Jalopnik: Replica

Trick Or Treat: Toyota MR2 In Porsche Carrera GT Costume

Mark Arnold — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:20:00 EDT

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.

For that kind of money, you could get a nice, honest MR2 Spyder...that hasn't been in an accident. Or if you really just want a cheap mid-engined Porsche, you could buy a decent first-generation Boxster. However, if you're dressing up as Anthony Hamilton for Halloween, well then this might just be the ticket after all. [ebay]

Zagato Creates Perfect Lancia Aprilia Sport Replica Using Only Photos

Mark Arnold — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:45:00 EDT

Sometimes a classic car is just so unattainable that you have to resort to replicas. That's easy if you want a fiberglass Cobra-esq roadster, but what about when the car you want doesn't have a kit readily available for you to order? What about if that 1937 Lancia you want doesn't have any documented engineering plans, and there's not a single original car remaining, anywhere? Well, back in 2006, Zagato decided they would take on such a challenge; building a perfect replica of the 1937 Lancia Aprilia Sport using only a few photographs.

This is the end result, but don't think it's just a one-off. Zagato says they plan on building up to nine units of the classic beauty at a price of $235,000. Don't plan to go Enzo-hunting, because the little streamliner only has 48HP. That means top speed is only 79 MPH. Our first thought is to swap in a turbocharged 'Busa motor (or maybe a modern Ducati engine), but you don't need speed when you've got hand-beaten body panels. Besides, those guys went through all the trouble of constructing 3D models from faded old black and white photographs. You'd think the least we could do is respect the craftsmanship.
[AutoBild]

Transformers Mustang Cop Car Replica Not Police Approved

Travis Hudson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:40:00 EDT

A man by the name of Jesse Vigil has decked out a 2007 Mustang to look like Barricade the Saleen Mustang from Transformers and not surprisingly, the local cops don't approve. Much to the delight of Transformers fans everywhere, including Vigil's son and the inspiration for the mod, the cops can't do a damn thing as long as Vigil isn't impersonating the police.

Despite not being a Saleen, the car is a fairly solid replica. It include the slogan "To punish and enslave and more. It does also include a non-functional siren bar. The police shouldn't bust Vigil's chops too much. He did the replica for his son after returning from Iraq. It should be illegal to bust the chops of somebody with those credentials. [AP; YouTube] (Image)

Down in the Parking Garage: Superformance Shelby Daytona Coupe

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST

Yesterday we waxed nostalgic about some awesome American racing greatness from the middle 1960s (both here and here). And while we're typically not the biggest booster of replicas, when done correct, they completely rule. Like this Superformance Brock Coupe. As promised, 1300ccsOfFury filled my gmail box with pics. Here's what he has to say:

After today's GT40 lovefest, I figured I should get myself motivated to head down to my building's parking garage and send you pictures of this. It's a Superformance Shelby Daytona Coupe replica that definitely looks (and sounds) the part...probably built better than the originals too. It's been sitting for awhile due to the winter weather, so it's covered in dust and fingerprints. I don't know whether to applaud the guy for leaving it visible for the world to see or to give him a wag of the finger for letting it get like that.

Anyways, the guy who owns this car has fantastic taste as previous residents of this spot were a Lotus Elise and loaned Lamborghini Gallardo. The interior is covered in sumptuous cross-stitched leather, but it was far too black inside and the lighting far too piss-poor for me to have any hope of getting a shot. There's also a brilliant red '61 Lincoln Continental convertible in the lower level of the garage, but it's under a cover. Enjoy the Daytona for now.

Signed, 1300ccsOfFury!

Sigh... Our garage has little more than a drill press and a busted-ass lawnmower. Here's to one day.

We Won't Even Give You Eight Bucks: Ferrari Daytona?

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EDT

We spotted this bad boy behind a storage facility in Atwater Village (near the Beastie Boys' studio). We'd just finished a conversation with our friend Jonee about a BMW 600 he found in a barn up north. All sorts of wild thoughts raced through our mind. Chief among them, how much will the owner let her go for? We've been looking around for a project car, and why the hell not? But then we actually got close to this "Ferrari."

The body looked straight enough, but we sure thought 365 GTB/4s were aluminum, not fiberglass. And what's with those giant Goodrichs?

That's just ugly... and really, something's rotten in Denmark.

Now hold on a minute. I recognize those pedals. Why would a Ferrari have the same pedals and hood release as my 1985 Pontiac?

Ah, because this car is bullshit. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
We'll Give You Eight Bucks: 18K Dodge Dart [Internal]

Tired of That Boring Old E36?

Murilee Martin — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:30:20 EDT

We're... confused by this. Someone has taken an E36 BMW and expended a lot of time and money to convert it into a vehicle resembling a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R. Any insights into the thought processes behind this project? – Murilee Martin

GT-R R34 Replica [Carscoop]

Chevy-Chevy-Chevy: The 789 by N2A Motors

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:18:35 EST

Lots of madness tucked into SEMA's nooks and crannies. To wit: the 789. Built on the bones of a C6 Corvette, the 789 is a style mashup of the 1957 Chevy, 1959 Chevy and 1958 Impala created by California design firm N2A (no two alike) Motors. (See, kids. Never smoke angel dust while you're thumbing through an issue of Car Craft). Want one? It'll cost around $40,000 over the price of a new C6 (MSRP ~$44,000). [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli

Half The Size, 1/32nd The Displacement: Dodge Tomahawk Replica On eBay

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:00:00 EDT

Toss this one in the "Why'd-you-even-bother?" pile and move on. Some guy claims to have invested $20k in a half-size replica of Dodge's Viper-powered Tomahawk four-wheeled motorcycle concept. And now he's selling it. How much you wanna bet it won't break reserve?

Dodge Tomahawk [eBay]

In Defense of a "Cheesewagen": Ferrari Daytona Replica at Barrett-Jackson

Mike Spinelli — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 13:07:03 EST

One Barrett-Jackson attendee and fan of the Ferrari Daytona replica sounds off re: our correspondent's portrayal of one of the kit cars on the block. The exact quote was "Crockett and Tubbs wouldn t be caught dead in this cheesewagen."

That s a little unfair, I think. This car was the *exact same* kit driven by Sonny Crockett in the TV show Miami Vice. Also, I was one of the three guys that worked for six months to get the car ready for the auction and it s certainly not a cheesewagen (sic).

I ve attached a photo that I took of the car in the photo tent at B-J. Decide for yourself.

Hmm, it looks the same, though it's the fire-engine red (sorry, Ferrari-red) paint that really tarts it up. Whaddya think? [Thanks, Wallace.]

Related:
Droppin Mad Jacksons at Barrett-Jackson [internal]