They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s so, then today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Hyundai-based 360 Ferrari is heartfelt as all hell. Let’s see if it’s worth flattering the seller by paying its asking.
Yesterday we learned that a 2019 Corvette ZR1—literally a car from the future—will set you back a cool $120K. That works out to about $160 per pony on that wild ride. Of course, should you feel that’s a little too rich for your blood, you might want to consider the 1987 Callaway Corvette we just so happened to also offer up yesterday. At $18,500 and 345 horsepower, you’d be paying a mere $53.62 per horse. And it looked almost as wild as the be-winged and two scoops of raisins filled ZR1 too.
That bargain per-pony price still wasn’t enough to get the majority of you to agree to ponying up, and the Callaway fell in a 60-percent Crack Pipe loss.
Modified cars like that Callaway are interesting owing to their ambition. In the case of that Corvette, Callaway sought to offer up exceptional performance in a car that could still be serviced by Mr Goodwrench and would hold up to heroics without blowing a gasket.
Other times, it’s far more difficult to divine a particular modification’s intent or specific raison d’être.
Take this 2003 Ferrari 360 Modena as example. No, go on, take it. Take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, Georgie. Yep, that’s a Ferrari alright. You see the badges? Those sexy-ass alloy wheels? How about the iconic four tail lamps and swoopy scoops leading into the rear fenders?
The final clue to this Ferrari’s authenticity is the double DIN stereo in the dash that offers both a CD AND cassette. Wait, that doesn’t sound right. When did Ferrari ever offer a double DIN CD/cassette head unit in any of their cars? Now that I think about it, the Italian company never offered the 360 in an odd mix of Spider and coupe rooflines as exhibited by this car either. You know what? I’m beginning to think this isn’t a real Ferrari after all.
No it is not. It is in fact a Hyundai Tiburon hiding out under all those Prancing Horse logos and oddly proportioned body lines that, even at its best angles, are an uncomfortable homage to the Pininfarina-penned original’s.
This car is a lie, but like so much in our lives today, it’s a lie that defies repudiation simply by its mere existence.
The ad says that the car comes with the Tiburon’s 2.0 four cylinder up—yes, up—under its hood. It also notes that it comes with a five-speed stick sending power to the front wheels. That’s despite the claim of it being an automatic in the sidebar. Subterfuge!
Just a real 360’s V8, that four puts out 138 horsepower. The only difference? That’s where the Hyundai mill craps out. The Ferrari keeps on plowing the field all the way up to 395. And of course the Ferrari’s lovely all-alloy V8 sits amidships while this car’s motivating force resides up front.
The bodywork on this odd bodkin is said to be the “ONLY ONE IN THE US MADE WITH A REAL FERRARI ALUMINUM BODY.” And the ad makes the further claim that “FROM THE OUTSIDE THIS IS A REAL FERRARI 360 MODENA.” Stop snickering! Oh and yes, those are Hyundai side mirrors.
The most puzzling aspect of this car is that roof. Is it a convertible? The fabric sure seems raggedy. Still, there’s no apparent way to drop the top, and then there’s that big back glass bookended by faux engine cooling slats—just like on the real thing!
The interior is an amazing amalgamation of Ferrari nameplates and badges applied over your stock Hyundai dash. I will say that, being a FWD economy coupe underneath rather than a frayed edge super sports car, there does seem to be a bit more luggage space in here. There are also some odd structural elements impeding ease of access. That may be a clue as to whether the top comes off or not. Or, it might just be someone’s idea of how Ferrari interiors should look. You know, someone who’s never actually seen one.
The ad claims there to be only 54,000 miles on this car’s clock, and most surprisingly, that it comes with a clean title. This apparently wasn’t the result of a salvaged Tiburon and delusions of grandeur. The engine is said to run fine, and the transmission benefits from a new clutch. There are a few other bits and kibbles here, but they pale in light of the car’s overall presence. There’s just so many questions this car engenders.
One of those questions is whether it might be worth its $21,500 asking. Now, you know you’d never find a real Ferrari 360 Modena for anything anywhere near that number. Wouldn’t you just love to sit behind a Prancing Horse for just a fraction of the cost of the real deal? What do you think, does this Hyundai/Modena mashup feel like its worth that $21,500 asking? Or, is this a re-skinning—and a price—that won’t fool anybody?
You decide!
New York, NY Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to onlytwowheelsev for the hookup!
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