Though unquestionably not a Ferrari, this custom-built “1957 Ferrari Barchette Di Formosa,” to take the seller’s embellished description, certainly evokes elements of 1950s Ferrari racers. Low-slung and lightweight, the slick red racer can reportedly exceed 100 MPH, though the seller recommends zipping about at more modest speeds. Contemplating eye-level bumpers of a Suburban XL piloted by smartphone-fixated dimwits may take the edge off your need for speed. This Palos Verdes, California classic can be yours for $79,500, and you’ll find more pictures and details here on Craigslist. Thanks to Tony P. for spotting this UK built tribute.
Fans of anything Ferrari called “Barchetta” can take some relief in the fact that this car is not underpinned by Volkswagen Beetle or Chevrolet Cavalier mechanicals. A sweet-looking Triumph 2.0L inline six fits neatly under the elongated bonnet, and aluminum panels and racing-style brake master cylinders support the ’50s racer vibe.
Breaking down the Italian name, barchette is a type of pasta and that word is probably used as a playful substitute for the aforementioned road-going use of “barchetta” (little boat), a phrase applied to several Ferrari and Fiat models (at least), including the gorgeous Ferrari 166 MM. “Di Formosa” simply means “beautiful.” Put it all together and we have “beautiful pasta.” Well, OK. Moving on! What looks like more aluminum in the spartan interior certainly looks race-ready.
Just as elegant and delicate-looking at the rear, this ’50s Euro-racer tribute wears a fiberglass body on a steel frame, not the lightest materials for competition, but a real Barchetta could fetch four million Euros ($4.5 million USD), so let’s not get too picky. It’s impossible to see this car without cranking up the RUSH song Red Barchetta, a progressive rock anthem featuring a young gearhead’s illegal internal combustion-powered joy ride. That dystopian future seems less fictional today, especially after the gutting of a promising California law endorsed by Jay Leno to ease classic car restrictions. As for this tribute car, who can put a price on guaranteed exclusivity? Where would you drive this road-scraping tribute to epic European racers of the 1950s?
I was getting ready to make my joke at least it is not on Craig’s List, but it is!!!
It’s cool, don’t know about how much money cool..
“A brilliant red Barchetta, from a better, vanished time.”
“Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly crime.”
For those that do not know, a short story named “A Nice Morning Drive” published in Road & Track in 1973 is the inspiration for the Rush song. And the car is an MG!
https://www.mgexp.com/article/a-nice-morning-drive.93#utm_source=alias&utm_medium=mgexperience.net
Hard to be sure, but likely built by Formosa 120 GR:
https://www.facebook.com/share/16ofv385iP/
These typically trade a bit below half this price.
Would sell for about 15K in the UK.
I have nothing against kit cars, clones and reproduction cars. They are what they are and some can be fun. The $79K price tag on this one is a bit ‘dear’ for me. It’s very similar to the story of the of a man selling apples on a street corner. His sign says ” Apples! $500 a piece”. When a passerby questioned him about his price, his answer was…..”I only have to sell one!”
Earlier commenter is right – these are low priced Triumph Herald/Spitfire based kit kars in UK. Asking $79,000 is just stupid. Seller doesn’t realize that anyone with $79,000 to spend on a toy car isn’t stupid enough to blow it on this!
Maybe in the UK this would only get $15k. But here in the USA, well, we bring a special type of stupid to the table, and that stupid often comes with a lot of money to spend on this sort of thing! LOL Check out any Saturday at Mecum or B-J.
“Well, it is, like 1/10th a Ferrari, so maybe ask 1/10th the Ferrari price?”
“Hold my beer!” :-)
For that kind of dollars there are numerous other real vehicles that come to mind immediately.
Better come with that LEMAN57 license plate or no deal!
This is either a flip or a scam. The same car was listed in Georgia on Facebook marketplace three weeks ago for $30K. All of the “photos” of the car in “Palos Verdes” show “Savanah” on the garbage pails in the back.
Here’s the original Facebook ad: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/24086052790979372/
Seems like it would be worth $30K. Not so much $80K.
-Wayne
They also typically sell for much, much less than even the $30K that the fellow had listed it in Georgia:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-triumph-formosa-f-120gr/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/formosa-236-cm/
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/formosa/120-gr/1967/871816
https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/83-1972-formosa-120-gr/?lot=58780&sd=1
These are kindof fun, but at the end of the day, they are a “modern” fiberglass kit car made from scraps of parts. Again, super fun, but at the end of the day, these have zero collectible / historical value, and are pretty much worth the time, effort and materials that went into build them.
Still very cool looking design, etc. I loved the one that was sold on BaT…
-Wayne
Horrible. I apologise on my nation’s behalf.
That’s just a body on a 68 triumph vittesse/GT6 ( going by the UK license plate), the IRS is considered leathal on the original cars ( tuck in ) so probably worse on this with less weight .
Try moving the decimal point & your closer to a price .
Facebook listing says it was sold – in Savannah
How about the high tech photos with the garbage cans and the picket fence in the background! Nothing wrong with either of these things, but it doesn’t exactly show there was much care put into the thought of marketing this car. Those little things about photography tell much about what is ‘behind the scenes’! It’s like cars on Craigslist where people take pictures of the interiors with all their wrappers, soda cans and garbage lying around. That sure is a great way to tell how the car was maintained!!