With an asking price of $25,000 as listed here on Hemmings.com, this 1985 Armaretta Coupe could be yours for 10% of what it cost to build it for the Los Angeles Auto show in the ’80s. Thanks to reader Brent for spotting this retro-styled classic. Lerini Coach of Reseda, California sold a number of these cars but this was the original prototype, the teaser designed to make people’s jaws drop as they reached for their check books.
Drawing your dream car during study hall proves far easier than rendering one in three dimensions, and the engineering constraints of fitting an existing chassis leave many low-volume vehicles with at least one truly awkward angle. In contrast Lerini seems to have dodged those pitfalls, and its use of a lengthened Chevrolet Monte Carlo chassis suits the car well. The bustle trunk may bring to mind the Cadillac Seville, but few people will look at this car and think “Monte Carlo.”
The retro theme continues in the interior with wood trim wrapping from dash to door panel as you in 1940s Cadillacs and other luxury cars. Imperfections such as bunching of the door panel upholstery confirm that this cockpit design did not match the fit and finish of the finest luxury vehicles, and personally I’d find a steering wheel that either matched the dark colored vinyl or the lighter wood trim, but overall the passenger compartment comes off as a decent place to discuss high finance on the way to the opera.
Evidently the budget ran out before the coach-built fair dust reached the engine compartment, and least when compared to gorgeous Cord 810 powerplant. The Monte Carlo’s 350 cid V8 seems to have survived an explosion of black gloss Rustoleum and the installation of some shiny parts from the sale rack at Pep Boys. Still, when well-maintained, the small-block would provide reliable operation and sufficient thrust for this unique luxury coupe.
Consider the fact that this tribute to the Cord and similar cars, built 50 years after the originals, has now aged 30 years itself, it might be considered a classic in its own right. This profile view and inset of a lovely 1936 Cord Cabriolet (courtesy of rmsothebys.com) shows the Armaretta’s well-executed full fenders and stylish lines. To my eye, getting the Armaretta’s body two inches lower would nail the stance perfectly. With fewer than 50 units built, exclusivity belongs to the buyer. Are you ready to score this rare prototype for less than the cost of a Camry?
If a Ford Granada and Chevy Citation had a baby
With a side of Stutz’
The rear is like an early ’80s Seville, which is really not good. Why choose the ugliest cars on the planet as your inspiration? Mind boggling…
From the side, it looks awful lot like a Pinto with pontoon fenders.
Yes it really looks like a wide body, pontoon fender Pinto! in fact I was expecting to see a 2.3 four cylinder under the hood. interior looks pretty nice though.
Ain’t looking too good from the front or back either.
It’s an interesting car. The side and the 3/4 rear shots look nice, but the front just jars and doesn’t really look like it belongs on this car. I think that it’s the fact that the rest of the car has curves and graceful sweeping lines, while the front looks like it was designed using a pencil and ruler.
The other thing that really jars is the installation of the after-market cd player. I assume that it has been installed so that it is orientated towards the driver, but it just looks very wrong.
I’d really quite like it if it wasn’t for that front.
The letter “E” is missing from the floor mats
AF, I had to go back, enlarge the picture, and see exactly what you meant…
but it comes with a lifetime supply of jerky!
My first impression of this car – to misquote Shakespeare – was, “Get thee to a vomitorium..!” I wonder what Gordon Buehrig would have made of it?
As a Cord 810/812 tribute, my preference would be for one of Glenn Prey’s Corvair-powered ‘replicas’.
Thanks for sharing a very unusual vehicle, Todd.
a friend of mine’s father worked on one of those slightly smaller Cordvairs, it was supposedly once owned by Barbara Streisand? but a much better interpretation of the 810 than this Pinto/ Monte Carlo mutant!
Oh. My. God.
One of the defining features of the Cord is the hide-away headlights. It seems a tribute car should have them. I think if this one had them, it would help.
