Replica Ferrari Testarossa Spider

You know how I feel about a replica Ferrari. If you don't, here's a brief summary: I love them! Shocking, isn't it? But here's the thing. We live in an era of endless duplication. All new cars look the same. And so a replica of a rare, expensive and fussy old Italian car is actually great idea.

Now, some Testarossa replicas are horrible, like the inane front-engine Corvette ones. This is NOT one of those.

I actually think this is one of the best Testarossa replicas I've ever seen, and definitely the best spider replica. The body is high-quality and the details and overall proportions are excellent. I love the deep-set wheels, which give a nice dose of attitude.

The seller says it's based on a 1986 Fiero. But while some Fiero replicas still have the lackluster Fiero engines in back, this one has a 3.8-liter V8 from a Buick Grand National that pumps out 250 horsepower!

The seller says this car was loved greatly but it doesn't get driven enough. They also say it has high-compression forged pistons, an Alpine audio system and the "stunning, eye-popping, head turning looks of a real Testarossa".

You can say that again. The bidders seem to agree, driving it past $9k at the time of this writing.

Honestly, if I had a big garage and extra time on weekends I would snap one up and drive it proudly. The big engine, beautiful body and rare topless version make this one of the finest replicas I've ever seen.

Hey, when Tarantino starts mining the 80s for material and a character pulls up in one of these (not a real one, mind you), don't say I didn't tell you.

Available here on ebay.

The Case For Replicas: 1987 Fiero-Ferrari

Replicas are the Rodney Dangerfield of the auto world: they don't get any respect. But I like them. In fact, I think in some cases they make more sense than owning the original.

Take Ferrari replicas. Real Ferraris are expensive to start with. Then there's the cost of parts, repairs, worrying about getting a scratch in it, heck, even an oil change on some models requires the engine to come out of the bay! It's not for the faint of heart, or wallet.

However, a replica gives you that classic Pininfarina styling without all the headaches of the real thing. The best Ferrari replicas were either the Corvette-based McBurnie Daytona or the Pontiac Fiero-based 308/328. This is a Fiero-based 328. Pontiac actually liked the idea of a replica so much they allowed dealers to sell a 308 body as an option called the Mera. This was quickly shutdown after threats of lawsuits, but it got enough gears turning for people to be interested.

The Mera was based on the 308. I've never seen a 328 replica, although it could be easily done since the basic body is the same as the 308. It looks pretty good, especially with the post-'86 lights.

The seller confirms this is indeed based on a Fiero. Unfortunately, it will not have Ferrari-like performance, as it's a 4-cylinder version, a shame since the 6-cylinders are readily available. They also say it has an auto transmission. On the upside, they list the mileage as 69k and say the seats are leather.

This is a mostly show-and-no-go car, but the details and spirit are in the right place.  I would remove the Corvette side mirrors and rear spoiler and then just have a good laugh driving around. Also, if I were a b-movie director I'd totally want one of my characters to drive one and not worry if they crash it in a chase.

Available here on craigslist for $9,999.

Imitation Is Flattery: Ferrari 512BB Replica

Quick! Do you want drive something flashy without having to fork over the dough normally associated with doing so? Answer: a replica Ferrari.

These cars are looked down upon by 99% of automotive enthusiasts out there. I could care less. I love replicas! When I was younger I used to build LEGOs all the time. On a couple occasions I made a few model cars. Building a LEGO car is like building a replica car: it ain't gonna come out exact, but the harder you try the closer you get, until you realize the effort was the fun part, and the end result is something greater than the actual thing because it's unique and your experience was involved in it.

We've all heard of the Ferrari Daytona replicas and then of course there was the Pontiac Mera, which imitated the Ferrari 308. But you don't see Ferrari 512BB replicas often. Part of it is personal preference. A replica 512BB sure as hell doesn't have a 12-cylinder engine in the back the way the actual car did. So the body styling must have appealed to somebody along the way enough to make a replica.

This one is okay looking. There are for worse replicas. The seller doesn't specify what the mechanical underpinnings are, but it looks to be a Pontiac Fiero, based on the proportions and interior. The seller does say it was built by Corson in Phoenix in 1989. A little internet sleuthing revealed there was indeed such a company, the cars were in fact based on a Fiero chassis and some apparently had V8 engines. Impresssive. I also found this neat vintage ad:

Unfortunately seller doesn't specify what engine is in this example, so it's anybody's guess - four, six or eight cylinders. They do however say it's not bad on gas, so it probably isn't an eight cylinder.

Mechanically the say it has only 45k miles, a warranty on the engine, and updated a/c. Cosmetically it looks pretty flawless, but you want to check the (presumably) fiberglass body for cracks or accident repair.

If you don't live near a bunch of car snobs, this is a fun ride that provides all the classic style of European cars without the headaches and expenses. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Available here on craigslist for $10,000.