Jalopnik: kit car hell

Solstighini Kit Car Can Be Yours For Just $70,000

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Listen people, just because one guy built a really kickass Lamborghini replica doesn't mean all of you are qualified to do the same. Case in point is this "Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 GT" built on the bones of a Pontiac Solstice. The buy-it-now price on this jewel is a modest $70,000, and for that you get styling resembling the bastard spawn of a Murcielago and a fat-bottomed Lotus Elan. Bottom line: Dressing up a Solstice as a Lamborghini will fool nobody this Halloween.

[Ebay Listing via Autoblog]

The Greatest Fierrari Enzno Ever Sold

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

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.

According to the seller, this car was featured in the obviously well known motion picture "13 million," a movie we all remember fondly (never mind that even IMDB has never heard of it). We just can't get over how spectacular this thing is put together. Is it possible for a car to be so bad it crosses the line into greatness? The answer is yes. (Thanks Henry) [eBay listing]

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

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:20:00 EDT

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? [eBay]

Italian Supercar Forgers Find Fieros Fantastic

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:40:00 EST

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).

In addition to the forged Ferraris they report on, we spy with our little eyes a fake Lamborghini Diablo in the mix as well. Suppose they just missed that one, or is the Ferrari angle just sexier? Somehow all of this reminds us that Car und Driver's Mike Austin still has a Fiero left over from LeMons in his garage. Or maybe it belongs to Phil Floraday of Winding Road - can't quite keep that straight. We're thinking those guys have to be involved in this somehow.