The Pros and Cons of Building a “What Could Have Been” Classic
In the classic-car world, few topics spark more debate than the tribute, or clone car. Take a base-model Chevelle Malibu, for example. From the factory it may have been a six-cylinder, column-shifted grocery getter. Decades later, it’s reborn as a fire-breathing SS look-alike with a big-block, cowl hood, stripes, and badges to match. Some enthusiasts love it, while others hate it.
A tribute car is essentially a respectful recreation of a higher-performance or more desirable factory model using a lesser-trim original. It’s not trying to be something it never was on paper, but it is trying to capture the spirit, look, and driving experience of something rarer. Whether that’s a smart move or a slippery slope depends on what you value most in a classic car: history, driving enjoyment, investment, or personal expression.
The Pros of a Tribute or Clone Car
1. Affordability and Accessibility
This is the biggest and most obvious advantage. Genuine SS, Z/28, GS, or Hemi cars have climbed into price territory that shuts out most enthusiasts. Starting with a base Malibu or similar platform dramatically lowers the buy-in cost. That difference in entry price often funds the entire build, while still coming in below the cost of a real-deal example.
For many people, a tribute car is the only realistic way to own something that looks and feels like their dream car.
2. Freedom to Modify Without Guilt
Cloning a car removes the mental handcuffs. There’s no fear of “ruining history” because the history wasn’t special to begin with. Want to add fuel injection? Do it. Modern brakes? Absolutely. Overdrive transmission? No hesitation. Cut the car for mini-tubs or coilovers? You’re not committing sacrilege.
This freedom often results in better-driving, safer, and more enjoyable cars, especially for people who actually want to use them instead of just stare at them.
3. Better Driving Than The Originals
Many factory performance cars weren’t that great to drive by modern standards. Weak brakes, vague steering, tall gearing, and bias-ply tires were normal. A tribute build can fix all of that.
A well-executed clone often outperforms the original it’s modeled after in every measurable way such as acceleration, braking, handling, reliability, and comfort. If your priority is driving rather than judging, this matters more than paperwork.
4. You Get the Look Without the Anxiety
Owning a high-dollar, numbers-matching car comes with stress. Every rock chip hurts. Parking it in public feels risky. Long road trips feel irresponsible. Tribute cars remove that anxiety. You can drive them hard, park them anywhere, and enjoy them as intended.
That psychological freedom is underrated.
5. They Keep More Cars Alive
Many base-model cars would never be restored at all if not for the tribute path. Turning a forgotten Malibu into an SS-style build saves it from the crusher and keeps another classic on the road. From a preservation standpoint, that’s a win even if it’s not factory-pure.
The Cons of a Tribute or Clone Car
1. They Will Never Be “The Real Thing”
No matter how perfect the details, a clone will never carry the historical weight or collector value of an original. VINs, trim tags, and factory documentation matter deeply in the collector market, and a tribute can’t fake that without crossing into unethical territory.
If your long-term goal is owning something that’s recognized as historically significant, a clone will always fall short.
2. Resale Value Can Be Tricky
Tribute cars live in a strange resale space. They often cost more to build than they’ll ever sell for, and buyers are far more subjective. One person may love your exact vision; another may see only what they’d do differently.
Original cars have a defined market. Tribute cars rely heavily on finding the right buyer at the right time.
3. Ethical Areas (When Done Wrong)
The biggest black eye on tribute cars comes from misrepresentation. When badges, VIN plates, or trim tags are altered, it’s wrong. When sellers conveniently omit the truth that’s no longer a tribute, that’s fraud.
Even unintentional ambiguity (“It’s basically an SS”) can cause problems. Transparency is critical. A clone should be proudly presented as exactly that.
4. Purist Pushback
Some enthusiasts simply don’t like clones. They see them as watering down history or confusing future buyers. While that opinion doesn’t need to dictate your choices, it does exist and it can affect how a car is perceived at shows, auctions, or online forums.
If external validation matters to you, this is worth considering.
5. You Can Overbuild Yourself Into a Corner
Because there are no rules, it’s easy to go too far. Mismatched styles, overdone graphics, incorrect details, or conflicting eras can make a tribute feel confused instead of correct. Factory cars, even flawed ones, benefited from a unified design vision. Tribute builds require restraint and planning to avoid becoming caricatures.
Tribute vs. Clone vs. Restomod: A Quick Distinction
While often used interchangeably, there are differences:
Tribute: A respectful recreation that acknowledges it’s not original.
Clone: Often implies a closer visual or mechanical copy, sometimes used loosely.
Restomod: Less concerned with factory accuracy, more focused on modern performance.
A Malibu built to SS specs with modern upgrades usually straddles all three categories and that’s okay.
So… Should You Build One?
If your dream is to own history, chase the real thing. If your dream is to drive, personalize, and enjoy a classic without fear, a tribute car makes a ton of sense.
The key is honesty with yourself and with others. Build it because you love it, not because you’re trying to pass it off as something it isn’t. The best tribute cars aren’t pretending to be factory originals, they’re celebrating what made those originals great, while improving everything that time and technology have made better.
If you’re wanting to turn your plain-Jane Camaro, Nova, Chevelle, or El Camino into a SS clone – hop on SS396.com for all the parts or give our friendly techs a call at (203) 235-1200!
