Imitation Ferrari
Discussion
Saw a nice looking car parked up at the side of the road today. Looked like a Ferrari F355 so I walked up for a closer look. Now, I've only seen a couple of F355's before but I've a fair idea of what they look like, and this one somehow didn't look quite "right".
It had a lovely red paint job but the side vents weren't quite the right shape and it seemed to have an excess of Ferrari badges. Also the back of the car and the tail lights looked more Testarossa than F355, despite the F355 badge.
What was it I saw? I've discovered that there are various Ferrari bodykits for cars such as the Mk2 MR2 and Pontiac Fiero but the car didn't look like any of the pictures of these I've seen. And when he pulled off, from the sound it made there's no way it had an MR2 engine in it.
I saw it in Sheffield city centre, in case anyone has seen this car before and know's what the hell it is.
James.
It had a lovely red paint job but the side vents weren't quite the right shape and it seemed to have an excess of Ferrari badges. Also the back of the car and the tail lights looked more Testarossa than F355, despite the F355 badge.
What was it I saw? I've discovered that there are various Ferrari bodykits for cars such as the Mk2 MR2 and Pontiac Fiero but the car didn't look like any of the pictures of these I've seen. And when he pulled off, from the sound it made there's no way it had an MR2 engine in it.
I saw it in Sheffield city centre, in case anyone has seen this car before and know's what the hell it is.
James.
If you go to the autotrader website and search under ferrari, you will probably see several examples of MR2's with bodykits, but they look far too weedy to pass as a real one. I was however intreagued to see a 355 spyder replica which, looked very close to the real one, so I searched on the net for it and discovered that the american company who manufactures it, had to stop production because a court order from Ferrari.
I also saw a one off replica of one of Porsches concept cars (The Carrera GT)
But you're right, none of them look exactly accurate.
What about all the Lamborghini Countach and AC Cobra replicas out there too!, who'd bother buying a real one for three times the price when everyone will just think its a kit car anyway?
Go to www.kitcar.com, to see more examples (diablo's etc)
One replica I do like though, is the Chesil Speedster (www.chesil.co.uk) who manufacture Porsche 356 speedster replica's. Totally georgeous!.
I also saw a one off replica of one of Porsches concept cars (The Carrera GT)
But you're right, none of them look exactly accurate.
What about all the Lamborghini Countach and AC Cobra replicas out there too!, who'd bother buying a real one for three times the price when everyone will just think its a kit car anyway?
Go to www.kitcar.com, to see more examples (diablo's etc)
One replica I do like though, is the Chesil Speedster (www.chesil.co.uk) who manufacture Porsche 356 speedster replica's. Totally georgeous!.
Could it have been a 348 with the side vents removed to look like a 355? The 348 has rear lights like a Testarossa. I have seen this once on a German car that was for sale. The 355 and 348 are based on a similar chassis and there are only some slight differences to the bodywork. How it manages to look so different and so much better looking I dont know but there it is.
quote:
who'd bother buying a real one for three times the price when everyone will just think its a kit car anyway?
Which sad tosser would buy a fake one?! It's as naff as buying a fake rolex on holiday, buying fake designer clothes from a market stall, just very, very trajic.
The whole reason for buying a car like this is because it drives and performs like no other. It's a drivers car. Mind you, if all you do is trundle up and down the high street with your kenwood cap on, I'd doubt you'd appreciate the difference anyway.
Can you honestly say that you'd spend £50k on a car and not give a damn what it looks like or what anyone else thinks?
Would you buy an expensive car just because it goes like stink even if it looks like a turd (or a kitcar)???
Maybe its just my age group that considers image to be one of the most important factors when buying a car (even though I can't really afford to take image into consideration yet).
Try telling Ferrari that people don't buy their cars for the looks. They could save a fortune on body stylists!
You are right though, buying a fake rolex is a very sad thing to do, but no sadder than buying a real one. Surely an object that small can't be worth thousands of pounds in real world money.
