Most of these are being built for a burgeoning EV replica industry in China, like what happened with Mini Mokes. By all accounts, the Mini body shells are at least as good as the Heritage shells that were being put together in the UK from old tooling. And not forgetting the original cars weren't that well made by modern standards. This Chinese factory seems to employ a lot of older workers. The AE86 shells provides the possibility of taking a Thai K70, which are as cheap as chips, and fitting up the driveline to one of these. importing a AE86 from Japan is obviously an impossibility. Probably shouldn't exaggerate the impact these have on classic cars; the AE86, even the 240Z markets are not that big, and the best cars are already preserved. It becomes a different matter if, like the Mk1 and Mk2 Escort, someone takes a replica shell, and effectively kit out the car with modern mechanics, and sells as a extremely high end low volume car allowable through UK/EU rules, or a track car. Imagine a 240z with modified R34 running gear. Or for Thailand, a 240Z with cheap Cefiro gear. Currently you are paying stupid money for an "original" car with a wheezy 120-130hp.