Hi MFerrell – I spotted this sedan with more Cord-like headlights. I agree it helps (If the link works). https://i2.wp.com/hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/6965146093_4f9786246d_o.jpg
Headlights look like a 79-80 Granada, taillights are definitely 78 Monte Carlo, greenhouse looks like a Pinto, grille almost looks like a Mirada. All in all, almost, but not quite entirely, hideous.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Now, when I open my mouth to speak, nothing comes out. I’m going back to bed.
Nice write up Todd. I really like this monstrosity. It has given me a new standard of ugly. I can all most live with the side view but the rest hurts my eyeballs. From this day forward it will be what I compare other ugly cars with. Different tastes for different folks I guess. And Cords are really beautiful cars.
I never understood people designing cars they hoped would command big money and then use obvious parts from cheap common cars.
Also from the side view, it looks like the wheel wells were not shaped correctly for the tires the car has.
I would also like to see the registration to see if California actually registered this car as the make or as a homemade car.
One other thing. If this car was made in 1985, why did they reach back to 1978 for the headlights and tail lights. That would date the car from the get go.
Todd, great find…another reason why BF is the best!
Agreed, 2 inches lower and a little bit of work on the wheel wells. The headlights are out of place…it needs headlights from something in the 30’s OR pedestal quad headlights from a 61-63 Imperial.
Like it…
Something about a pig and lipstick…
Before reading the text, and just checking the pics, I thought this was a “Roadkill” creation.
I never understood these creations. There seems to be little if any design that makes sense. Its like the designer had 100s of different thoughts and used them all. The end result is a very confusing vehicle. I see no real style-nothing that flows. Must of been a fad or something then. Whatever it is or was I don’t get it.(thank god!!) I don’t mean to offend any body,to each there own. Is there any one that would really pay that kind of $$$ for tasteless creations like this?
I do see the ties to the swopping fenders like the cord.
(that is very nice)It just does not fit with the rest of the car i.e straight lines and kind of boxy look
Keep these custom units coming; notwithstanding the origin of some parts, I think it’s pretty cool looking in its entirety… lower ride height and round headlights would finish it nicely. For the uniqueness and rarity it brings the purchaser, the price isn’t too overwhelming.
Uhhhhhh. Can you say FUGLY
I too see a Pinto donor riding atop a Chevrolet C-10 truck chassis- horrible proportions…
‘Use what you have’ would seem the adage here, but interesting that they actually got to the point of actually selling a few. Many custom coach builders never got past the prototype stage.
I too see a Pinto donor riding atop a Chevrolet C-10 truck chassis- horrible tire to body relationship…
‘Use what you have’ would seem the adage here, but interesting that they actually got to the point of actually selling a few. Many custom coach builders never got past the prototype stage.
Stick it back in barn and post armed guards or at least dogs. Save yourselves from driving this ????????????????????????????????????????????????
The front is definitely all kinds of ugly, and yet, I can’t stop looking at it…
“Lerini Coach of Reseda, California sold a number of these cars”
I’m guessing the number was “2” One was to Mrs.Lenni
Just as well Armaretta didn’t try to replicate this well-known custom…
While you guys see a finished car I see a starting point. If I bought it I’d haul it straight to Welderup and have the wheel wells trimmed to suit the wheels (after lowering the body that crucial 2”). Then I’d have the coffin footer opened up and rolled to accept a swooping vertically finned grille. A custom air cleaner would replace the Walmart unit and a set of chrome/ceramic headers would replace the exhaust manifolds. Of course a completely new stainless dual exhaust system exiting under the inappropriate back bumper. I thought about a Lake pipe system but there isn’t enough room to get in and out of the car without getting burnt. That plumbing would have to fit below the rockers so that would preclude lowering the chassis. The existing taillights would be gone, replaced by a pair of side mounted, colour keyed teardrops integrated into the body. The rear valence would become a mere flat panel. The interior would be repaired and brought to respectability and the steering wheel refinished to match the upholstery. The gauges in the dash would be relocated to the dash where I could read them and cup holders would take their place. Lastly I’d put an N where the @ is on the door panels.
Agreed…I see something that’s 90% there even the color.
Once seen it cannot be unseen………not even with a gallon of brain bleach, or a exorcism.
