How To Build A Woodill Wildfire In Under Four Hours

Keeping with the "speedy how-to" vein we've fallen into, here's a clip from 1955 wherein a team of men transform an old-and-busted ‘47 Ford into a fiberglass-bodied Woodill Wildfire kit car in only three hours and fifty minutes. [JalopyJournal]

Goblin WolfSpyder Turns Your Trike Into a Jet Fighter

The Goblin WolfSpyder is a kit that transforms a Can Am Spyder reverse trike into a fully-enclosed road-going fighter plane. Finally, we can fulfill our dream of owning the least practical vehicle ever. More »

Corvette-Based SV 9 Competizione Wants Desperately To Be Italiani

The Corvette-based limited edition SV 9 Competizione wants desperately to emulate an Alfa Romeo 8C Competzione with its carbon fibered re-skin. American V8 grunt mixed with Italian sensuality? How could it possibly go wrong? More »

College Dorm Windows Hacked To Look Like KITT

What is it with comp sci kids and their college dorms? Hacking the windows to serve as a lo-res display probably goes back to the earliest days of the integrated circuit. More »

An Elegy for Six Missing Cylinders

If you're spotting Lamborghinis in Eastern Europe, watch out for chronic cylinder shortage. More »

1958 Kellison J4-R Road-Ready Vintage Racer for $42,500!

Today we bring you a Nice Price or Crack Pipe all-American sports car that gives you a lot of kit for not much caboodle. More »

How To NOT Pass A Road-worthiness Inspection

This beastly home-built car was spotted in Britain readying for its road-worthiness inspection. Did it pass? Let's just say when a crowd of inspectors gathers to laugh at your car, it's not a good sign. More »

Trick Or Treat: Toyota MR2 In Porsche Carrera GT Costume

This Toyota MR2 dressed to look like a Porsche Carrera GT isn't going to trick anybody. It may have Porsche badges glued on, but they're not enough to distract you from the sickening proportions and ridiculous build quality. We haven't seen a supercar kit this bad since the Fierrari Enzo. The Porsche costume is mounted on a salvage-title 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder with a modest 138 HP 1.8-liter four-banger. So how much would you pay for such an exotic motor vehicle? Well, the current bid is $12,000...but the reserve hasn't even been met. More »

Fat Guy In A Little Fieroghini

This video might offer the best reason to own a Fieroghini, beside the longing stares you'll get from every roadside gawker you pass of course. Imagine the hours of amusement you'd have presenting the opportunity to drive it to your plus-sized buddies and then laughing as they struggle to exit afterward. Of course taping it for merciless ridicule later and then posting it to the internet for the whole world to point and laugh at would be part of the fun too. See, Fieroghini, comic accessory for the everyman. [Youtube]

Nova Kit Car Builder Admits To Decades Of Crazy Customization

The story of Steve McHugh, the man behind the radical Nova kit car we initially posted on a lark (and because we're automotive sadists) just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. Steve recently emailed us to let us in on a little secret — he's been building crazy-ass cars for nigh on twenty-eight years now. Since 1980, Steve's been applying his personal style of vehicular extremism to anything he can get his hands on. He even sent us pictures of this favorites. Heck, we'll let him tell you all about it below, along with more pics of Steve's marvelous mechanical masterpieces. More »

The Greatest Fierrari Enzno Ever Sold

We've seen a lot of Fierraris lately, hopefully the world runs out of Fieros eventually so we aren't subjected to the ongoing night terrors they induce, but this one is particularly brash. This p**sy magnet yellow Fierrari Enzno is perhaps the finest example of the breed, complete with crooked, off-brand Ferrari prancing horse logos, four off-kilter exhaust tips, pop-up DVD player, brilliantly executed engine-cover-mounted TV antenna, luxurious APC racing seats... the list goes on and on. The best part is this car's claim to fame. More »

