The Past and the Spurious book review — what is a genuine classic car?

I’m glad I’m not a judge. Paul Griffin, a city lawyer as well as a historic racer, hangs his book round a number of high-profile car disputes: it’s obvious that even in court a decision can come down to one person’s opinion.

His opening discussion is about recognising cars as historic and when and how they find a place in culture, but his main thrust is on ‘reality’ – what is ‘genuine’? Next, a serious discussion about the division between art and industrial design and who is the creator – designer or maker? In his words, which is the artist and which the artisan? He enjoys wielding a phrase – “more triptych than dipstick” – as he debates whether a car can be compared with great art, fine watches or vintage wine.

Some of these questions have no answer. But he does make two firm points: that the prevailing mood is against ‘better than new’ restorations, and suggests that sentiments are turning against “vigorous exercise” or racing even for historic racing cars. Sad.

He wraps up this chapter saying that “sometimes excellent analysis is no match for matters of the gut”. And that probably is all you can say about scholarly debate.

Several examples illustrate his thesis – a Bentley with a jumbled but continuous past, and an Amilcar dismantled to be the basis of an upgraded version (which caused the owner’s club not to renew his membership). Then an MG K3 split into two identities, both with their supporters and an arguable claim, and a genuine car which has lost its reg number to an assembled car. Even here Griffin wavers about what terms to employ: original, authentic, proper, genuine or something else? These are dangerous waters, which he refines into the ‘original parts principle’ and the ‘continuous history principle’, which famously led to Le Mans-winning Bentley Old No1 being declared ‘real’ despite retaining almost no original 1929 components. Here he selects a crucial comment by Bentley expert Clare Hay: “The point of the case was to establish a legal precedent that keeps the process within the car world. We as car people were at risk of losing control to the lawyers.”

But while Griffin does a fine job of summarising the court cases, I came away less sure than ever about what is ‘real’.

Among his rules of thumb is ‘do anything but go to court’. I’d add: if you must sue, you and the judge should both read this book.

Past and the Spurious Paul Griffin Griffin, from £75 ISBN 9781739767303