Spurred on by the raging debate about whether the word Marlboro should be removed from the Peter Brock memorial statue, one reader brought in a column featured in a copy of Australian Muscle Cars that gets to the heart of the matter.

The article in the January/February edition was written by editor Mark Oastler.

He asked why makers of collectable cars have to remove authentic tobacco signage from them before they are sold.

"There are few things more offensive to an enthusiast like myself than seeing such intricately detailed and beautifully-made replicas of famous touring cars that raced prior to 1996, being supplied with half their race liveries missing," he said.

"This goes beyond any arguments about the rights and wrongs of cigarette promotion. The simple fact is that it's defacing and altering our history. And that's just wrong."

Mr Oastler said serious collectors just apply the missing cigarette decals, which are easily available through outside suppliers.

"I clearly recall that my greatest disappointment when the sport ban was introduced was that it ended a long line of great-looking race cars," he said.

"At the time the main 'offenders' were Fred Gibson's red Winfield Commodores and Glen Seton's blue Peter Jackson Falcons, but they were the last of a colourful breed stretching back to the early 1970s.

"Who could forget Brocky's Marlboro-HDT Toranas and dazzling day glo Commodores, the classy metallic gold Craven Mild on Gricey's Toranas, Moffat's Peter Stuyvesant RX7s and Rothman's Commodore, Gibson Motorsport's Peter Jackson Group A Nissans, Jim McKeown's Camel Filters' Turbo Porsche or Frank Gardiner's glorious black JPS BMWs?

"I have vivid memories of all those beautifully-presented cars, but the need to have a smoke isn't one of them."

He conceded motorsport had changed and now you don't see cigarette brand names on racing cars any more except at major historic meetings where old touring cars from the 70s and 80s strut their stuff.

"Same applies to heritage-themed magazines like Australian Muscle Cars which publish old photos of race cars competing in their prime, some with tobacco signage also in view," Mr Oastler said.

"Same applies to hard-cover books that pay tribute to touring car heroes like Peter Brock, DVD compiles of old racing films which are readily available in department stores, plus posters, commercial websites and old racing merchandise that are freely traded at auctions and over the internet. Yet no-one raises an eyebrow. Why? Because it's our history."