Blackjack Zero, Now With Moto Guzzi Power

The quirky Morgan Super Sport inspired Blackjack Zero has until this point been powered by a VW flat four air cooled motor and the occasional 2CV plant. However, based on pictures on their website, it looks like Blackjack is set to sell one to hook up to Moto Guzzi power. There's no info to back anything up at this point, but the resulting car should be quite a bit lighter, with better cooling, and we're wondering if the standard shaft-drive can be reused for the little car. It would be mighty interesting to have a tiny car with 80 HP, a sequential transmission, and shaft drive now wouldn't it? More »

CNN Revisits Italian Fauxrrari Forgeries

Proving once again the speed with which stories are cycled through in a 24-hour-news-cycle network, CNN has decided to run coverage on the gang of Italian Ferrari forgers we brought you back in February. The in-depth coverage includes pointing to, and comparing pictures of, a real Ferrari 328 GTS against the real fake example. Italian-accented experts remark on how good the outside is, then point out how poorly-executed the interior and engine are. Honestly, as far as Fierarris go, this one isn't too bad, and the dimmer among us would probably fall for the fakery unless giving it a more than a passing glance. [CNN]

Salet GT5 Concept Is Toyota MR2 in $40,000 Duds

Straight from the bowels of eBay comes the Salet GT5 Concept. We'll have to admit this is one of the better Toyota MR2 custom builds we've seen, but we're betting the 19 PSI turbo system will have that four cylinder blowing oil all over the fire wall in no time. It will be a quick car until that happens though, power is a claimed 302 HP and with such a light car it's probably a hoot. This one comes from the always unpredictable fakers at rarecars.org who seem to have a penchant for building exotic cars based on the Fiero. Why does this remind us of a certain horrible yellow Russian Cayenne? [ More »

Kute Kupcake Kit Kars Konfuse Kalifornians

Everybody loves kit cars and cupcakes, right? Well, what about when the kit cars are actual cupcakes? BoingBoing TV took a look at a few "muffiners" (as they call themselves) in California (but why not "muffinEERS?) who make "artistic" cupcake cars for the "purpose" of... um, well, we're not exactly "sure." If you want to skip the artsy part of the video above, jump to 2:47 in the movie, which point the creator lifts the muffin top to expose the inner workings of these homemade vehicle-cum-cupcakes. The simplicity of the kits was a little surprising, as pastries modded for automotive use go. More »

One-Off Steam-Powered VW Kit Car

When we hear "steam car" we imagine a car with wooden wagon wheels that spends it's time in Jay Leno's garage. What we don't think of is a fiberglass-bodied VW kit car from the '80s. This is apparently a one-of-a-kind creation of a former Steam Automobile Club of America member. We're thinking of it as a kind of grown man's science project. It allegedly ran at speeds up to 80 MPH at one point, but we're not so sure we would know how to run it even if it's still capable of driving. More »

Street Legal Cheetah Replicas To Hunt Cobras

There's no question that Cobras are cool, even in fiberglass kit form. But you've got to admit that the fiberglass snakes are becoming somewhat common now with all the companies being sued by Carroll Shelby making their own versions of the V8 roadster. So for those seeking an alternative, Ruth Engineering & Racing will be producing kits for streetable Cheetah replicas. The coupes can be fitted with any Chevy powertrain of your choice; this particular one with a 383 stroker. Suspension bits come from a donor C4 Corvette, but the leaf springs have been replaced by independent coil-overs. That means the new Cheetah should be able to tear up a road course, making this not just a cool cruiser, but a tactical trackday toy too. We'll take ours with an LS9. [RER - AmericanCheetahRacing.com]

Italian Supercar Forgers Find Fieros Fantastic

One upping the shenanigans of Unique Performance, a group of fine Italian coach builders has been caught by the police after attempting to forge supercars - badly. Seems these upstanding fellows thought slapping some kit car bodies onto the delightful chassis of GM's famed Fiero was a great idea, then the plan was to pass them off as one of Italy's most famous exports. We're not convinced, we're barely even holding in the laughter. The best is the buff mag on the work bench being used for inspiration. The Wall Street Journal article about this story seems to have only gotten the story partly right (typical). More »

