Autoblog

Arrinera supercar born out of Polish Lamborghini replica? [UPDATE]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Lamborghini

If you thought it seemed a little odd that Poland - a country without much of a history of producing exportable cars - would suddenly come out with a high-performance supercar, well... we're afraid you may be right. Because the latest reports out of the Eastern European country suggest that the Arrinera project is nothing more than a reclothed replicar.

Arrinera, as you may recall, is a project to build a supercar in Poland. Specifications recently hit the interwebs, indicating a $160,000 list price and a 6.2-liter V8 with 650 horsepower driving the rear wheels through a Graziano gearbox for a 3.2-second sprint to 62 and a 211 mph top end.

Now reports coming out of Poland - citing a certain Jacek Balkan who seems to be the Slavic version of Jeremy Clarkson - are calling the whole project into question. According to the word on the Warsaw boulevard, the people at Arrinera took a Lamborghini replica made by another Polish outfit called Bojar Tuning and gave it a new skin. Interior components were reportedly borrowed from the Opel Corsa and late-90s Audi A6, all in an effort to raise funds on the stock market.

The question we're left with is, if the project started as a replica but now has its own design and identity, should its humbler beginnings matter? If the specs are right and legendary chassis tuner Lee Noble is involved, the Arrinera could still emerge as a winner. Of course, we'd have to drive it in order to tell for sure, but we've got some openings in our calendar coming up...

UPDATE: Arrinera has hit back with a itemized denial of Jacek Balkan's reported allegations. It insists that its product is not, in fact, based on the Lamborghini replica made by Bojar, and that it does not borrow any more components from production vehicles than you'd expect to find in other supercars made by small companies like Pagani, Wiessmann, Noble, Artega or Gumpert. For a translated version of the full legal document, click here.

Arrinera supercar born out of Polish Lamborghini replica? [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler crushes unauthorized Mercedes-Benz 300 SL body

Chris Tutor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Replica carmakers take notice: Daimler will not tolerate copies of its signature Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. At all. And if you fail to heed this warning and build a full-size replica of a 300 SL gullwing, justice will come down like three tons of bricks upon your unlicensed creation.

German customs officials recently confiscated what looks to be a very faithful reproduction of a 300 SL from a German company, albeit rendered in fiberglass, and they apparently notified the folks at Daimler, who didn't take too kindly to the unauthorized likeness of their icon.

In their press release (available after the jump), Daimler says the body of the 300 SL is a "work of applied art" that has been under copyright protection for decades. And to make clear their intent to protect that copyright they also remind us they have "long taken a tough approach to vehicle replicas."

The recently seized copy found out just how tough when the Mercedes-Benz used parts centre (responsible for scrapping the company's unwanted prototypes) put the replica SL in a 30-ton industrial press and transformed it from illegal to unrecognizable. It then received the official "confirmation of scrappage" designation.

Continue reading Daimler crushes unauthorized Mercedes-Benz 300 SL body

Daimler crushes unauthorized Mercedes-Benz 300 SL body originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cheetah goes extinct. Again. [UPDATE]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials

Ah, the Cheetah - the American sportscar that never was to be. Looking like the voluptuous result of a one-night stand between a Chevrolet Corvette and a Lotus Seven, the Cheetah was conceived as a Chevy-backed answer to the Shelby Cobra. Unfortunately, the factory suffered a devastating fire back in 1965, General Motors pulled its support and the dream faded away.

Fast-forward to 2007 when an outfit in Arizona called BTM got authorization from the Cheetah's original father, Bill Thomas (who passed away the following year), to build a series of "continuation cars." That is, officially sanctioned replicas of a small volume car long since out of production. The faithful were elated, but now it seems the Cheetah has died again as BTM has closed up shop.

According to Hemmings, tooling and licenses are now up for grabs, but an online auction that included everything a new investor would need to begin production anew reportedly failed to attract a single bid after starting at $120,000. Cats may have nine lives, but whether the Cheetah will get a third remains to be seen.

UPDATE: The eBay Motors Cheetah auction has been relisted with a lowered reserve sitting at $100,000 and no bids. Check it out here.

Cheetah goes extinct. Again. [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man building Ford GT90 concept car homage in his garage

Zach Bowman — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style

One of our all-time favorite concept car from Ford remains the GT90. As a modern interpretation of the Ferrari-besting GT-40, the GT90 offered all of the early '90s angles we could stand along with a 750-horsepower V12 engine and a theoretical top speed of 235 miles per hour.

