Everlasting discussion point

[N. Dinis]

Guys, I own 2 131's, A '78 S1 1.6 S (4 door) and a S3 '83 1.4 (already swaped for a 2.0 Racing unit).... Have you ever saw a S3 fully original on the road? Last Friday has some of you know my S3 broke down on the road and I went with my father to pick it back home, and he came driving the 131 and I drove my 91 Ford Sierra... I just starred at the car imagining some eastern gangsters coming out of the windows with some old thompson machine guns and killing all the old people arround..... I cracked myself laughing with that picture but GOD THIS CAR IS UGLY!! And yes it will be annother wreckila... I know it I've admited it, but this car was for sale for more than a year when I bought it, the original 1.4 engine was death and the car is not well painted or risk\dent-free, so, at my one way, I'm saving this poor bastard from junk.... I wouldn't dare to do it with my '78 S but that's why I bought the '83 one.... I also own 3 Delta's HF Turbos, 2 fully original and annother one that I'm building at really low budget just to have fun and learn something about cars... These Delta's are a real Pain in the A$$... I don't sell cars, I'm 26 years old and own 11 old junks as some say.... I'm short money but I also refuse to give up from my babies.... So, no fancy restorations but I never get bored with my cars

[106usj]

Ok this is interesting reading.
As I at first was a Sport only man but some of these replicas look so good.
 I was asked this question by email by Sid our old Irish member a couple of months ago.
 We were talking about his 131 Racing restoration nearing completion, colour choices etc, his words were "Right what are you going to do is it a 131 replica or genuine authentic 131 Sport for your restoration"

To be honest I was half and half but I replied to Sid with the 131 Sport route but I have been stuck between the two choices since I got my Sport.

Either the basic body only Stradale replica route or the genuine Sport restoration will cost me about the same money "a small fortune" so I am looking for some advice and mainly opinions for my up and coming strip down and restoration.
What do you think ?

131 Sport or 131 Stradale replica ??

[bellamacchina]

106usj,   that's extremely easy, genuine Sport even when it costs more as a repro. When somebody wants a replica please buy somewhere an unfinished project which is already on the way. I love Racings!

[106usj]

Ok that's the first reply and opinion, its Racing/Sport..

[mirafioriman]

A genuine sport restored as a sport is going to be more sought after and more valuable in the future in my opinion.

Also as a road car a sport makes more sense. I would get sick of the noise and uncomfortable nature of a replica after using it for a short while.

A RHD genuine UK sport is a rare car already, it seems a shame to me to butcher it to make a replica.

However, it's your car and your money. What you do is up to you. Ulimately it has to be what you want to do and what you are going to be happiest with in the long term

[Robert]

Prophecy of the Cree Indians, adapted: "When the last 4-door is converted to a 2door Abarth lookalike, the last Panorama broken for spares and the last Racing wrecklica'd, you will discover that a 131 was more than just wide arches!"

[N. Dinis]

I still will have a panorama..... But first a wreklica...      

[Thotos]

131 Sport or 131 Stradale replica ??

The answer to that is very simple. If you want a Sport then restore a Sport, if you want a Replica then spend your money on wrecking a Sport. If you don't know what you want, maybe you should have spent your money getting a Ford Escort 

[hammerbeirne]

my opinion dont wreck a sport  racing for a replica but if a 2 door 1300 comes along then make it a bit more powerful 

[106usj]

Theo the Ford Escort has the same issues.
The Escort guys buy a 2 door Ghia and make it into a 1.6 Harrier replica and then other guys convert a Harier to an RS2000 replica then the guys buy a 2 door genuine RS2000 and convert it to a RS1800 Replica and so on     

As for making my mind up guys i want to go down the original Sport route as i do love them but there is always a small doubt and mainly temptation as there has been some real nice replicas done and shown on this forum but i guess most peoples advice is to stick with what you have got and count myself lucky to have a Sport.