Factory Five GTM Is Mid-Engined Bargain

The Factory Five GTM is causing us pains. Is it better to buy and drive the donor Corvette Z06 the car is built with; or is the mid engine and lighter weight worth the sacrifice? Decisions, decisions. In any case, the GTM is that rare occurrence: The racing version is actually cheaper than the street version. The GTM for the road runs about $61K, while the race version costs a scant $43K. Bargains, for the kind of performance you're likely to see. Of course, there's the whole kit-car hell aspect of things, but come on, be adventurous—they're bound to be more reliable than a Lamborghini right? [Factory Five GTM Home] More »

Tirrito Vajon Update: Mystery Supercar Specs Revealed

The other day we brought you thrilling footage of the upcoming Tirrito Vajon undergoing rigorous developmental testing on some roundabouts. Today, we have even more exclusive info on the mysterious Italian supercar. "Andry," the owner of the Vajon project assured us that the engine is indeed a 3.0L biturbo mill, but now he's released more specifics. Contrary to speculation that the Vajon is powered by an enlarged "lawn mower" engine, Andry tells us that his car is V8-powered and can produce about 500hp. When asked where the powertrain was sourced from, the owner insisted, in broken email-ese, that "nothing, i repeart, nothing was from other cars!! i build by my self all the parts of this car!! i developed about 600 pieces.. think designed and done all by my selves!!! iwant to sell this car and stat one new car.. i just start to designe it..." No other details have been confirmed yet. Andry added, "My car it's still under costruction like you can see." So while we've got some new answers, we now have even more questions about this homebrewed exotic. We'll keep you updated with further developments. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for shots of the Vajon undergoing construction. More »

So You Want to Buy A Messerschmitt

Microcars are like aged cheese - some people find them absolutely confounding and a little disgusting, and the loonier of us can't get enough. The problem with microcars is they don't really make em like they used to. Oh sure, you've got your Smart FourTwo and your Toyota iQ and your Tata Nano, but those are monstrosities compared to a Peel Trident or a Messerschmitt KR200. Would you believe reproductions are available of all your favorite tiny wheeled wonders? More »

Tirrito Vajon! The Mystery Italian Supercar!

Those who know it call it the "TIRRITO VAJON rtt." To the rest of us, it's a mystery. All we can figure is that it has a McLaren F1-style 3-seater cockpit and it's styling is like a cross between a Pagani Zonda and 1990 Mosler Consulier GTP. Maybe it's a kit-car? Maybe it's a garage-built one-off? Other details are slim, but the Italian owner claims "it's a car with engine of 3000 cc biturbo rear traction" Whatever the case, an overly-ambitious project like this is a shining example of making the most from what you have. We'll keep you updated as we find out more. In the mean time, jump to enjoy some video of it in action as it drifts 'round a round-a-bout! More »

Look Out, Zimmer- Johnson Phantom In The House!

When a man's looking for an automobile that tells the world- nay, grabs the world by the lapels and screams high roller coming, you insignificant putz, you'd think that the Excalibur, Zimmer, and Stutz dealerships would pretty much have him covered. You would be wrong. Enter the '85 Johnson Phantom, now available on eBay. Who can guess which mid-80s GM car supplied the chassis? No fair looking up the VIN, folks! And that rear bumper- gadzooks! But don't place your bid quite yet, Mr. Big Shot- you'll need to look at the competition first! More »

GT-Fiero?

