Am I the only one totally unimpressed by movie car replicas?

Like the title says. In my area there are tons of movie car replicas running around. Things like Jurassic Park Jeep's and ford explorers, Scooby Doo mystery machines, back to the future deloreans, Ghostbusters cars, etc. Everybody goes gaga over them and I just don't understand why. In almost all cases there is nothing interesting at all about the base cars, they just slap on a paint job and fake doodas on them and suddenly they're the most popular cars on the road. I don't find it interesting or creative at all. What gives? How do you all feel about them?

I think it depends on how much work is required beyond a simple paint job and some decals. Back to the Future DeLoreans are fun if done well.  KITT Trans Ams too.  Even a General Lee if some of the minor details are paid attention to such as the roll bar and push bar. Plus, the American Racing Vector wheels can be a bit of a PITA to find and I've seen a few cars with close-but-not-quite-right wheels.  That said, I think General Lee replicas may start to get "undone" as the original cars become so valuable. Along those lines, a replica of a 007 Goldfinger Aston Martin would be something to see - simply because a DB5 is such an expensive car.

I think they're kinda cool for two seconds before I go on with the rest of my life. Some movies are a really big deal to some people. Heck, millions of people. It's like the stance scene, just because it's fugly and not to your (read: mine. I'll stop projecting and own up to thinking stretched tires are a sign of  brain damage) taste, doesn't mean they are hurting anybody and should be stopped.

Despite really wanting a Ferrari as a kid, today I'd never spend NP01 money on anything but a caged race car. De gustibus est non disputandum.

I've got a buddy with a 600hp Starsky and Hutch Torino, and it's awesome.

I actively dislike them but keep it mainly to myself.  I tend to generally fear the pop culture obsession that is so rampant.

I sprained my eyeballs rolling them so hard at the 3 General Lee replicas at the last hot rod show I went to. Granted I did the same at the row of 20 tri-five chevys all with fuzzy dice on the mirror.

Sometimes you wish you could be Boris Said, but other times you wish you could be Shaggy or Ian Malcom. They speak to different wish fulfilments.

Speaking of movie collectible stuff, if anybody has a life size cardboard cut out of Elvira, I'd totally spend upwards of $15 for that.

They're a novelty. Not particularly exciting or fun to drive. People like them because they are Nostalgic in ways. For some its like seeing a car that looks exactly like one you owned half a lifetime before, or meeting a childhood hero.

I feel ya,  there are likely 50 General lee's here in n. ga. I also built a 427 Cobra Kit for a collector here, DID A GOOD JOB ON IT AND THE FINISH WINS TROPHY'S. It's not real.

I’d take a George Barris Munster Coach:

...or a Harold and Maude style E-type hearse!

I do not know about replicas, but I have been in one of the movie cars from back to the future.

I owned the SVX that was “wrecked” in the movie “Fireproof”. 

Does that count?  Haha!

At Chrysler Carlisle last year there were easily 20+ General Lee replicas.... Like what..... 

I enjoy them.  Its cool seeing how people replicate things that are never explained in full detail.  Its not like the VHS box of Back to the Future contains a full schematic, prints, and a parts list.  The amount of research people do to find the exact same configuration as the movie car is really interesting, as is the repurposing of common items.  Did you know Mr. Fusion is a Krups coffee maker?

SVreX said:

I’d take a George Barris Munster Coach:

I'm pretty sure that picture is of a replica Munster Coach...

That's the thing, the replicas rarely get all the details correct.

Our particular vehicular fetishes all got triggered by something diff rent. I am just glad to see anyone enthused by the car hobby in whatever way floats their boat.

Pete

I'd love to have a General Lee. I wouldn't take it to any shows but I would be sideways in it at every opportunity. Don't care and the rest of them.

The original Batmobile is cool---- I'd totally rock a well-done replica.

And there must be something to "Movie" cars, or Ford wouldn't still be making Bullit replicas......

There's a fake Herbie in our neighborhood. It's based on a Super Beetle and wears moon discs. The sacrilege, right? I'm guessing the people who own it are happy, so I'll take that as a win. Hey, at least they're into cars, right?  

I remembering wanting to build a replica KITT when I was a little kid. Now I own a 3rd gen Trans Am and definitely do not want a replica KITT. 

The thought of doing a Walker Texas Ranger Dodge for Gambler crossed my mind though...

Joe Gearin said:

The original Batmobile is cool---- I'd totally rock a well-done replica.

 

And there must be something to "Movie" cars, or Ford wouldn't still be making Bullit replicas......

Eleanor. 

I want to see a tube frame, fiberglass body General Lee Charger built specifically to do rally.

In reply to Grizz :

I still like the one built out of reproduction sheet metal on a crown vic frame just to be a reusable jump car.

Nick Comstock said:

I'd love to have a General Lee. I wouldn't take it to any shows but I would be sideways in it at every opportunity. Don't care and the rest of them.

I’d love to see one built for rallyx!

In reply to Cactus :

Ford offered a Starsky & Hutch package from the factory though, so that’s a bit different than most. 

I'm not a big fan of them unless they're something like the Munster Coach.  Stickers/paint/halfassed "mods" don't really do much for me. 

People constantly tell me I need to turn the hearse into the ghostbusters car.  It's quite annoying as it's a 95 so it's nothing like the original except it's a hearse.  I usually humor them with a "haha, yea" to end the conversation. 

You can tell the real car people by who comes over to actually look over the car.  I'll stick around and open up all the doors and show them all the cool features I never knew hearses had until I bought one.  One guy came over with his two kids as I was getting my fishing stuff out of the back at a local park earlier this summer.  I let the kids climb around in the back and sit in the drivers seat.  I'm not a big fan of the attention it gets from everyday people, especially when I'm just trying to get home, but when kids freak out when they see it it really makes my day.  I hope I've sparked some interest in the car hobby for them.