morris made to look like a Porsche) or a replica of the Caterham Super Seven. You see, the buzzword is ‘replica’. But everyone cannot, because they may not have the wherewithal or the ability, or even the enthusiasm to build a Morsche. So what is one to do? Turn to a manufacturer of replicas, of course.
Believe it or not, there is a band of people whose love for older cars has managed to get them into the world of making and selling replicas. Believe you me, there is a large number of people who’d prefer to be seen driving a classic rather than a modern car. It’s called seat-of-the-pants driving ? a feeling today’s youth will never know thanks to being brought up on a heady diet of Mitsubishi Lancers and Maruti Esteems.
The old cars were notorious for being unreliable ? and figuring out and fixing the problems that arose was part of the fun. Ask any Jaguar owner! Sadly today, one doesn’t have the time for such ‘fun’. But what if the oldies could be revived with modern mechanicals? That’s exactly what replica manufacturers do ? recreate the wind-in-the-face feeling of driving a 1937 SS100 but without having to worry about whether the car will make it to the next corner or not.
One of the most popular cars that has been replicated on a regular basis is the Lotus Super Seven. Designed by Colin Chapman to be a quick, cheap and balanced runabout, one can see modern versions all over the world. Caterham Cars of England bought the rights to the design several years ago and has been making an updated version since, with a number of engine options including Ford Cosworth power. Westfield makes it too, with a choice of a Land Rover V8 or a Suzuki motorcycle engine. Donkervoort also makes something like it in Holland as the D8 with Audi power. Hauser makes the H1 with BMW power in Germany as does Irmscher with Opel power naturally, being Opel special tuning specialists and Rush. It’s made in the Czech Republic as the Kaipan 57 and incorporates VW power while in Japan the Suzusho Supasse sells complete with a Nissan engine.
Also popular with replica manufacturers is the range of early Porsches ? both the 356 and the Spyder 550 are made by Chamomix in Brazil. PGO of France makes them with ? horror of horrors ? a Peugeot engine while Scheib of Germany makes the cars too, with air-cooled boxer-type engines. Scheib also makes the Bugatti Type 35 and MG TD replicas based on the VW Beetle as well as the Mercedes SL300 Roadster using Mercedes mechanicals.
If you want a Ferrrari Testa Rossa and aren’t worried about authenticity (or can’t afford an original), just contact Finch Restorations in Australia. The car comes with a Ferrari V12 engine with an army of six Weber twin carburettors. Finch also makes Jaguars ? C-types, D-types or SS100s ? all with modern mechanicals. Jaguar replicas are also made in the UK by Lynx and by Suffolk Sportscar Engineering while Hurtan in Spain makes a XK120-like replica ? with a Renault engine!
If it’s American cars you’re interested in, a replica could be the answer. Remember the film, The Gumball Rally and the blue Cobra in it? The Shelby Cobra is still made by Shelby in Las Vegas but Everett-Morrison in Florida also does a pretty decent replica. Even the Lincoln Zephyr of 1939 has been replicated ? under the bonnet of the car lurks a V8 from GM. And when it comes to replicas and American cars, the Ford GT40 is a much copied model. Roaring of Australia makes a replica with a 300PS Ford V8 and a Porsche gearbox in it.
The question that arises is whether one is happy to be seen in a copy or the original. Purists of course will slam the copies or replicars as they are known. The feelings are mixed here actually. It depends upon the car. It’s okay if the car is like a Caterham or a Westfield. The Kari 65 some years ago had many agog, for here was a cheap and sporty car coming India’s way. Kits were imported from DAX sportscars of UK and 1.8-litre Isuzu engines sourced. The plan was to indigenise and sell the cars in India. Sadly, only two were made. Even a car like the Finch or Suffolk SS100 which tries to remain true to the original is all right but a Hurtan XK-120 ? one cannot think of a Jaguar with any other engine but a Jaguar ? would certainly not be appreciated. It all depends upon one’s standards.
My first car
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Sharbari Datta
fashion designer
Growing up, we never had a car. So, when I bought my first car with my very own savings, I can’t explain how proud I felt — even though it was a second-hand car. It was almost 12 years ago and I remember it being a good old Ambassador in gleaming white. I chose to go with an Ambassador because first and foremost, it’s a tough, hardy car, perfect for Calcutta’s pothole-riddled roads. Secondly, nothing could beat the Ambassador when it came to spaciousness — there were no Qualis’ and Scorpios then.
I had my ‘Amby’ for over two years and have many fond memories of it. That was the first time we could enjoy the comfort of mobility, without having to depend on taxis and we went everywhere in our car. We even took long drives in it down to our farmhouse in Ahmedpur in Birbhum. I really loved my Amby, so much so that later, I bought an all-new one.