Ah, the ceaselessly amazing world of Fiero-based exotic replicas. Which DNA has been implanted in the Fiero cell this time? Yes, it is indeed that of the Mk1 Ford GT40. V8 Archie's GT4T has V8 power, front and rear clamshell lids and um, uh, no Gurney Hump. Still, for a mere $45k, you can go out and shame Enzo Fiero all over again! We're totally buying one to go with our A.J. Foyt mask. Now we just need to find an ersatz Mulsanne straight in some sprawling Central Valley mixed-use office-industrial complex. More »

Kit and Car-boodle: The Grabercars La Bala

Add another lightweight roadster to the new school of track-day toys. The catch is you have to build it yourself. Steve Graber originally created the 1,200-pound La Bala, a tube-frame, mid-engine sportscar, from a MKI MR2 donor. Now, Graber's company Grabercars is offering the La Bala in turnkey and kit forms. It's designed mainly for track use, but may be street legal in some localities, and will accept a range of front-wheel-drive powertrains. Grabercars has already developed the mounting brackets for several engines, and they'll include them with the $25,000 order. Assembly required. [UPDATE: For clarification, the FWD powertrain is set midships, driving the rear wheels.] – Mike Spinelli More »

Burning-Hot Fiero Kit Car Could Be Yours: Archie Finale!

The Fiero was a sales disappointment for GM, but it was a godsend for kit-car makers! Of course, we all know there's nothing like a Fiero-based sports car that looks like a Lambo that got left in the dryer too long (especially when it has a vaguely V12-ish plastic engine cover), but here's yet another variation on the theme: Archie Finale! According to the seller (who's bucking the kit-car eBay listing trend and eschewing the usual ALLCAPS style), "The car is Viper blue—in other words the same color thats on the Dodge Viper." Yes, folks, thats (sic) got to mean the car is as fast as a Viper! This Alabama-based ride has been bid up to $7,109.99 already, but for some reason the seller's very optimistic reserve price hasn't been met. – Murilee Martin More »

More on the Riley XR-3 Plug in Hybrid Kit Car

Robert Q. Riley Enterprises says its new plug-in diesel-electric hybrid is two months from launch. (It'll debut on June 16.) Purportedly, the three-wheeled XR-3 will get 125 mpg on its three-cylinder, 23 hp diesel engine alone, and 225 mpg when coupled with an electric motor driving the rear wheel. Riley, a well-known custom car builder and purveyor of kit-car plans, will offer the XR-3 in kit form. For those with more time and talent than reasons just to sit and watch reruns of "Freak Show," the company will offer it as a set of plans only. [UPDATE: Press release after the jump.] – Mike Spinelli More »

I Am The Gert: Riding Shotgun In A Se7en Over Decker Canyon

For part 47 of "Why My Job Is Better than Your Job," I direct your attention to how I spent my Saturday. Turns out that Jalopnik blabbermouth commenter and all around righteous dude Al Navarro is president of USA7s.com, a new club dedicated to all cars inspired by the legendary Lotus 7. He sent the Postfather a query wondering if any of us So-Cal Jalopnikos would be interested in riding a Se7en around Decker Canyon. I was screaming "YES!" at the top of my lungs. At 6:30 am. On a Tuesday. Alone in my room. I was all set to get whipped about the mountains in a Caterham by a man named Doug when freak weather caused the "Malibu Blizzard." Stupid global warming. My fantastic hoonage ride was delayed. More for those who dare to jump. More »

Opel GT Menagerie: Caminos and More

With Opel relaunching the GT as a roadster based on the Saturn Sky (which would make it not quite a GT car, am I right?), we thought it might be fun to look back at the original "mini Corvette" Opel GT. Then we reconsidered. What would be fun would be to see what some Opel GT buyers have done with their cars over the years — body kits, shooting brakes, tow trucks. Yeah, then again, maybe we should stick with preparing for a new Saab Sonnet. [Thanks to Brian for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »

