Recently, another member asked a question about re-badging his car.
I used the word "Clone" to describe my 383,700R4,'68'vert....

JimM made a very good point that the word "Clone" (to him) meant "exact duplicate".
..which makes sense when you really think of the word "clone" as in DNA match..
With that in mind, I agree with JimM.

I wanted to ask what we should call a "re-badged" pro-touring Camaro upgrade..?
I consider my Camaro a Pro-Touring car or upgrade.
'68'vert, 383, 700R4, power disk brakes, PS, electric windows, upgraded suspension.
My original POP and cowl tag show this as a Z1, British Racing Green, Parchment interior.
I plan on added the Z/28 stripes and Z/28 badges.

Using the definition above, my car would not be a clone, (well not a very good one).
I plan on telling people she's a '68 plain jane, and watch the confusion build.

I don't want to use the term Z/28 "clone", so what should I call it?
Re-badged sounds like a rent-a-cop, and I can't say "its a bad clone"..
How about "Transformer"?
"post-dealer upgrades"?
restoration upgrade?
Z/28 upgrade?

Let's hear your thoughts, but please, let's avoid the whole fraud debate.
I'm talking about pro-touring cars that are re-badged, not attempted fraud.

...........And... (hopefully without stirring up much controversy or completely derailing the post) there are clones and there are clones.

I really don't like using the word "clone" to describe a modified car in SS or Z28 dress. That could be because I made and drive one I suppose. To me "clone" means "exact duplicate." and someday some future owner may forget that and screw someone. Don't make it "too good a clone." For example, my car looks like an SS on the outside, but it isn't, never was and never will be. Besides being an undocumented 68, it is highly modified, and doesn't contain any of the correct SS hardware. Hopefully, if my kids ever sell it after I die, it will be to someone smart enough to notice the "327" badges on the fenders and #'s matching 327 block under the hood.

I really hate the word clone. It implies fraud.

I would call it a re-badged PT Camaro.

"Tribute" seems to be an accepted term in other car forums for an upgraded car. And, yeah, I can't see how anyone would consider what you've done to your car as a "clone". It is very obvious that the entire drivetrain wasn't an "available option" in 68.....:D

"Mild Pro Touring"?

Personally, I don't mind the Clone word. With so many fake POP, tags and badges on the market, it's like someone is actually telling the truth about their car for once.



Rich

It would be kinda fun if 1 of the vendors had a Pro-Touring badge made that could be put on the car.

It would be kinda fun if 1 of the vendors had a Pro-Touring badge made that could be put on the car.

Just incorporate the "PT" from a PT Cruiser emblem.

Or visit http://www.motorheadjewelry.com/customtg.html for some custom one off stuff.

I also use the term Clone but you raise a good point. Restomod seems to be a growing term on the auction block

"Owner installed aftermarket custom appearance and performance package" ?

How about 'Custom' ?

After all, it is customized, isn't it?

I like the words resto-custom, custom and street machine. Resto-mod and resto-custom (as far as I understand it) was the prevalent style that emerged after the wild stuff of the 70's aside from the Pro-Street movement.

When I have written about customized cars that were badged as an SS or Z (for my club newsletter or for my own photo captions), I would refer to the car as "customized as a ____ or a street machine with styling cues borrowed from a ______"

I don't particularly care for "upgraded" unless we're talking about a factory appearing clone.

That's my .02! :D

Resto-mod seems to be what they use on TV but I dont hear or read to many people using that saying in every day car talk. Clone seems to be the word of choice. My friend would see a 69 with stripes and Z badges and ask me if its real or a clone? I dont see him asking me "hey is that a resto-mod"?? I rolled up on a nice 67 or 69 mustang the other day with full BOSS logos and asked him "Wow is that real Boss" he said "no its a clone". Now the degree of clone I would have no clue it being a stang and all. For all I new it was real!!! I guess what Im saying is I think the word clone is here to stay. No matter the degree from full date coded blocks and assembly markings to just a SS hoods on a plain jane , its just easy to say!!
Even the words plain jane is fun to say. Vs. base car??