Would you buy an expensive car just because it goes like stink even if it looks like a turd (or a kitcar)???
Maybe its just my age group that considers image to be one of the most important factors when buying a car (even though I can't really afford to take image into consideration yet).
Try telling Ferrari that people don't buy their cars for the looks. They could save a fortune on body stylists!
You are right though, buying a fake rolex is a very sad thing to do, but no sadder than buying a real one. Surely an object that small can't be worth thousands of pounds in real world money.
Real Ferrari's are not being questioned here. It's taken for granted that they are proper drivers cars, which happen to look and sound great. No questions. End of.
What is being questioned is the minset of those that want to impress by gluing half of halfords plastic to a shocking jap car. It's on the same level as kitted out nova's, escorts, you name it. Truly pathetic.
What is being questioned is the minset of those that want to impress by gluing half of halfords plastic to a shocking jap car. It's on the same level as kitted out nova's, escorts, you name it. Truly pathetic.
I can't imagine what's going on in the mind of a driver who owns an imitation Ferrari. It might impress the general public who wouldn't have a clue, but that surely must be cancelled out by the more knowledgeable people who piss themselves laughing when they see it.
And his fan belt was slipping as he pulled off
And his fan belt was slipping as he pulled off
I agree that it's sad too.
I am not a brilliant racing driver at the moment, nor do I pretend to be, so whether a real one would be a benefit for me at the moment would be in question. But I don't think I would stoop so low as to buy a kit car copy, which just ooses fakeness. But I probably wouldn't buy a real countach either because of all the fake ones around. It kind of takes the fun out of owning a piece of exotica, when someone else is getting the same attention in a fake one. If I had that kind of money I would want performance, looks AND uniqueness.
Obviousley performance is the main reason for buying a performance car, but I am still very conscious about image, and how others would react to the car.
So I agree with your point of view, especially when a fake Lamborghini Countach costs the same as a REAL Lotus Elise.
I am not a brilliant racing driver at the moment, nor do I pretend to be, so whether a real one would be a benefit for me at the moment would be in question. But I don't think I would stoop so low as to buy a kit car copy, which just ooses fakeness. But I probably wouldn't buy a real countach either because of all the fake ones around. It kind of takes the fun out of owning a piece of exotica, when someone else is getting the same attention in a fake one. If I had that kind of money I would want performance, looks AND uniqueness.
Obviousley performance is the main reason for buying a performance car, but I am still very conscious about image, and how others would react to the car.
So I agree with your point of view, especially when a fake Lamborghini Countach costs the same as a REAL Lotus Elise.
quote:
I can't imagine what's going on in the mind of a driver who owns an imitation Ferrari. It might impress the general public who wouldn't have a clue, but that surely must be cancelled out by the more knowledgeable people who piss themselves laughing when they see it.
err, I can. Something like;-
"I really wish I could afford the car of my dreams, but I will make do with this until I can"
OR
"Why pay X amount, when I can get all the birds I want with this car, costing X/5 ???"
OR
"I don't wanna be ripped off by the real prices, and anyone who drives a real one is a mug"
I could go on.. I wouldn't piss myself if I saw one, unless it was unbearably naff and tackily finished. Why should you cast judgement on them like this? bit uncalled for isn't it?
rgds, Carl.
most people are talking about them as if he was a car theif! all they are doing is making a car look a bit different, but i suppose its ok for the AC COBRA REPLICA geriatrics club 
I saw a car that sounds exactly like the one you are describing also, it was at a hotel somewhere 'left' of Birmingham.
It looked like a 355 but as I got closer it just looked wrong, too much space in the wheel arches, and just a bit sort of cheaply built. It must have been a kit with dancing donkey badges an so on.
So sad really.
Mags
It looked like a 355 but as I got closer it just looked wrong, too much space in the wheel arches, and just a bit sort of cheaply built. It must have been a kit with dancing donkey badges an so on.
So sad really.
