"Send in the Clones"

[Douglas]

You'll never guess what they're making some amazing replicas of these days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB7NRqXCCL4

P.S. That headline is from a Honda ad from the 80s.

[dtuttle123]

I think this just makes our cars more valuable!

Doug
1967 250SL
4-Speed, Orient Red, Leather

[waqas]

I don't understand this. Unless it's made in China and dirt cheap, it makes no sense. You can still get a reasonable 230sl for a reasonable sum of money...  (with or without Chevy engine)

[benzportland]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery....

[mbzse]

quote:Originally posted by waqas

I don't understand this..../...

As I have come to hear, import of vehicles into Brazil, even second hand ones, is severely restricted and very very expensive. Thus, a whole little industry has grown making replicas of sought after older car types. Among them, our favourite the W113  

[mdsalemi]

Did we not hear of this some time ago?  I recall hearing about (perhaps even some topic discussion?) on a South American clone some years ago...I seem to recall however, it wasn't made any more.  I don't speak Spanish so have no idea what they are talking about.

[Nate]

I wonder if the build quality is as good as Stuttgart? Probably built on a VW Beetle (gen 1) chassis...

[Mike Hughes]

quote:Originally posted by mdsalemi

Did we not hear of this some time ago?  I recall hearing about (perhaps even some topic discussion?) on a South American clone some years ago...I seem to recall however, it wasn't made any more.  I don't speak Spanish so have no idea what they are talking about.

They speak their own version of Portugese in Brazil.  I've sent the link to a friend and asked him to translate it for me.  The engine is the Brazilian version of the old Chevy "stovebolt" six, which does have a bit of a sporting pedigree, since it powered the original 1953-1954 Corvette!

[domingo_santo]

I have a friend in Brasil that has an original 1971 350 SL and I have written him to share some light on this Phoenix replicar of our loved W-113.  If I get an answer from him I will let the group know.

regards

[Raymond]

Mike,
You should have said, "UNDERpowered the original 1953 - 1954 Corvette."  That six was hardly "sporty".  The poor power and poor reviews of the car almost got the project killed at GM.  If they hadn't gone to the 265 V8 in '55, the 'Vette might never have been a success.

The engine didn't have the low end torque or high end revs of the Mercedes 6.  I wonder how the new little blue stovebolt is?  You'd think that if they were going to go to all the trouble to make a repro, they'd have given it more guts in the power department.  

[mdsalemi]

I'm well aware that they speak their own version of Portugese in Brazil; I was NOT aware that this is where the clone was from!  All I heard and saw was "South America" and to me that says Spanish.  I can't tell the difference in hearing since I speak neither.  I speak English and the peculiar version of it from New Yawk.  You gotta problem wit dat?