Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-c5-corvette-based-saleen-s7-repl/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-c5-corvette-based-saleen-s7-repl/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-c5-corvette-based-saleen-s7-repl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica - click above image for hi-res gallery

Steve Saleen's Saleen S7 is a totally bespoke, hand built superduper hypercar that in twin-turbo, 750 horsepower, 700 pound-feet of torque form could go about 250 mph. And it was capable of generating enough downforce to (theoretically) drive upside down. In competition, the S7R has been one of the most dominant vehicles ever fielded, having been "raced in over 264 events, with 218 Top Tens, 166 Podiums, 105 Wins, 86 Poles, 78 Fastest Laps and 9 GT Championships." Price when new was about $600,000, give or take.

Which makes the above car all the more special. Sayeth the seller, "We thought long and hard as to what chassis we would use for our replica. First of all we knew the 80's [sic] Fiero was not an option. its [sic] too old, underpowered, and not a safe frame." Oh man - the replica world has really changed if a Pontiac Fiero chassis is not good enough. But the auctioneer does inadvertently raise a good point, as the S7 is in fact a mid-engined car, and you just got to have that if you're building a replica, don't you? Apparently not.

"So we went with a C5 Corvette chassis. It offers all the driving comforts, with great brakes, Power, and a super strong frame. and we could retail the car for a reasonable price." But not only is it Chevrolet Corvette based, they made it a roadster! See, all those boring old S7s were stuffy mid-engined hardtops - this is the world's first and only front-engined roadster S7. Replica. We've got to say we're a little amazed there are only two bids.

Oh wait, no - we said that wrong. What we meant is that we're a little amazed there are two bids. Currently, the "replica" is sitting at $20,100 and humorously oddly, the reserve has not been met. Did we mention that it's an automatic? Also, dude, your check engine light is on. Videos after the jump. Happy bidding!


Gallery: C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica


[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster

eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>C5C5 CorvetteC5CorvetteCorvetteexotic carExoticCarkit carKitCarreplicareplicarS7S7 ReplicaS7 Replica RoadsterS7 RoadsterS7RS7ReplicaS7ReplicaRoadsterS7RoadsterSaleenSaleen S7Saleen S7 ReplicaSaleen S7 Replica RoadsterSaleenS7SaleenS7ReplicaSaleenS7ReplicaRoadstersteve saleenSteveSaleensupercarTue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Quick Spin: Superformance GT40 MkI is vehicular sashimi, raw and delicious]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/quick-spin-superformance-gt40-mki-is-vehicular-sashimi-raw-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/quick-spin-superformance-gt40-mki-is-vehicular-sashimi-raw-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/quick-spin-superformance-gt40-mki-is-vehicular-sashimi-raw-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Superformance GT40 MkI - Click above for high-res image gallery

As much as we enjoy piloting modern machinery, there's something special about vintage vehicles, and that something is the pure, unvarnished connection between man and machine. But it's not always good. Things get dicey when the driving experience is a little too vintage. Despite our supreme adoration of the racing greats of yesteryear, clawing at the wheel, pulverizing the brake pedal, dumping buckets of sweat onto the leather seat and having our sphincter perform kegels isn't always our preferred flavor of fun. Some days, we're just not that hardcore. So the vintage vehicles we've come to love most aren't genuinely vintage at all - they're classic bodies wrapped around modern mechanicals. The Rizk RA is a prime example, and now there's this: the Superformance GT40 MkI, a car so raw that if it were edible, they'd slap "organic" on it and sell it at Whole Foods.


Gallery: Quick Spin: Superformance GT40 Mk1


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Superformance GT40 MkI is vehicular sashimi, raw and delicious

Quick Spin: Superformance GT40 MkI is vehicular sashimi, raw and delicious originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classiccoupefeaturedFord GT40FordGt40GT-40gt40gt40 mk1gt40 mkiGt40Mk1Gt40Mkiperformancequick drivequick spinQuickDriveQuickSpinreplicaShelbyspecialtysportssuperformanceSuperformance GT40superformance gt40 mk1superformance gt40 mkiSuperformanceGt40SuperformanceGt40Mk1SuperformanceGt40MkivintageTue, 13 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Super Replicas' Lamborghini Reventon clone isn't fooling anyone]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/26/video-super-replicas-lamborghini-reventon-clone-isnt-fooling/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/26/video-super-replicas-lamborghini-reventon-clone-isnt-fooling/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/26/video-super-replicas-lamborghini-reventon-clone-isnt-fooling/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Follow the jump to see footage of the Super Replica Lamborghini Reventon