This is the kind of machine that middle-school day dreams are made of, and now Adam Pintek has set out to build a GT90 of his very own from scratch. Technically, the vehicle is simply a supercar with a striking resemblance to the old FoMoCo concept, but when Pintek is done, he should have a vehicle capable of besting some of the world's most legendary machines.

Over the past four years, Pintek has already hashed out around 80 percent of the body using molds designed to mimic the original design of the GT90, and he's currently partnered with a Formula race car builder to produce the chassis. The designer has chosen to forsake the big V12 for a forced-induction 6.2-liter V8. With two turbos serving up plenty of boost, Pintek is aiming for a whopping 1,000 horsepower. The mid-mounted engine will be bolted to a six-speed manual transmission that puts power to the rear wheels.

Pintek says that he hopes to see the vehicle in the final stages of development next two years. We can't wait.

Man building Ford GT90 concept car homage in his garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Pink Panther cars up for auction

Zach Bowman — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., UK

Television and movie memorabilia fans can get excited. Both the original Pink Panther car and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are headed to auction. The Panthermobile has been to auction once before since being created in 1969 by Jay Ohrberg. You may remember the designer as the mind behind hardware like K.I.T.T., the Back to the Future DeLorean, the General Lee, the Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch as well as Batmobiles from both 1966 and 1989. This was a busy guy. The Panthermobile is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £100,000 when it goes on sale on October 14. That's between $81,585 and $163,170 at current conversion rates.

Meanwhile, a licensed replica of the famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is also going under the gavel. This particular machine was crafted in 2000 by Tony Green and includes hardware from one of the six original movie cars. The replica also features folding wings, a propeller and rotating blades to mimic the movements of the movie cars. All told, the auction house expects the replica to bring in between £150,000 to £250,000, or $244,755 to $407,925 at current conversion rates. Seems a bit steep to us. Hit the jump to check out press releases on both vehicles.

Continue reading Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Pink Panther cars up for auction

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Pink Panther cars up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russian hand-builds world's meanest SLR McLaren

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Specialty, Russia

Russia is Shangri La if you're into crazy men building mean-looking one-off supercars in their garages. OK, supercar might be a bit of an exaggeration, considering this home-built Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR replica probably rides on old Lada running gear, but look at it.

It looks like a resurrected battleship with vengeance on its mind. We have no idea what powers it, but we like imagining an apocalyptic sound from the jagged side pipes decorating this beast's flanks. No high-tech equipment was used to build it, and the guy named the car Valentina after his wife. We doubt she looks nearly so mean...

Russian hand-builds world's meanest SLR McLaren originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corolla-based F430 replica not the worst Ferrari copy we've seen, sadly

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Toyota, Ferrari, India

Let's say you wanted to create a replica Ferrari. Your first move would undoubtedly be to acquire a Pontiac Fiero, but what if you lived in an area where Fieros are actually mythical beasts? Executive Modcar Trendz of India turned to one of the best-selling cars on the planet; the Toyota Corolla to create the one-off F430 you see here.

That's right folks, underneath this Rosso Fakeo paint job lies the beating heart of a Japanese compact car. The entire interior has been reworked so it more closely resembles the Ferrari F430 on which it's based.

What does it cost to go from gas-drinker to faux-corner-devourer? Around 10 Lakh, which translates to approximately $22,242 USD based on current conversion rates. Head over to IndianAutosBlog for a closer look at this Ferroyta Cor30.

[Source: IndianAutosBlog.com]

Corolla-based F430 replica not the worst Ferrari copy we've seen, sadly originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno's Garage hosts Scarab revival

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Videos, Celebrities, Specialty, Racing

Jay Leno samples the new Scarab - Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno gets to spend many a minute examining some of the coolest rides on the planet. The latest vehicle to grace his garage is a modern revival of a classic racing name - Scarab.

The original Scarab was a race car built for Lance Reventlow, a wealthy young playboy who was the only child to Barbara Hutton, the heiress to the Woolworth's fortune. Reventlow wasn't just a rich kid looking for some excitement, he started racing Cooper Formula 2 cars in Europe before opening Reventlow Automobiles back in Venice, California. The car his team campaigned was the beautifully proportioned Scarab and it achieved success right out of the gate. Carroll Shelby even spent time behind the wheel of a Scarab, breaking the course record at Continental Divide Raceway in the process. The car has an impressive history but its not widely spoken about because of its short lifespan.