Volkswagen Bug Camper: Please Don't Blame it on the Drugs, Epilogue

Our story continues in the late fall of 2006 in upstate New York. Gary, now 68, puts the Volkswagen Bug camper he inherited from the estate of his lady, Janet, who was killed in a grinding scrapbooking accident, up for sale. "It's all I have left," he says, "If you don't count my collection of jaundice photos and this duffel bag full of obscure tools I won in an impromptu Chinese checkers tournament." The asking price is $20,000. Just enough, Gary says, to pay his debts and fulfill a lifelong dream of opening his very own root cellar. Godspeed, Gary. [Thanks to Matt for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »

SUPER POTENZA: Company Buys Westfield

The Westfield shopping-mall people annoy us. Every property they acquire has to become a "Westfield Shopping Town," which may work for some podunk palace of crap whose most notable feature is one of the only Chik-fil-A franchises in Northern California, but why would one feel the desire to brand a gilded monument to consumerism as elegant as San Francisco Centre with the declass "Shopping Town" moniker? More »

A Real Ford GT at Half the Price: The Superformance SPF

With the cheapest "Buy it Now" price of a Ford GT just below $150,000 — and the last GT having rolled off the Saleen Special Vehicles line back in September — what's a speed-craving cheapskate to do? They can write a check for around $70,000 to replicar builder Superformance, and roll out with a new SPF GT40 MKII A (sans engine, of course). Rather than wallowing in Ford's new tech, they'll be getting a car that's closer to the Ford GT's antecedent, the Le Mans-winning GT40. The Superformance car is built from the original blueprints drawn up by Ford Advanced Vehicles, the FoMoCo division responsible for the mid-60s racer. The SPF even comes with a driver-side "Gurney bubble" set into the pressed-steel roof, to accommodate the helmets of those, like big Dan, who happen to be tall in stature. As for the drivetrain, which will cost extra, might we suggest something in a 427? – Mike Spinelli More »

This Ain't No Coyote: The Factory Five GTM

A few years ago at SEMA, we guess it was three now, we stumbled across a prototype of kit-car manufacturer Factory Five Racing's first wholly original design. Well, wholly-original if you don't count the 'Vette powertrain, and while it could've used a bit more primer under the bodyshell, we were duly impressed by the looks. Now, after some focus-grouped revisions, the GTM is ready for sale, and well, it could be a contender. We wanna see it up against a Noble as soon as humanly possible. – Davey G. Johnson More »

"How to" "Install" a "Lamborghini" "Engine" "Disguise" "on" "Your" "'Vette" "Motor"

Here's the problem with people who in any way, shape or form desire wish to own a Lamborghini replica. They "overuse" "quotation" "marks." Case in point, from the Kit Car Magazine site: "There have been many attempts to disguise the real 'power plant' [sic] but none have come close enough to 'pass' as the original V12, until now." Because "powerplant" and "pass" are edgy terms the kids use these days, don'tcha know. More »

Fakie Ferrari: The Extreme F360

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports on the Extreme F360, a replica of the Ferrari 360 Modena built on a (hold on to your berets) Peugeot 406 coupe. The spectacular transformation was done by Extreme Cars, which offers the kit — which includes body panels, doors, head and taillights and other fittings — for around 20 large. Still, it's not 360-class runner; the 406's a front driver with a powerplant that's better suited to a European econobox than an Italian exotic, but the company says it's planning a limited edition with a 3.0-liter V6. More »

Think Global, Drive Local: Westfield's Recycled Mazda Kit Car

Got a rust-bucket Mazda MX-5, but you really want a Caterham? If you're in the UK, check out Westfield's MX5. The company took the running gear from a used last-gen Mazda and added its own kit body and components to create a kind of, well, Mazderham. But there's a twist to the story. Considering the UK's new "End of Life Vehicle regulations" (an environmental law that requires manufactures to pitch in to recycle old, valueless cars) the company is actually promoting environmental sensitivity. Kit-car building on old platforms, they say, is a form of recycling. We're not sure it'll wash over at Greenpeace, but it sounds like a good enough idea to us. More »