Dictionary.com has two definitions for "replica": 1. a copy or reproduction of a work of art produced by the maker of the original or under his or her supervision; 2. any close or exact copy or reproduction. The work of Super Replicas barely falls under the second definition, and even then it helps if you're standing far away or -- better yet -- you've never seen the original in the first place.

While Super Replicas' Lamborghini Reventon won't fool anyone, in the company's defense (if that's possible), they only charge about $20,000 for their rides -- $1.58 million less than the real deal -- and they provide three-year, 75,000-mile warranties. Follow the jump to see the video (whose quality rivals the replica itself) and decide if that's close enough to a Reventon for your liking.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Super Replicas' Lamborghini Reventon clone isn't fooling anyone

VIDEO: Super Replicas' Lamborghini Reventon clone isn't fooling anyone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloneetckit carKitCarlamborghinilamborghini reventonLamborghiniReventonreplicareventonsuper replicaSuperReplicavideoSun, 26 Apr 2009 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Wooden wheels for the guy who doesn't have everything]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/wooden-wheels-for-the-guy-who-doesnt-have-everything/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/wooden-wheels-for-the-guy-who-doesnt-have-everything/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/wooden-wheels-for-the-guy-who-doesnt-have-everything/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Sure, you could take the easy way out and just go buy a boxed replica, smelted in some far off land and stamped out as nondescriptly as a tube of toothpaste, but that's not so much gift-giving as it is proxy-buying. Vehicle models made of wood are something different entirely. Juxtaposing the mechanical nature of automobiles by rendering scale models in fine woods might seem odd at first blush. What, no paint on the quarter panels? No plated plastic bumpers? But then, laying eyes on the expert craftsmanship that's gone into the models over at Wooden Classic Wheels will remove any doubt that the medium works perfectly for the subject matter. Of course, the replicas will also remove vast amounts of padding from your bank balance, but true art isn't about the money... it just costs that way. Thanks for the tip, William!

Gallery: Wooden Vehicle Models


[Source: WoodenClassicWheels.com]

Wooden wheels for the guy who doesn't have everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobile modelsAutomobileModelscar modelsCarModelsmodel carsModelCarsreplicavehicle replicasVehicleReplicaswooden auto replicawooden car replicaWoodenAutoReplicaWoodenCarReplicaMon, 29 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy a brand new Jag XK120 C for $133,000]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/buy-a-brand-new-jag-xk120-c-for-133-000/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/buy-a-brand-new-jag-xk120-c-for-133-000/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/buy-a-brand-new-jag-xk120-c-for-133-000/#commentsFiled under: ,



Proteus, maker of hand-crafted replicas of bygone sports cars, is coming to America. Recently purchased by Enduro Cars, Proteus plans to restart production of its carbon copy Jaguar XK120 C -- the record-breaking Le Mans-conquering roadster -- that you'll be able to purchase for $133.000.

In addition to the XK 120 C, the company is looking at making a Lightweight E-Type and perhaps some early F1 cars. Last year, Proteus showed a C-Type coupe to the public to gauge reaction. No decisions have been made yet on that car, but the 21-year-old company is planning to begin fabricating three more Jags -- the SS100, XKSS, and D-Type - as well as the Aston Martin DB3S and the racing version of the gullwing 300SL, the 300SLR.

The company builds about 150 units of the XK 120 C per year, and each all-aluminum car comes with a 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty. Sure, it'll cost you $133,000, but that will get you a one of the most beautiful cars ever penned and cost a lot less in the long run than the original.