Formed in 2008, Scarab Motorsports is looking to revive the name coined by Reventlow. Starting with a handcrafted aluminum body built to the original car's specifications, the Scarab Motorsports team adds coilover shocks and springs, Wilwood 12-inch rotors with stainless steel lines and the standard array of items necessary to make this a street legal vehicle. The price of the new Scarab starts at $79,750 and that 's just for the rolling chassis and a bunch of standard items. There are many optional items available as well, including a right-hand drive setup, roll hoop and other competition-minded features.

Check out Leno talking about the car with its creator, then taking it out for a spin. The video is parked in section A-J, as in after the jump.

[Sources: Jay Leno's Garage, Scarab Motorsports]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno's Garage hosts Scarab revival

Video: Jay Leno's Garage hosts Scarab revival originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

Noah Joseph — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Ferrari, UK

1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione - Click above for high-res images

Practical considerations aside, cost no object, if you could have any car ever made, what would it be? We'd bet that a large proportion of you would be thinking of the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO. Unfortunately, cost is an object for the vast majority of us. And considering how the iconic GTO is one of the most valuable, most sought-after classic sportscars ever made, the overwhelming likelihood is that most of us - make that practically all of us - could never stand a chance of owning one.

It's only natural, then, that there should be replicas made. Scratch that - "tributes." But if you're going to replicate a GTO, you're not going to start with an old Firebird as your underpinnings. You're going to start with another classic Ferrari. Just one not quite as valuable.

That's what the owner in that other video did. And that's what you're looking at here. This 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO "Evocazione" started its life as a Ferrari 330 GT, and in 1993 was sent to Italy to have its chassis modified before being fitted with painstakingly handmade aluminum bodywork in the UK. Attention was paid to every detail, down to the gauges and Borrani wire wheels. And now it's up for grabs, courtesy of newly inaugurated auction house Historics at Brooklands. Once it crosses the block there on September 25, it's expected to fetch around £240,000 ($377k) - which may seem like a fair chunk of change, but it's a far cry from the $18 million reportedly last fetched by the original.

Gallery: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione

[Source: Historics at Brooklands]

Continue reading The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: WSJ takes a look at Thai supercar knockoffs

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Thai replicars - Click above to watch video after the jump

Take a walk down any number of Thai streets and floating markets, and for a couple thousand Thai baht you can bedeck yourself in the latest fake designer goods. Take a few thousand baht, or more, to a Thai man named Chris and he'll build you a sports car that is just as fake as that Louis Vuitton purse. From the $9,000 Porsche plagiarism you see above to a $12,000 Ferrari facsimile, Chris will do it all. He says "God will understand." But will Porsche? Follow the jump to watch the video. Hat tip to Sea Urchin

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading Video: WSJ takes a look at Thai supercar knockoffs

Video: WSJ takes a look at Thai supercar knockoffs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For just $3K, you too can have a homebuilt Lamborghini... sort of

Zach Bowman — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, China, Humor

Chinese Lamborghini replica - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've seen our fair share of Chinese knockoffs of legitimate cars and trucks. While The People's Republic seems to have no problem generating genuine auto manufacturers, everyone's favorite communist nation must suffer from a dearth of designers. It's always hard to embrace a faux Bentley or half-hearted Hummer, but there's something about this creation that we can get behind. You see, the "Lamborghini" you see above wasn't created out of some desire to trick buyers or onlookers. No, it was built out of the same genuine love for the automobile we all share.

Chen Jenmiao, a 25 year-old mechanic with a Lamborghini bent, decided that if he couldn't own a genuine Raging Bull, he'd build his own. The guy pulled together around $3,000 worth of parts and materials and set to work. The finished product has a top speed of somewhere between 60 and 90 mph, though you won't hear us criticize the guy for falling short of Gallardo performance figures. After all, when was the last time you put together an entire car from scratch?

Gallery: Chinese Lamborghini Replica

[Source: Carscoop]

For just $3K, you too can have a homebuilt Lamborghini... sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Italianate 1991 Acura NSX

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Acura, Lamborghini, Design/Style

Acura NSX meets Lamborghini - Click above for high-res image gallery

Full Disclosure: We have loved the Acura NSX since long before we were all smelling like teen spirit. The car will always hold a special place in our hearts, so the car you see above is particularly blasphemous in our eyes. Someone, at some point in history, looked at their reliable, capable near-supercar from Honda and thought, "You know what this needs? A little more Lamborghini Diablo."

