The Past And The Spurious

Author: Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin’s ‘The Past and The Spurious – The Case of Legitimacy in Historic Cars’ marks a new turning in the literature of historic cars. Building on the excellent writings of others over many decades now, this book reviews the evidence and, for the first time, provides answers to the perplexing questions of originality, authenticity and identity which circle around historic cars.

By reference to more than thirty cases and other examples, Paul Griffin unfolds the stories of the cars and characters that have shaped what is today’s thriving historic car sector. He also suggests the reasons why historic cars have become heritage assets having such powerful effects on emotions and passions all over the world.

This is an attractive, high-quality book which tells its stories by reference to images from the world’s leading photographic libraries and automotive art collections.

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The Classic Edition

£75.00

The Classic Edition has been traditionally produced in England, with five-colour printing on high quality paper.

The books has more than 400 pages and 180 images, its dimensions are approximately 210 x 260 cm and its weight is some 3 kg.

It is written in English and its International Standard Book Number is 978-1-7397673-0-3

The First Edition

£250.00

The First Edition has been traditionally produced in England, with five-colour printing on high quality paper. The books has more than 400 pages and 180 images, its dimensions are approximately 210 x 260 cm and its weight is some 3 kg.

It is written in English and its International Standard Book Number is 978-1-7397673-1-0. It is leather bound with foiled text to front and spine and comes with a certificate page signed by the author. That can also include a tailored dedication of up to 25 words.

The First Edition is limited to 100 copies.

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Reviews

Brooklands Bulletin

Far from being a gossipy look at the stories surrounding these cars, Griffin looks at them with a considered eye developed during his years as a lawyer... it's the way the author discusses the different arguments that really make this book a must-have for anyone interested in historic vehicles...

FBHVC News

A historic car is both a precious asset and a piece of rolling history. Its value draws on its origins and its ownership is a responsibility, albeit an exciting one. Yet how can you know that any important machine is what it seems?  This is not a dry legal textbook...

VSCC Bulletin

Paul Griffin is uniquely placed to have written this exceptional treatise, as a lawyer of repute with deep experience of historic motoring and an eye for a great quote and illuminating analogy…This book sparkles with genuine enthusiasm for its subject…

Extracts

This is a celebrated and significant car: a rare Ferrari with an extensive race history and connections to fabled drivers and owners. Despite its rebuilding, there seems no doubt that it is the direct descendant in an unbroken line from the car delivered in 1961. And no other car is known to claim this identity. To the extent that a single word can describe it, what would that word be – original, authentic, proper, genuine or something else?

Here was an example of two cars that could properly be considered to be the same MG of celebrated heritage. Within comparatively short time, their respective owners submitted their claims to two separate authorities for determination. The DVLA appears to have preferred the claim of the car continuously bearing the original registration number. The owners’ club seems to have preferred the claim in relation to the car built on the original chassis.

But some will struggle even to establish the necessary “continuation” from the original manufacturer. Several of today’s pretenders struggle to establish their manufacturer credentials or that they do, in reality, stand in the shoes of their purported forebear. Today’s owner of recently-acquired intellectual property rights may struggle to overcome the niff of the johnny-come-lately.