Very typical 70’s/80’s custom work. If your looking at this through today’s persective it’s not that great. But remember it wasn’t built recently it’s been around for decades so of course some of the styling que’s are off. First thing I’d do is remove the square head lights in favour of round ones. I’d change the tail lights to double round on each side. Wheel well need to be re worked as mentioned above. As for colour if have white body, black fenders, red leather interior. I’d change the instruments around and put them on a redesigned dash. I’m always amazed by the naysayers on here that would rather tear it down than see the potential. Guess it’s just easier to be negative all the time.
It’s funny how a car with swoopy 1930’s styling, is so out of place today. It’s as if the creator threw every 30’s styling cue into this, and a bunch of engineering and failed miserably. Just shows, one persons dream, may or may not match anybody elses. And how do you read the gauges on the flat console?
Definitely the most interesting Ford Pinto I’ve ever seen.
It does seem to have build quality. I wonder if the ride feel is worth the lunch money?
The grill is definitely a Dodge Monaco of the day and I thought it would be on a Chrysler.
Man, with all the crying I read here about all the appliance cars on the road today, I cannot understand the bashing going on here today. I would jog past a row of tri five Chevys to look at this. Current miles are 219,917, daily driven so it is enjoyed. Happy to see it here Todd, thanks, Mike.
I’ve seen this car before in the Boston area. I believe it’s the personal ride of former ‘Car Talk’ staffer Bud Tuggly.
Looks like a car some athlete or entertainer from that era would buy with their first bonus check. Then on some level realizing the horrible mistake of “impulse purchasing”…gives the car to mom,Or some flunky in the entourage.
Maybe it could take a makeover, get the stance right, lower it about 8′, put a set of tires and wheels that would reflect the era, wide whites, paint it all one color and clean up the yuck on the front & back. I am not saying it would be great ,but maybe passable!
Uhh… no. You’re being way too charitable.
Pinto doors,and dash,cowl area…!wow..Pinto’s
must have been the car to use when it came to
radical customs. in the 70’s..?This thing is…
odd..?,? and kinda cool..,thats the best that I can say…!
Pintos were far from the go to body for custom anything although it did happen obviously. The car used most often was the Volkswagen Beetle. They had a cult following for all sorts of reasons that persists to this day. Pintos with their exploding gas tanks are deservedly almost forgotten.
yes, lower it about 8 feet
When the Monte Carlo was a new car, the average car buyer would be middle-aged if they remembered the new coffin-nosed Cord from their youth. My father was one of these people and would often speculate which classic designs could be brought back using a modern vehicle as a base. He was known to cut up plastic models as prototypes. He mocked up plenty of Cadillac Eldorados and Dodge police cars but the weirdest one was a cowl-back Gremlin with pontoon fenders from an Auburn Speedster and a hood from a supercharged 37 Cord. Anyone remember this monstrosity from BF a few months back? (Not my dad’s creation!)
It will most likely appeal to a man in the “escort management” business.
Call me crazy, but looking at it from the side, particularly the windows, I can’t help but think Ford Pinto/Mercury Bobcat. The rest of the car looks much nicer than that.
Makes that 1980 4WD Seville look a lot better.
YUCK! , yuck!, and triple yuck! All these cars are horrible looking!
If space aliens came here and saw these kit car vehicles they would leave shaking their heads, while silently thinking to themselves,. “There’s no intelligent life here”,….
Nope, that is a Pinto you are looking at. I don’t hate it like I do most of these custom fiber fab special Neo Classics. The Excalibur comes to mind. By the way it would look better with round headlights, and not those giant round headlights like the ones they used on the Shaft Cadillac Eldorado.
All that fab work, and they leave the fuel inlet exposed and used a $1.50 gas cap! Go figure. Just shows there’s an ass for every seat.
Boy, peeps on here do love to moan about cars they couldn’t even begin to build. It looks fine to me, just the ride height and yes, I’d prefer round headlamps.
Looks a lot better than an Edsel,
Just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.
Looks like the left headlight is a little lower than the right one.
Other than that I didn’t like the Seville anyway.
Looks more like it would wear the name Tiramisu instead of Armaretta.