[Source: Gizmag]

Buy a brand new Jag XK120 C for $133,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enduro carsEnduroCarsjaguar xk120cJaguarXk120cproteusreplicareplica carsReplicaCarsreplicasxk120Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Mustang-based Aston Vanquishes other replicas]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/mustang-based-aston-vanquishes-other-replicas/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/mustang-based-aston-vanquishes-other-replicas/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/10/mustang-based-aston-vanquishes-other-replicas/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click on the images to view in high resolution

In our day-to-day, we come across a fair number of replicars. Some are especially convincing, while others are just plain bonkers. Far more so than the Miata-based AMX07 we brought you back in 2006, this Aston Martin V12 Vanquish replica could have had us fooled.

Made by Ontario, Canada-based Exclusive Motor Cars, this Aston replica is based on a previous-gen Ford Mustang. Ten companies are then involved in the transformation -- stretching the wheelbase, widening the track and lowering the ride height with suspension mods; crafting, painting and fitting the 34 composite body panels; custom upholstering the interior and fitting interior trim pieces; and mounting all the extra details from the headlights to the badges.

The end result, at least as far as we can tell from the pictures (you can judge for yourself in the gallery below), would appear to fool anyone but the most trained eye. Exclusive even plans to offer a "spy package" complete with (what we'd hope are fake) grille-mounted rocket launchers and hood-mounted machine guns in an effort to complete the "Die Another Day" 007 package. Although the company's pricing page is currently blank, you can bet it costs a heck of a lot less than the authentic, now-discontinued V12 Vantage itself. You very well might be the only one who would know the difference.

[Source: Exclusive Motor Cars via Carscoop]

Gallery: Exclusive Aston Martin Vanquish replica

Mustang-based Aston Vanquishes other replicas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astoncanadaexclusivekitmartinmotor carsMotorCarsmustangreplicav12vanquishThu, 10 Jan 2008 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/video-240z-based-ferrari-250-gto-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/video-240z-based-ferrari-250-gto-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/video-240z-based-ferrari-250-gto-replica/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above image to view video

With far more people wanting Ferraris than those who can actually afford one, replicas based on lesser donor cars are nothing new. Some are more convincing than others, and while we'd recommend a nice Corvette over a faux-rarri, once in a while there's an example that catches our attention, for better or worse.

If you're in love with the 250 GTO and don't have the millions it takes to buy one, this car might be the closest you can get. Follow the jump to find footage - nicely edited footage, actually - of a 250 GTO replica based on a Datsun 240Z that's set to the rather apt soundtrack of The Who's "Won't get Fooled Again", which you may recognize from CSI.

[Source: Busca Tuning via Motorpasion]

Continue reading VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica

VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Dec 2007 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>240z250 gto250GtodatsunferrarireplicaTue, 25 Dec 2007 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[A project car on a blogging budget: Autoblog Project Edsel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/a-project-car-on-a-blogging-budget-autoblog-project-edsel/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/a-project-car-on-a-blogging-budget-autoblog-project-edsel/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/a-project-car-on-a-blogging-budget-autoblog-project-edsel/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The recreational car show season is about two-thirds of the way done for 2007, at least here in New England. There will be good cruise days sprinkled in until about Halloween, but as the summer winds down, so does the practice of four-wheeled gatherings. Every year as I stroll past rows of shiny fenders, my thoughts wander to what fun there is to be had with that vehicle that doesn't participate in workaday drudgery.

For project cars, it's a veritable prerequisite to have a garage. Note the shot of my driveway, and its distinct lack of a garage. Lacking a place to store all the accoutrements of the vehicular addiction hobby, let alone provide a proper roof over the heads of my vehicles makes upkeep of even our regular rides that much more difficult, never mind keeping the shine on anything special.

Continue reading A project car on a blogging budget: Autoblog Project Edsel

A project car on a blogging budget: Autoblog Project Edsel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1958airbrushedselkitmodelpacerprojectreplicascaleThu, 23 Aug 2007 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Porrera: Beetle-based faux 911]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/porrera-beetle-based-faux-911/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/porrera-beetle-based-faux-911/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/porrera-beetle-based-faux-911/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



