Hello,
I was offered this Bing early tinplate race ar recently. It a a beautiful toy but originals are very rare and I believe this may be a reproduction, replica, or a possible restoration. There are a couple of other early autoc in the collection in similar condition. Your comments would be appreciuated.

Unfortunately the 'craft' and technique of restoration and even replicas is now so good that it takes a very experienced eye to tell the difference.

The downside is the risk that a genuine pristine original item becomes suspected by 'experts' as too good to be true etc and subsequently devalued. Sad if you are the owner/seller and absolutely believe it to be the real deal.

Microscopic examination, UV light etc and at the extreme even analysing samples of paint are among methods used to prove authenticity of many collectibles.

But at the end of the day it depends what you want. If it appeals to you, are you comfortable with the asking price and is the price reasonable, all things considered?

If the asking price is based on it being genuine, but later found not to be, would you still be happy with the price paid? If not, and you can't negotiate you might be better to walk away.

There's nothing wrong with replica's, or restorations, if they are declared. But someone deliberately passing one off as original, and priced thus, takes it into the realm of being a fake.

There's an old saying worth repeating....

"When man buy cheap fish, smell linger long time to remind him of bargain".

It can equally apply to paying too much. Regret quickly takes the shine off anything.