Should I or Shouldn't I?

[1973mach1]

IM debating making a BOSS 351 clone out of my 1973 Mach 1, It seems common with the earlier fastbacks to make then Shelby clones but I was wondering what your opinions are on this? Im never going to try to sell it or pass it off as a real Boss 351 but I always liked the decals and the sound of it. I cant afford a real BOSS 351 although my build up will be close, im using a Solid lift cam with 351c 4v that will make about 400-450HP, has front disc, boss guage setup, i'd also do the Boss hood paint and hood pins.

Jim

 

[Ronstang]

Hey, it is personal choice but I even disagree with the clone thing. It is one thing to use all the parts to make your car like a Shelby/Boss but painting/decaling it to look exactly like one is not something I like. I always suggest that people change something in the paint/stripes/decals to personalize it and show that although you are emulating a great car it is not a real one and your personal interpretation.

 

[dolfan87]

I respectfully disagree with Ronstang.

It's your car, and if a Boss 351 is what you want your car to be, then make it the way you want it.

That's just my two cents.

87

 

[Ronstang]

You can disagree with me all you want.....but I prefaced my comments by saying that it is a personal choice. He asked for opinions and I gave him mine and you gave him yours

 

[Swede958]

A person's car is a person's car, no matter what they want to do to it and what others think.

My personal oppinion- most cars that can be brought back to stock- if they can be and the owner wants too, that's groovy. But if ya have no intention of taking back to stock- go all out.

The 70' sportsroof I have is going to be inspired by the T/A racers- I already got 8 spoke wheels (in a modern 16" size) with some meaty tires, though I could go bigger in back. I'm gonna keep it a small block, but stroke it out. THe interior is going to be nice, but semi-race oriented, i.e. seats, harnass, wheel, rollbar etc. Brakes will be modern 4 disk.

If ya want to clone something, don't just clone it, while nice, they are normally overall boring. When people learn about their clone-ness, the mystique vanishes. Instead make it your own. On my '69 style Boss 302 graphics, the side will read "Swede 302".

Just my .02- and that's all it is.

The Swede

 

[Hack]

I think you should do what you want. It sounds like it will be a fun car!

My opinion: well if I saw the car at a show and it was a Boss 351 clone, I would look at it and admire it. If it was well done, I would really enjoy and like it. If it were my car, I would lean more toward personalization and a little more creativity. However, I wouldn't look at a clone and think anything negative about it (unless the guy did a crappy job with it).

Good luck.

 

[propellerhead]

People do it all the time. A lot of late model V6 owners make their cars look like the GTs. The GT owners make theirs look like Mach 1s or Cobras. Why can't you make yours a Boss 351? Go for it! Take lots of pics for a BEFORE and AFTER book.

 

[2nd Mustang]

I'll offer my $ .02 and raise you a penny. I'd make my car perform like a Boss or better and make it a sleeper. I like the ALMOST stock look with "more than stock" performance. As far as badges on V6's, why? When a real performance car pulls up to you, you can't back those badges, then you look pretty silly for trying.

 

[Max Power]

I guess I have no issues if your honest about it. People get all worked up over, what in essence, was decal packages from the factory anyway. The Mach 1 is decals, paint and sport mirrors. Everything else was available on other Mustangs, yet people pay a huge premium for 'mystique'. Not sure what the mustique is, since they made as many Mach 1s as they did regular fastbacks in 69.

I'm gonna make mine a clone GT just becasue I like the black stripe on the rocker panel and the argent GT wheels. Even though they are rare, it's just trim to me.

 

[BobV]

My .02....

Go for it - it's YOUR car!

While you're doing it, pay homage to the original, but don't be afraid to make improvements wherever you can. As far as I'm concerned, there are only 2 rules when it comes to clones:

Rule 1) NEVER try to pass it off as real.

Rule 2) No cosmetic clones - mechanical components should equal or exceed the "real thing".

 

[WORTH]

I've always abeen a Do it My way kinda guy anyway. If you like it, do it. Personally I wouldn't clone it because I've never seen one that I liked stock anyway. I like to add myown personal touches.

 

[1973mach1]

As far as I can tell the only appearence difference on the Mach 1 vs. the BOSS 351 was the BOSS 351 decal on the front fender in place of the Mach 1. It should actually outperform the original BOSS 351, it will be making about 100 more HP with a more radical cam/intake/carb and 4:11 outback. I wouldn't even think of a clone if I was only running a stock 351c 2v or a I-6, I wouldn't want to be given the BOSS a bad reputation on the street having the rice boys thinking they beat a BOSS when its actually a 170HP 351c 2v. I just dind't know how the real BOSS 351 owners would take it, I know some people put down clones.

Thanks,
Jim