I like Bugs. I like Porsches. Not together. Taking a historical bent, you could draw a line from the Porsche 911 back to the Volkswagen Beetle without it having too many kinks and corners in it. The flip side of that relationship is that while there are some similarities in the broad-strokes sense, the two cars are more dissimilar than they are alike. How we wish we'd coined the name, but alas, Creative Cars (whoever they are) came up with the Porrera moniker when they started producing 911 retrofit kits. It's close, kind of, but not really. Maybe in that small area in the lower part of the rear quarter where the taillights meet the fender flares. Hm. No. All the nose jobs and fanny surgery in the world can't change the fact that this is, at its core, a 1970 Type I. The greenhouse is too bulbous (a proper chop job might help), the front overhangs are reminiscent of something penned by Matt Groening, and out back continues to chuffle a filthy 1300.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Gallery: Porrera

Continue reading Porrera: Beetle-based faux 911

Porrera: Beetle-based faux 911 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911auctionbeetlecarreraebayporschereplicavolkswagenvwTue, 14 Aug 2007 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay find of the day: RX-7-based Jaguar E-type replica]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-rx-7-based-jaguar-e-type-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-rx-7-based-jaguar-e-type-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-rx-7-based-jaguar-e-type-replica/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click the pic above to see a gallery of 17 shots

Double sacrilege, or sincere tribute? We sincerely love Mazda's RX-7, yet we've also got a place in our hearts for E-Type Jaguars. We're a little sad to see that a 1985 RX-7 was sacrificed to create this very convincing E-Type replica, but maybe we can console ourselves by thinking back to Mazda's own Wankel-powered pseudo E. The pictures really are quite convincing, and unless you parked it next to a real Jaguar, only the engine note would give it away. On the plus side, you could double-dip on enthusiast events, Jaguar and Mazda fans alike would embrace this car. The replica sold for $16,000 on eBay recently, and we hope the new owner is out enjoying the raspy whine of the 13B and the way light clings to the curvy hood panel as you motor about town, turning heads.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Gallery: RX7 E-Type replica

eBay find of the day: RX-7-based Jaguar E-type replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>convertiblecustomee typeebayETypejaguarmazdareplicarx7time warpTimeWarpxk eXkETue, 07 Aug 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Vintage replicas, new management]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/vintage-replicas-new-management/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/vintage-replicas-new-management/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/vintage-replicas-new-management/#comments

A bunch of guys are sitting around at the local watering hole, throwing back a couple cold ones, and they get to talking. It's the usual, familiar scene. 'If I had my own sports car company, I'd do it all different.' 'That Russian kid who bought TVR doesn't know what he's doing.' 'Why can't anyone make a decent roadster like the Porsche 356?' The difference in this case was that the guys had the money to make it happen, and have put it right where their mouths are.

The result was the formation of Tygan Motor Company and its acquisition of Chesil, a company that successfully produces and markets replicas of Porsche 356 Speedsters based on VW Beetle components. Tygan is gearing up to offer variants with a customer's choice of 1.8- or 2.0-liter, air-cooled, four-cylinder, Volkswagen-sourced, twin-carb boxer engines. To back it up with competent handing, Tygan is fitting an independent rear suspension, and to back up its reliability, a one-year warranty. Buyers can chose a two-seater or - shock! - a 2+2 configuration, at a projected cost of £28,750 in the UK.

After acquiring Chesil Motor Company's assets, Tygan expanded the production facilities to double output, while retaining Chesil's staff. Tygan is aiming to become the UK's and Europe's biggest producer of classic sportscar replicas, and with an injection of capital and a driven new management, they stand more than a half-decent chance.

[Source: PistonHeads]

Vintage replicas, new management originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chesilclassicporschereplicaspeedstertyganWed, 04 Jul 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Replica mutt: Nissan 280Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO, with a BMW V12]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/24/replica-mutt-nissan-280z-based-ferrari-260-gto-with-a-bmw-v12/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/24/replica-mutt-nissan-280z-based-ferrari-260-gto-with-a-bmw-v12/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/24/replica-mutt-nissan-280z-based-ferrari-260-gto-with-a-bmw-v12/#commentsFiled under:

When you read about gearhead guys -- like the kind who put two engines in an Integra -- it's like, "What else is new?" But when you read about gearhead gals, especially the kind who have created the car you see above, it's like, "Uh ... call me."

