Original or what?
07/01/2020
Originality is one of the criteria on which cars are judged at the Concours d'Elégance, but on which the sales value also depends. Of course, there are always experts and specialists who can say what is original and what is not. But it can also happen that it is not so easy to judge whether something is really original.
One example is Italian cars that were delivered from the factory without exterior mirrors until the 1970s. If an importer or even the selling dealer had to comply with local regulations and these demanded at least one exterior mirror, then they simply screwed one on. However, this could well be a different mirror than was used 100 km further north. So if we look at an Alfa Romeo Montreal or a Fiat Dino today, it may not be possible to clearly identify which mirror was originally fitted to this specific car.
It is even more difficult with small-series makes and kit cars. Firstly, the add-on parts that were available at the time were used, and in the case of kit cars, even the buyer had a major influence on which parts he fitted to his car. It can be very difficult to say 50 years later what is original and what is not.
But perhaps the whole originality thing is simply nonsensical, the main thing is that a car comes with period-appropriate accessories and add-on parts. Isn't that right?
P.S. By the way, if you want to see the whole Alfa Romeo Montreal, please refer to the forthcoming "SwissClassics Revue" , which will be on newsstands (or in the store) in around three weeks' time.
