An original is exactly that-an original car with original parts, meaning it came form the factory that way. A clone is a car that is restored to another models specifications basically. Example:
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu. Bodies are identical, but mechanically different as far as drivetrain options (no SS 454 Malibu.)
Say you want to build up an 1970 SS 454 Chevelle, but can't find one. you find a Chevy Malibu of the same year, and instead of restoring it to factory specs, you build it up to SS 454 specs (meaning you drop in a 454, and add all appropriate badging.) You now have what looks and performs like an original SS, but because it was not, it is a clone.