That person, then, evidently commenced to slather the lightweight Japanese hellion in enough fiberglass to convince your average passer-by that the car actually hails from Italy. As far as body kits go, this one is the real deal. The builder even went so far as to badge the brake calipers with Lamborghini script and plop a faux twelve-cylinder intake on top of the Japanese V6, even though it doesn't appear to be bolted to anything.

Is it bad? Well, outwardly at least, it appears far more convincing than one might reasonably expect. But would we have been less insulted if were a Pontiac Fiero under that orange skin? Undoubtedly - but the builder at least gets points for creativity, as this is evidently a one-of-one proposition. If you dig it, you can find this creation on eBay Motors with a Buy-It-Now price of $49,000 in Branson, Missouri. The seller is willing to entertain offers. Thanks for the tip, Jesse!

Gallery: Acura NSX-Lamborghini Mashup

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Italianate 1991 Acura NSX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up" [w/video]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Videos, Ferrari, Celebrities

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Selected Ferrari movie clips - Click above to watch the video

When a legitimate Ferrari 250GT Spyder California goes on sale at auction, the ultra-rare droptops can fetch $10 million or more. The are two reasons the 250GT fetches so much cash: because there were fewer than 100 copies made between 1958 and 1963 and because we're talking about a gorgeous Ferrari. Now switch out the legit Ferrari with one of the many replica 250GTs, the payout would likely be so insignificant many auction houses wouldn't bother.

That's almost universally true, but if you're talking about the actual 1961 Ferrari 250GT replica used in the classic John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the same rules don't necessarily apply. The one-of-a-kind replica, built off of a far more pedestrian MG platform, is being auctioned off at the Bonhams Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia auction on April 19 at the RAF Museum London. The price tag for a piece of automotive movie history? The auction house is reportedly looking to snag £30,000 to £40,000 ($45,000 to $60,000 in U.S. funds) for the little red ragtop. The fake Ferrari is reportedly ready to be driven, but rumor has it that the replica wasn't even reliable when the movie was being shot back in the mid-80s.

Maybe we're just big fans of the film, but we thought it might go for a bit more - perhaps it would have more potential at a Stateside auction. Either way, we're hoping that whoever just bought Cameron's house (it was up for sale last year) splurges a little and reunites these two. Bonus video footage of both from the movie available after the jump.

[Sources: Telegraph, Motorator]

Continue reading "If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up" [w/video]

"If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up" [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From Thailand with Love: Aston Martin DBS replica based on Opel Calibra

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Aston Martin, Opel

Aston Martin DBS replica based on Opel Calibra - Click above for image gallery

If James Bond were real, we wouldn't recommend trying to impersonate him. We get the feeling that 007 wouldn't take to impostors very well. Fortunately he's a fictional character - or so we're led to believe - so the gloves are off. If you're planning on pulling off the Bond look, you're going to need a Bond car. And if it's the Bond of late, you'll need an Aston Martin. Unfortunately, most of us can't afford a real Aston, so a group of coachbuilders - apparently in Thailand, world capital of the sex-change operation - have created this replica.

The clone is built on the chassis of an Opel Calibra, a sports-coupe also sold with the same nameplate in different markets alternatively as a Vauxhall (UK), Holden (Australia) or Chevrolet (South America) and based on a Saab-sourced platform. Apparently the Calibra is known as a good starting point for replicas, with reports of Porsche Turbos and others based on the same. Whether this one is any better executed, however, than the Mustang-based Vanquish or the one based on the Mazda Miata is another story.

While reports suggest this a replica of a DB9, to our eyes bears the hallmarks of the DBS that's been 007's ride for the past couple of installments. Which is a good thing, because if you're going to pull off the looky-look, you'd better get the details right. Have a closer look in the gallery below, and for comparison's sake, an example of the donor car in the one below that.

Gallery: Aston Martin DBS replica based on Opel Calibra

Gallery: 1989 Opel Calibra

[Source: TopSpeed via CarScoop]

From Thailand with Love: Aston Martin DBS replica based on Opel Calibra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Specialty, Design/Style

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.

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

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, First Drives, Specialty, Quick Spins

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

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.

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

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Lamborghini

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.

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Buy a brand new Jag XK120 C for $133,000

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, UK

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.

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Mustang-based Aston Vanquishes other replicas

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Aston Martin

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.

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VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica

Noah Joseph — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 16:49:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Videos, Nissan, Ferrari

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.

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