Quote:
|
Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour
Jay Leno drove one (a fiberglass replica) and said it was fun and a wonderful rendition of the real thing (which he owns), but commented it wasn't safe at higher than freeway speeds.
I'm betting the lack of wheel wells as well as other items like a good suspension have a lot to do with this. Your concerns are well founded.
|
All of us, including Leno, are spoiled.
There is no reason the replica cars aren't
safer than the originals. Better suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, modern tires, seatbelts, dual well master brake cylinders. All things the originals didn't have.
Don't forget we're talking about cars built in the late 40's to 50's. There was no safety equipment to speak of. There were no nicely molded plastic wheel well inserts. Airflow management was in it's infancy at best.
Done properly, these replicas are just as safe, if not safer, than the originals. Our reference point has just gotten so much higher. Leno has a Carrera GT! Of course he thinks the Speedster is only good for highway speeds. When a 356 or a 550 Spyder was one of the best cars on the road people really hauled in them. They didn't know how "unsafe" they were!