Michelle bought a 1977 280Z on eBay that had been turned into a Ferrari 250 GTO replica with an Alpha1 kit. She and her best friend Haley then turned it into a replica unlike any other. They changed every single body panel, made a lot of the cosmetic parts functional like the vents in the rear and the trap door on the nose, and fashioned completely new parts like the rear trunk. Deeper fabrication efforts include stretching the wheelbase, moving the firewall back, and making the car RHD so it's not like other American replicas. Then, not happy with the 5-speed V6, they grabbed a V12 lump from a BMW 850 CSI, made it dry sump and installed manual Dellorto throttles, then put it in the engine bay they revised for better balance and a lower center of gravity. They've done a lot more as well -- click the "Read" link to check out all the details and pics. If you want to know the way to an Autoblogger's heart, this is a great start.

[Source: Carscoop]

Replica mutt: Nissan 280Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO, with a BMW V12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>280zferrarigtoreplicaSun, 24 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Intrepid Chinese make their own Jeep Wrangler]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/intrepid-chinese-make-their-own-jeep-wrangler/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/intrepid-chinese-make-their-own-jeep-wrangler/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/12/intrepid-chinese-make-their-own-jeep-wrangler/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the pic above to see a gallery

This faux Jeep gets a pass, because it comes out looking so close to the real thing, though Jeep faithful will likely pick it to pieces. Pieces is how the story begins, with a Bejing Jeep 2020 that has a tryst with a Sawz-all. Predictably, the 2020 gets all broken up after its torrid affair, and needs to be put back together. Two talented Chinese bodymen took up the mantle and reinvigorated this unloved, down and out conveyance.

The outcome sees the Jeep better than has ever been, which is the hope of anyone who ever partakes in an intervention, isn't it? While this facsimilie has been whipped up most of the way around the world, it's definitely got some Jeeper spirit going on. There's plenty of backyard-assembled CJs here in the homeland that don't look anywhere near as good as this totally fake Rubicon. Sure, the paint's not great (well, it does look shiny, that counts), and the mechanicals are a crapshoot, but the caution (and safety equipment) be damned attitude that these fellas show as they forge ahead and make something from nothing is true Jeep ethos. Besides, we'd much rather cruise the streets of China in the red faux Rubicon than the Chairman-Mao Green thing it started as. It's not the first time someone's made a replica out of a totally unrelated car, anyway. We're not generally fans of the practice, but we see the effort here and applaud the results.

[Source: China Car Times via Hemmings]

Gallery: Chinese Jeep replica

Intrepid Chinese make their own Jeep Wrangler originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bodyworkchinafakejeepreplicarubicontributewranglerTue, 12 Jun 2007 11:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Fun things to do with your MR2: Ferrari 360 replica]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/fun-things-to-do-with-your-mr2-ferrari-360-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/fun-things-to-do-with-your-mr2-ferrari-360-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/fun-things-to-do-with-your-mr2-ferrari-360-replica/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


click the pic above to view a gallery

Why is it that people feel the need to saddle perfectly good cars with replica bodywork to make them look like exotics? There's nothing wrong with the last generation Toyota MR2, true, it's no Ferrari, but then again, you can buy an entire MR2 for very much less than a Ferrari 360; an amount closer to the downpayment, most likely. We'd keep the bodykit away from the MR2 and spend the extra dough on suspension and engine mods. If you really must project the image that a Ferrari brings (you know - this car costs more than your house, and I'll sell it for more, too. Yes, that does make me better than you) you could follow the lead of this MR2 Spyder's owner.

If you can stomach the truncated proportions that haven't survived scaling well, your MR2 will make a solid basis for you to become a total poseur. From what we can see, the car pictured has had time and energy lavished on it. The extra-wide door gap is not pretty, but overall, there's a lot of detail here, and the pictures show something that's reasonably turned out, instead of a total hack job. It's a very well done tribute, in fact. At least you can be fairly certain that the MR2 will have more uptime than the Ferrari, and when it does need to go see the doctor, the prescription's cost will lean more toward ibuprofen, not radical walletectomy.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Ferrari 360 replica



[Source: Carscoop]