Mags
The only thing that worries me is that Ferrari has an entire history of making cars. Even then they do occassionally make the odd crap one - see the ones from the early 70's and 80's (well in comparison to the other classics that they were punting out at the time). But, even the crap ones has major amounts of money spent on them in the efforts of development and driver involvement. Suspect that this is millions if not 10's of millions at the very least.
However, some kit manufacturer who bolts something onto an MR2 or Fiero or TR7 scares me. You just cant tell what you have bought or how it behaves. I doubt that they are up to the standard of the original manufacturers - never mind the Ferraris that they claim to look like......
Love to think that I could do just a good job as a major car manufacturer in my own garage, but I would have to admit that I would be crap and the resulting car a death trap....
Cheers,
Paul
However, some kit manufacturer who bolts something onto an MR2 or Fiero or TR7 scares me. You just cant tell what you have bought or how it behaves. I doubt that they are up to the standard of the original manufacturers - never mind the Ferraris that they claim to look like......
Love to think that I could do just a good job as a major car manufacturer in my own garage, but I would have to admit that I would be crap and the resulting car a death trap....
Cheers,
Paul
O.K I can't embedd the pictures 'cos the tags don't cater for lowercase .jpg statements today..
See:
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/Jap355.jpg
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/F355Yel3.jpg
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/F355in.JPG
Spot the Duffer ??
Cheers
Matt
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 22 April 10:57
See:
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/Jap355.jpg
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/F355Yel3.jpg
www.btinternet.com/~adefadero/F355in.JPG
Spot the Duffer ??
Cheers
Matt
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 22 April 10:57
Just on the Kit-car front. Can I point out that a kit car is different from a body kit. A body kit you simply strap onto an existing car. A kit car is a hand built car from parts.
The person that buys a kit car (be it replica, or original) buys it because they are enthusiastic about cars and mechanics. A lot of the replica AC Cobras are built better than the original with performance to match (In fact I believe the DAC Cobra out-performs the AC, but may be wrong)
It does seem rather odd that a lot of people are slating car enthusiasts because they like to drive something that looks different and they have developed themselves.
There are lots of exotic cars you can buy as a replica which would never be seen on the road (Ferarri P4 for example). Partly because insurance would be simply too much and the cars were never road cars in the first place.
I have seen a replica Countach at a kit show, the owner loved it as much (if not more) than someone that owned a "real one" and it was tuned and built to a very high standard indeed.
I have no problems with someone that wants to build a car or modify a car well. I laugh at anyone that puts a 4" exhaust, bonnet lights, and skirts on a Nova to make it a "sports car" because its done without knowledge or taste. I will happily give a thumbs up to someone that builds or mods a car well (with clear knowledge) of what they are doing.
The person that buys a kit car (be it replica, or original) buys it because they are enthusiastic about cars and mechanics. A lot of the replica AC Cobras are built better than the original with performance to match (In fact I believe the DAC Cobra out-performs the AC, but may be wrong)
It does seem rather odd that a lot of people are slating car enthusiasts because they like to drive something that looks different and they have developed themselves.
There are lots of exotic cars you can buy as a replica which would never be seen on the road (Ferarri P4 for example). Partly because insurance would be simply too much and the cars were never road cars in the first place.
I have seen a replica Countach at a kit show, the owner loved it as much (if not more) than someone that owned a "real one" and it was tuned and built to a very high standard indeed.
I have no problems with someone that wants to build a car or modify a car well. I laugh at anyone that puts a 4" exhaust, bonnet lights, and skirts on a Nova to make it a "sports car" because its done without knowledge or taste. I will happily give a thumbs up to someone that builds or mods a car well (with clear knowledge) of what they are doing.
Building a Lotus7 replica or whatever is clearly completely different from trying to fool people into thinking you're driving a Ferrari. Life is too short to go around worrying what other people think about you. The only excuse for most bolt on bits is that you think they are funny and are happy to share the joke with the general public.
still the replica doesn't look so bad for some bolt bits and fiberglass does it ?? Interiors not too bad either.... 
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