They are saying imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, and immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Customized Cloud flatters Rolls-Royce like no person’s enterprise. Let’s see if this loopy customized Chevy comes with an equally flattering value.
Whereas it could have been a uncommon version of a beloved and commonplace automotive, yesterday’s 1991 Volkswagen Golf Nation didn’t tee off a lot enthusiasm for its $17,945 asking value. That proved to be a rabbit gap few of you’d go down, ending the day with an enormous 86 % No Cube loss.
Britain’s BBC as soon as claimed that the world’s two most recognizable manufacturers are Coca Cola and Rolls-Royce. Within the automotive world, Rolls has lengthy engendered a lot reverence that when Lee Iacocca tasked his designers with the styling for the Lincoln Mark III, his route was to “Take a Thunderbird and slap a Rolls-Royce grille on it.” He could have, actually, been sipping a Coke on the time; information from the period are fuzzy.
At present’s 1976 Customized Cloud, nee Chevrolet Monte Carlo, is one other automotive that went the Rolls Grille route as a approach to form of “lipstick the pig.” As soon as the makers took the automotive in London on the behest of Automobile and Driver journal, its creators had been efficiently sued by Rolls-Royce for copyright infringement. That resulted in modifications within the customized automotive’s design in addition to a reputation change.
Regardless of these efforts, the planets by no means actually aligned for the Customized Cloud’s maker, and the corporate ceased operations after only a few hundred kits and full automobiles had been constructed. There’s heaps extra to the background story, however that’ll all have to attend as we presently must get right down to enterprise on this specific automotive.
First off, it seems to be in excellent form. The entrance and rear clips that search to emulate British aristocracy circulate efficiently into the Monte Carlo’s baroque physique traces, and the adopted ’73 Buick LeSabre entrance bumper is definitely higher trying than Chevy’s manufacturing unit design. And sure, these are actual Lucas taillights within the again, the identical kind employed by Rolls on the time.
On the flip aspect of all that, this automotive’s Kermit-green paint and American Racing Torque Thrust wheels serve to lighten the temper considerably. Additionally, whereas total seeming to be in fine condition, there’s one booger within the bodywork that the vendor laudably factors out. That’s the de-lamination of the fiberglass fender from the door jam on the passenger aspect, which is creating a large crack that can solely worsen over time.
When the automobiles first hit the market, the Parthenon grille carried an interlocking “CC” badge and, above that, a knockoff Spirit of Ecstasy hood decoration. You’ll be aware each are lacking on this automotive. That’s seemingly owed to the lawsuit Rolls introduced in opposition to the builder, which required the substitute of these components even on automobiles that had already been offered. That additionally required a reputation change on the final of the automobiles to “Basic Coach.”
Inside, there’s nothing concerning the cabin that will make this automotive out to be something aside from a Monte Carlo. It’s, nonetheless, resplendent in its inexperienced and white vinyl and plastic. Every little thing appears to be in wonderful form and splendidly gaudy as hell.
A 400 CID V8 resides beneath the hood, sitting behind a comically-long fan shroud. The vendor says that the engine’s fluids had been modified final 12 months when the automotive had a minor tune-up. In line with the advert, there are solely 6,000 miles on the clock, and the automotive comes with a clear title.
I’m sufficiently old to recollect the problem of Automobile and Driver that featured the Customized Cloud on the duvet. Hell, I nonetheless have it sitting in my dusty journal assortment within the storage. The automotive was splendidly goofy again then and nonetheless is immediately. What may such smile-inducing goofiness rightfully be value?
The vendor is asking $18,000 for this improbable little bit of minor automotive historical past, and it’s now time for us to all vote on how profitable they’ve been in gauging its worth. What do you all assume? Is $18,000 a good value for this Rolls-aping Monte Carlo? Or is that an excessive amount of for the automotive equal of cubic zirconia?
You determine!
Richmond, Virginia, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Extra Automobiles Please for the hookup!
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