Fun things to do with your MR2: Ferrari 360 replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old Audis are cool, and old racing Audis are even cooler. A Swedish Audi fanatic seems to think so, too, and has gone to extreme lengths to transform a workaday Audi 90 into the IMSA GTO version of that car. Not wanting to go the stripe-and-bodykit route, this Audi's flares were painstakingly constructed from many pieces of metal, intricately tacked into place. Replica body pieces like splitters were created in composite after measurements of an original car were taken, and the authentically nutty looking rims are custom-modified VW pieces. The doors still open, despite 8 additional inches of width, and the amount of work that went into the body modifications is truly incredible. It looks like a scale model was built first, and once the form was perfected, it was "blown up" to the actual car - we don't know Svenska, and translators aren't terribly useful. Motivation is provided by an A8's 4.2 liter V8, which must make the replica pretty zippy, but probably not as fast as those IMSA cars were. Still, though, it's a hell of a thing to see lurking in your rearview, and the handiwork is truly impressive. We see the most insane stuff coming out of Sweden - must be something in the water aquavit. AudiMotorSport's got galleries of the build here.

[Source: AudiMotorSport.se via German Car Scene]

Car Costume: Audi 90 Quattro becomes Audi 90 IMSA GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>90Audiaudi 90Audi90bodyworkcustomGTOIMSAIMSA GTOImsaGtoreplicaswedenFri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: General Zee Camaro not even John Schneider could love]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/ebay-find-of-the-day-general-lee-camaro-not-even-john-schneider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/ebay-find-of-the-day-general-lee-camaro-not-even-john-schneider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/ebay-find-of-the-day-general-lee-camaro-not-even-john-schneider/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land!

Some things are just unnatural, and should never be attempted. Does the paint job give this car any pop-culture cred via osmosis? Yes, yes, calling it the "General Zee" displays a modicum of wit, but we can't condone trying to splice in cool with a paint job. Us Gen-Xers will always have a soft spot for the orange Charger with pushbars out front and "01" emblazoned on its welded-shut doors. Giving that treatment to a 2002 Z-28 does not make it a collector car, even if the abomination has under 40,000 miles on it. There's a "Dixie" horn setup, and enough amateur-grade extra wiring is present in the underhood shots to make us cringe visibly. Our favorite modification has to be the muffler, which "has holes added to enhance the sound quality of the V-8 engine." The dead newspaper tycoon operating the T5-6 is a nice touch, too. Must be a one-off, 'cause that's the first we've heard of a "Hearst" shifter. Reserve is not yet met at a current bid of $7,100. Us, we'd use that cash as a downpayment on a General Lee replica that's at least a Mopar, though an Omni GLH dressed up in this type of drag would be equally repugnant.

Thanks for the tip, Aaron!

[Source: eBay]

Gallery: General Zee - Z28 with Dukes paint

eBay Find of the Day: General Zee Camaro not even John Schneider could love originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2007 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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click above for more images of the M1Stang "Miastang"

One could argue that the Mazda Miata has become our generation's Pontiac Fiero. We've seen the Miata become the kit car du jour in the form of a BMW Z3 and Aston Martin, but this conversion may take the cake. Though we have dubbed this car the Miastang, it's real name is the M1Stang. Carscoop reports that the man behind this Miata-based Mustang replica is one Bill Carnes, who will take your Zoom Zoom roadster and approximately $12,999 plus tax in exchange for his strange concoction. Clearly, the entire body of the Miata save the windshield is replaced with all steel body panels that nicely mimic the Mustang of old. Unfortunately, the $13k base price doesn't include painting or updating the decidedly un-Mustang interior, but the conversion can be performed on any Miata from 1990-2005. Some may call it an abomination, but we think it's pretty amusing and actually a fairly faithful recreation.

