Dataplate knockoffs...

[Bill Walker]

Interesting thread. I was recently watching the classic car auction out in Arizona (I think) on TV, and that crowd has an a similar slant on it. They have "original" cars, with all the parts from a 1957 Chevy for example, but for top dollar you need to have all the serials of all the main components match the original build records for that car. Sort of degrees of originality, I guess.

I have never, and probably will never, be able to afford any sort of Warbird, so I guess I can take a detached point of view. Any original parts, even just the nameplate, gives the machine some sense of history, and make it interesting. More original parts, more interesting. Less original parts - I still want one!

[tom d. friedman]

a little perspective......... i'm in the jewelry business, an authorized rolex watch dealer. our rep came in with a phoney rolex president right down to the box & paperwork. it looked like the real deal, retail price $18000.00. somebody bought a real 1, knocked it off fake sans the perpetual internal movement. my brother who is an authority on watches was shocked. the rep said that the fake would even go for a few grand. caveat emptor or how ever you spell it. my point is that with today's technology you need to know what your buying in terms of collectables / valuables / investments. somebody commented on m-1 rifles made from parts, nothing matching as to seial numbers. very valid point. if you are going to buy an original p-40 then you better go through it with a fine tooth comb.