Replica
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It is a fact that all of the above Sports Cars are Replicas.
What’s also true is that these marques are manufacturers in their own right.
Replica:
. a copy or reproduction of a work of art produced by the maker of the original or under their supervision.
. any close or exact copy or reproduction.
Owning a Replica comes with a stigma.
I own and built a 7-style car and have never tried to represent it as a Lotus or Caterham 7.
For what it’s worth, I wanted a building project and had originally sought out a Hayabusa Caterham 7.
The local dealer (in Canada) wouldn’t sell it to me in kit form so I started to explore other 7-style kit car options.
In checking into the world of Kit Cars I found lots of options to explore.
I knew that I wanted a Bike Engined kit and in my research learned a lot about different manufacturers as well as a universe of knowledge about Locost Self Builds.
In the end, I purchased a Canadian kit (Deman Motorsport) and am so glad I did.
It’s an absolute blast to drive and I will never sell it.
My car has proven to be a head-turner and I receive loads of compliments.
Life is never a bed of roses though and from time to time I’ve been confronted by a purist whose contribution to the conversation is … “Well you know, … It’s not a Lotus”.
This kind of commentary doesn’t really doesn’t bother me.
Typically, I just let the “iconoclast” know that I had originally planned to build a Caterham.
My car has no Lotus badges, stickers or Iconic Nosecone Screen Jewelry and I’ve never tried to represent the car as more than a Deman Motorsport SR7.
As we say in the language of Kit Car:
“Replica, … Shmeplica, … Who Cares!”
It is what it is, … a Locost derivative kit car and I love it!
So where does the indignation come from, I wonder?
. Is it just Brand Loyalty and Protecting Engineering rights?
. Is it Snobbery about the Words “Kit Car” and “Replica”?
I really don’t know but it’s worth digging into.
Being a Replica manufacturer is a tricky business.
If there is a hangover from the Caterham/Westfield feud, it seems to me that the litigation played out long ago.
Arguably, the differences between Caterham and pre-lit Westfield were quite wide-ranging:
. the space frame was quite different.
. the front suspension used different donor parts.
. the rear axle links were quite different
Setting aside engineering, it seems the most contentious issues were appearance and branding.
In the end, Westfield had to redesign their cars and lost the right to use the model name “Seven”.
“Lotus 7 Series 1
The Lotus Seven was launched in 1957 to replace the Mark VI as the entry-level Lotus model.’
“Externally similar to Chapman's earlier Lotus Mark VI, but with a different tubular frame similar to the Lotus Eleven, the Seven was powered by a 36 bhp (27 kW; 36 PS) Ford Side valve 1,172 cc inline-four engine.“
“The Seven Series 1 was used both on the road and for club racing (750 motor club in the UK).”
Many may argue that engineering is the defining mark that needs copyright protection but there is ample evidence that variety abounds among manufacturers worldwide and that it is racing (generally) that stimulates innovation.
What about the Self-Build Locost? … Is it a Replica too?
In Ron Champion’s book “Build a Sports Car for as Little as £ 250-and Race It” in the introduction he writes:
“A few of my friends joined the 750 Motor Club and entered their Austin-based specials in the regular club motor races. The rest of us offered practical and moral support as race mechanics, timekeepers, pushers and tea makers.
Our involvement gave us all the opportunity to exchange ideas and barter, not only for spares but also for our skills.
Our specials became more professional looking, fast and fairly reliable, all on minimal funds.
It was very much a case of if you want it, then make it!
Some of the owners/builders, such as Colin Chapman, progressed to national acclaim.
He developed his Austin special into the Lotus Six, then the Lotus Seven - and the rest is history.
The Lotus Seven is still being built today, virtually unchanged visually, by Caterham Cars Ltd.
Since the early '80s there has been a tremendous revival in special building, or I should say kit car building.
They are mostly based on donor parts, just like those in the '50s, but the main difference is that all the parts are sourced, fabricated, painted, chromed and delivered as a package together with a builder's manual.”
“The space-frame chassis is built from straight small diameter tubes.”
There is not a shortage of space-frame designs available for the do-it-yourself builder with plenty of options for width and cockpit size too.
So when protecting your interests, is the primary concern the preservation of engineering rights or is it an issue of misappropriation of aesthetics?
Looking back in time, was the space-frame chassis the design difference that set the Lotus 7 apart from its competitors and, if so, was it Lotus engineering that introduced the (space-frame) concept to racing?
Simply put, many but not all 750 motor club racing competitors used ladder-style frame construction for their race cars.
The automotive application of a space-frame chassis was first introduced way back in the 1930s and in the 1950s the lightweight space-frame concept was also used in racing with Mercedes (300 SLR) as well as Maserati (Bird Cage Tipo 61).
Another 750 Motor Club competitor of that period was Guy Buckingham.
In the book “The NOTA Files”, by Rod Moore and Bruce Bloodworth, they wrote:
“Guy’s involvement during this time (circa 1952 - 1954) in the 750 motor club sharpened his interest in lightweight, good handling race cars that could match it with far more powerful and sophisticated machinery.”
Guy subsequently moved to Australia and in 1956 started building his own race cars.
“After he (Guy Buckingham) and Michael (Martin) had successfully reworked a number of existing race cars, they set about building their own distinct specials.
These (Chassis Nos 1 and 2) were rudimentary square riggers with basic bodywork over a hand-built tubular space type chassis.”
Chassis Nos 1 and 2 commenced building in 1956.
“Chassis no 5 is generally referred to as the Amos Brothers car.”
“It was thought to have been the first to bear a ‘Nota’ nameplate.”
Chassis No 5 commenced building in 1957.
So again, is this a Replica?
The engineering feud between Caterham and Westfield was settled out of court.
Caterham has preserved its engineering rights and now many manufacturers have carved out a market share for their own 7-Style cars.
Although labelled Replicas, many of the 7Style sports car manufacturers have bespoke engineering and designs of their own.
There are plenty of examples of innovation and here are but a few:
MK (and others) offer kits with cantilevered inboard dampers.
XCS Designs offers kits with anti-roll/camber compensation suspension.
GBS offers kits with bespoke engineering throughout and a fit and finish that is absolutely first-rate.
Some people choose to build a dream sports car and others will choose to purchase.
In the final analysis, I suspect that Buying decisions are made on the basis of Affordability.
In the prophetic words of one of my old girlfriends:
“No Money, … No Funny, … Honey!”
I wanted a Caterham and ended up with a Kit Car Replica.
Am I happy?
I’ll just let the Huge Grin on my face do the talking!
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