[Source: M1Stang via Carscoop]

Gallery: M1Stang Miata Mustang conversion

How many special edition Mustangs is too much? Meet the Miastang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2007 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's nice to see romance flourishing in this increasingly jaundiced world. Nick Pointing's wife, Carolyn, fell in love with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the tender age of three. She'd already accumulated quite the collection of Chitty memorabilia when Nick and Carolyn struck upon the idea to build a Chitty of their own one lazy Sunday morning. Presumably, that was the last time the couple took the opportunity to laze around. Fashioning bespoke bodywork is a decidedly deliberate process for even expert metalsmiths. The Pointings were not experts. Nick taught himself to weld and found a 1973 Series III Land Rover to donate its frame and running gear. Using stills from the Disney film and a Corgi scale model of the car, the Pointing's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang came to life in a less magical, more deliberate birthing process than Dick Van Dyke pulled off. Parts were sourced from all over the place. There's wood from a boatyard, bits of Mitsubishi Galant, headlamps from a retail store's housewares department, even pieces from a Singer sewing machine.

Mrs. Pointing's teenage daughter has told her mum to get out more. In pursuit of that interest, Nick and Carolyn will be taking a 12,000 mile journey to Australia, raising money for the Earl Mountbatten hospice, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the World Wildlife Fund along the way. The replica has passed the MoT, and the Solihull undercarriage should ensure a safe arrival at the end of the expected four-months the journey will take. Now, what children's movie had a magical Porsche 912? Maybe we can argue that it's mostly like Herbie, but better. Doubtful.

[Source: Daily Mail]

Man builds Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica "dream car" for wife originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beginning on July 1, kit/replica/component car buyers in Virginia will be able to title their vehicles in a different way. It seems the Virginia General Assembly has approved a new law allowing these vehicles to be registered as whatever model year the replica represents. The big advantage there lies in the fact that owners will be getting around those knuckle- and wallet-busting safety and emissions requirements for newly-built cars. This means Virginia will be joining Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island as states with similar titling laws on the books.

But lest you think this gives you carte blanche to build your own backyard burner and terrorize the local citizenry, know that there are some restrictions. First of all, the law defines a replica as "a vehicle not fully constructed by a licensed manufacturer but either constructed or assembled from components." Secondly, as a gesture of good will between thankful hobbyists and concerned officials, "replica vehicles titled under this law will be limited to no more than 5,000 miles per year as shown by the vehicle's odometer." So it has to be a true kit car, not a tuner, and you have to keep your driving down to about 100 miles per weekend or 400 miles a month.

In particular this will help manufacturers of cars like the Shelby Cobra kits we see all over the place. In fact, the Cobra clubs in Virginia were instrumental in getting this bill passed. Being heavily involved in the industry, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) was also part of the process. SEMA has actually been at the forefront in encouraging states to pass this kind of legislation. They are also working on similar initiatives in Florida, Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts and Nevada.

[Source: SEMA]

Virginia adds replica car category to title process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car titleCarTitleComponent carComponentCarkit carKitCarreplicareplicarSEMAVirginiaThu, 22 Mar 2007 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Recently acquired Proteus to debut Jaguar C-Type Coupe replica]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/21/recently-acquired-proteus-to-debut-jaguar-c-type-coupe-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/21/recently-acquired-proteus-to-debut-jaguar-c-type-coupe-replica/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/21/recently-acquired-proteus-to-debut-jaguar-c-type-coupe-replica/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Proteus C-Type Coupe

Proteus C-TypeProteus is a well respected manufacturer of replica sports cars based in the U.K. It currently offers convertible versions of the Jaguar C-Type (pictured at right) and D-Type that are near spot-on doppelgangers of the originals. Much has been happening in Proteus' world lately, as the company was recently acquired by its rival, Enduro Cars. This should be a good thing for Proteus, especially considering that Enduro Cars has made significant inroads in establishing a presence in the U.S., building a retail and service center in Irvine, California and new offices in Litchfield, Connecticut.

What's of more interest is news that Proteus may build a coupe version of its Jaguar C-Type replica, as shown in the rendering above. A scale model of the coupe will be shown at Race Retro during the 2007 International Historic Motorsport Show in Coventry, England this weekend. The show is somewhat of a relaunch for the Proteus brand under the stewardship of Enduro Cars, and if the public reacts favorably to the C-Type Coupe model it will likely get the go ahead for sale.

Press release after the jump

[Source: Proteus]

Gallery: Proteus C-Type

Proteus C-Type CoupeProteus C-Type

Continue reading Recently acquired Proteus to debut Jaguar C-Type Coupe replica

Recently acquired Proteus to debut Jaguar C-Type Coupe replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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