Achtung! Cal Metal's got "wings"!

[Jamo]

Love it Cal--a perfect ride.

I especially love that Nardi Classic wheel--had one on the Butler and now that Yankee-talking Douglas has it (I should've pulled it!). Looks like the one in Turk's pics cut off one spoke of the wheel to "sorta" replicate the two-spoke plastic original's look.

My client has an original Gullwing. Neat story--Dick Smith used to fly his Commander for him--that's how I met Dick about 25 years ago. Jake (the client) keeps the Gullwing for his own pleasure--never drives it.

[Cal Metal]

Thanks, Jamo. The originals don't get driven very much; your friend is in the majority there. Anton Ostermeier, who built these cars, was a member of the GW Club in So. Cal. He said he was the only one who ever drove a GW to a group meeting. The guys attended, but the cars stayed home.

The irony is that the originals need to be driven. There is some issue regarding the seal on the injection pump, and if the car is unused and sits for a long time, it dries up and dilutes the oil in the crankcase, resulting in a $15,000 lower bearing repair.

As much we all would like original cars, there is a practical limit where it no longer makes sense to own them. I have seen cases where guys stick $50K into a Ferrari rebuild after paying $100K for the car. The GW is another example. Big bad $$$ pits.

You are talking to one happy replica owner. I'll let the "real" cars spend $25K on getting their injection unit refurbished.

[Jamo]

Assolutely Cal...again, love your baby!

[Excaliber]

In time I fear we will see the original Cobras treated in a similiar manner. SO expensive and rare they won't be "driven" except in rare cases. Like onto the "lawn" at the Concours De Elagance. A day and time I'm NOT looking forward to!

Oh wait, there is HOPE. We DO have a few replicas.

Alas, not many as nicely done and as "accurate" as the example of excellent automotive engineering we see here!

Ernie

[snakeeyes]

That is one beautiful ride. The detail on the dash alone is amazing. The Gullwing styling is so distinctive--nothing derivative whatsoever, from the "eyebrows" over the wheel openings to those lovely doors. I can just imagine the looks of passersby in Small Town, Wisconsin, when you roll up and pop open the door! I'll bet the comments you hear will rival those of spectators of the GT40 you sold me (to wit: "Man, that's the Coyote car from the 'Hardcastle and McCormick' TV show!")--

Bob