Dino Wannabe: 1974 Kelmark GT

This may be a kit car, but it’s a darn good looking one that does a half-decent job of replicating a fairly pricey Ferrari Dino. The Kelmark GT has been around for decades and we know it well around these parts, but it seems to take a variety of different forms that make it more convincing of a clone depending on what iteration you find yourself looking at. This is a 1974 Kelmark GT listed here on craigslist with a targa-style roof and flared fenders to give it an aggressive look that does a half-decent job of imitating a Dino. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.

So here’s the thing: this is every bit of a kit car. You have to accept the fact that it will never be considered a Ferrari Dino, no matter how compelling the replica is. The seller’s car at least has fat flares in the right places and staggered wheels that make it all the more convincing, at least proportionally. The wheels are not going to be mistaken for anything found on a vintage Ferrari, as they resemble when I have on my 1989 Isuzu Trooper: a set of Enkei Gamblers. Awesome wheels, but not very Ferrari-like.

And then there’s the powerplant: a flat-four, sourced from an air-cooled VW. Now, it weighs just 1,800 pounds thanks to its fiberglass construction, so it’s not the end of the world that this Ferrari replica isn’t very powerful. But it would be infinitely cooler if this Kelmark had something more sporting under the hood, such as a flat-six from a vintage air-cooled Porsche. Sadly, the days of finding a cheap engine from a long-hood 911 are long gone, so you’re not going to increase the prestige on the cheap.

A black leather interior, Ferrari-branded floor mats and seat belt covers, and a steering wheel with a real-deal Dino badge all make a valiant attempt to convince the uninformed this is a real-deal Ferrari. It’s not, but at least this Kelmark copy does a better job than most of looking like an genuine piece of vintage exotica. When I sold a Kelmark GT years ago off my friend’s property in Georgia, I had people contacting me for years afterwards looking to see if it was still available, so there’s clearly a loyal following for these cars. Do you think this Dino replica is worth the asking price?