The last time we saw one of these unusual Fiberfab Aztec 7 kit cars for sale was right here on Barn Finds and written by yours truly; I guess you could say I’m drawn to this wild and weird kit car. The car shown here has never been assembled and sits on its belly somewhere in Woodbury, New Jersey, with an asking price of just $400. Of course, I’m not sure you could ask much more for it than that considering it’s a long way from being road-worthy. Do you think it does a fair job of emulating the iconic Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car? Check it out here on Facebook Marketplace.
I have to say, imagining this thing on adjustable suspension and completely aired out so it sits exactly as it does here is a sorely tempting idea. Obviously, the seller has simply stuck some spare wheels he had lying around into the empty fenders, but it’s compelling to think about! These cars were built over humble VW underpinnings like so many others, and often used a Beetle powerplant as well. In addition to a custom suspension setup, finding a more compelling engine to drop in the rear beneath that clamshell engine cover is also quite tempting and would fit the car’s exotic profile.
Hopefully, the next owner can figure out a way to never install the ugly U.S. safety bumpers you often see on any Aztec 7s in the wild. Now, back to the engine for a second: when Fiberfab began advertising the availability of its latest build, it mentioned that the Beetle engine could deliver 40 miles per gallon (yawn.) However, in the same ad, it mentioned the option of a turbocharged V6, which makes me very curious what engine the company was installing when a buyer spec’d a higher performance engine. If you could find the original options list and build this forgotten kit to those specifications, it would change the perception of the car immediately.
Of course, the trouble with projects like these is you simply have to love fiberglass projects, or the Fiberfab brand in general. Otherwise, this is just a lot of time and money invested in something with a Beetle chassis and suspension. I’ve often wondered if there’s still a small crowd of dedicated kit car fans out there who keep cranking out builds in their garages, adding custom touches like firmer suspensions, wider wheels, and bigger engines. If you’re out there, chime in and let us know if you’d rescue this forlorn Fiberfab kit.
The turbo V6 would almost certainly have been from a Corvair. I think they needed reverse rotation camshafts to mate to VW transaxles (unless you wanted 4 reverse gears and one forward), but they were readily available back in the day.
I’m pretty sure the Corvair’s were H6s, weren’t they? I seem to recall that there were plenty of engine swaps for the VDub, but off the top of my head, I’m not sure how many factory-made turbo V6s were being manufactured.
If you are into kit cars, and live close by this sounds like a deal.
I recently saw a car built on a VW pan that looked like an open wheel car from the twenties Like a racecar But the body was metal not fiberglass DOES anyone know anything about these.
Was it a Bugatti Type 35B kit? I seem to recall seeing those in “Kit Car Magazine”.
For $400 it would be worth buying g to just mount on top of your garage, or on the wall inside.
Great yard art!
$400 is a steal. Put it on a VW chassis and buy one of the many 250 hp VW engines on the market now.
I think it looks more like a Bricklin than an Alfa Romeo.
I’m a kit car owner and builder from a long time ago. $400 seems cheap for a body, but this is actually a difficult body to use. I don’t know what windshield glass was used, but custom glass is virtually impossible to get. It doesn’t appear to have windows or a rear window – also difficult. As far as corvair engines in a VW chassis based kit car – been there done that. True, you are reverse rotation. Not true that the only solution is different camshaft profile on the engine. You can also have the transmission final drive (and differential) flipped over, and get the reverse rotation you need. Our kit car with a corvair engine needed an offset bushing for the starter – somewhat difficult to fit properly. The disadvantage of a VW transmission is that it’s geared to top out at around 75mph. A more powerful engine doesn’t change that. First gear is likely to be useless with a higher power motor, but is needed with a beetle motor. Anyhow I wouldn’t touch it myself. I’m searching for a windshield for the sebring turbo II that my father and I built in 1984 or 1985. Made of unobtainium.
Many of the kit cars used glass sourced from another car. Some of the windshields were actually rear windows from another car. I’m not sure of this one but a bit of research would tell you that.
Thanks for the reply. Many kit cars – true. A Bremen Sport Sebring Turbo II not so. Three years of research, tracking down leads for NOS sources and talking direct with the factory that made the car says unobtainium. Further there is a guy tryng to revive production of the kit car. He also indicates no sources.
The Aztec 7 windshield glass is from a Lamborghini Miura.
Street cleaner model-
Back in the ’70s I was in the Coast Guard and one of my shipmates had one of these. I remember he had a monster turbocharged Corvair engine that he built up himself. It was an absolute screamer and he used to compete in timed events and usually won. He could light up the monster rear tires on it without trying. I remember him always fighting heat problems with it.
glass is from a lambo muri… it is worth more than the car (bought one just for the glass! to work on another) make sure rear is tied down or huge parachute (prior owner experienced that
Totally wild guess, but based on the timeframe I’d venture the optional turbo v6 was maybe a PRV which could be fitted with a turbo, Renault did that for a version of the Alpine. I vaguely recall a story that John DeLorean settled on the PRV for the DMC1 after he couldn’t get the Wankel rotary he wanted based on it being used by a kit car company. Also parts for it were easily obtainable.