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The point you and others have made about decisions taken in the 60s and 70s is a good one. However given the Ace's value and rarity today, I just can't fathom why someone would want to destroy an original car to create a replica of something else. Sticking an Ace chassis number on a Kirkham merely invites ridicule, and papers for historic racing don't depend on a historic chassis number.
Anyway there's no accounting for taste. Let's hope a 2.6 isn't being used as a basis for this new creation![V]
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In many cases, an original car may not be "destroyed" as mods have occurred over many years that have taken the car to a completely different configuration. A case in point is AEX1078 which currently sits as a chassis that had a V8 installed and suffered from significant other changes over its life For <$3k, I can have another V8 power train, or can go back to original (with different AC engine) which will likely set me back on the high side of $20K. Which makes financial sense? If I want to drive and enjoy my car in the short term, going with a V8 makes sense. If I want to go for resale value, then finding an AC engine would make more sense. The bottom line is, it all depends on what an owner's desire is, not what others think that drive what a person does with their car.
For the record, I agree that modifying a car that is still original would be a sacrilege, but I believe that is no longer the norm except for some 428 cars.
On the related note of using an Ace Chassis number on a Kirkham, there are some reasons that might be done. In California, the state makes it very difficult to register replica cars and so people look for ways to get there cars registered. In the case of the Kirkham, the person may be doing this so he can drive his car and has no desire to go racing.
Jay