Before road-going Ferraris evolved into street-legal spaceships, mid-engine masterpieces with launch control and active aerodynamics, the 1962-’64 Ferrari 250 GTO ranked among the world’s premiere grand touring masterpieces. With genuine GTO prices as high as $50 million, some of us might consider a nicely-crafted replica. When finely executed, like the Alpha One replica Tom Cruise drove in Vanilla Sky, these imposters can impress. Trained observers may identify the greenhouse of the 1978 Nissan 280Z that underpins this faded red La Jolla, California classic, and that platform’s rabid following assures performance potential to satisfy most Ferrari fans. Check out more pictures and details in the listing here on eBay , where $19,500 seals the deal with a single click of Buy It Now.
The stock-looking ’78 Datsun 2.8L (168 cid) inline six cylinder made 135 HP according to ConceptCarz, moving the 2600 lb Z with authority in a year when the 3500 lb Corvette made 195. The fastest car I ever drove packed a 1980 version of this motor massaged by Leitzinger Motorsport of State College, Pennsylvania. It had the stock tachometer despite the motor’s 9000 RPM redline, so the owner told me to “shift when the needle disappears.” Suffice to say you don’t need $50 million to make this car plenty fast. This one runs and drives, though the seller advises some attention before hitting the road.
Assuming this is an Alpha One, it’s not a “kit car,” but more of a way to wrap a Datsun Z in the bodywork resembling the 250 GT, and where many such enterprises nail the front end but leave much to be desired at the rear, this one does a pleasant job of imitating the Ferrari from all angles.
That steering wheel looks as thoroughly baked as the kids in Army jackets hanging around my ’80s high school, but the deep recessed gauges look sporty enough for a Ferrari, even if they don’t mimic the original. Besides, selecting a new steering wheel may be the easiest step in this car’s return to the road. What would you change on this imitation exotic?
The Dreamer Seller’s never cease to amaze!
Too bad they didn’t mimic the Ferrari dash, that thing is beautiful! Looks like whoever bought this car drove the carp out of it (something you don’t dare do with the original) then let it sit. It’s got potential, but haggle with the price if possible.
Todd, “… thoroughly baked like the kids in army jackets hanging around ..” damn near knocked me off my stool while gushing coffee through my nose. Bravo Zulu sir.
Thanks, bw! Sorry about the coffee.
Gee,that,s funny.We had those kinda kids hanging around in the 70s.Only,we ,I mean they wore leather trench coats.Looks almost like the real deal on the outside.
What? No Columbo V-12 mill?? Cool replica but I have no idea if this is a good price. Wanna know how old I am? I remember seeing real new 250 GTO’s for about $20grand…………………..!
I’m sure you could negotiate the price to something more reasonable.
But I’m going to say it:
This is cool.
Datsun/Nissan parts are available, and the body could be painted, and this would be a hoot.
Fitch you drove an inline 6 with a 9000 rpm redline 😲🏁
The owner called it a “3/4 race” build. Triple two-barrel Webers. A Small Block V8 MGB owner in the area kept coming back to get spanked by my buddy’s ’72 Z over and over again, I suppose out of disbelief. It was estimated 320-340 HP at the engine. All of this is just what I was told, but it was stout.
I recently saw a 250 replica using the Alpha kit, it had a lot of real Ferarri parts on it, he was asking over $100k.
In other news I sold a 67 Camaro vert, got more projects to get rid of, wish me luck.
Who wants a not a project Morgan replica?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1528334001381274
I would experience “Pucker Time” shifting anything at 9000 rpm.
This thing looks pretty cool but I would invest in making that dash more Ferrari.
You need to try shifting an NC30 VFR 400 on the limiter; it stutters so you can shift without using the clutch. It does lead to kind of bad behaviour though, as it revs to 12.000 (as I remember). I was chasing a pal’s 911…!
This looks very little like a 250 GTO. It’s just off.
I’m old enough to have seen them race.
I saw one of these 35 years ago parked in front of a high rise office building. Rattled my gear-head enough to turn around and go look. My first thought was, “3/4 size Ferrari”, until I saw the dash and immediately knew what I was seeing. This one seems to be long in the tooth, for a replica.
My childhood friends brother taught auto at a Vocational School in New England.He had the kids restore gto250’s ,under his watchful eye,to keep for himself in the 60s and 70s.He used to buy them pizza on Friday
My dad had his eye on a 250 GTO in 63 or 64 for $16.5k for his commute car He almost bought it but he listened to the mechanic who lived across the street who yalked him out of it. ” Your commute is too short you won’t even get the oil heated up, You’ll end up spending too much money in tuneps of maintenance” what a frickin ass wipe. Talking him out of it. He bought the 63 Apollo 3500 Gran Turismo instead for $9k.. =(
Interesting that it actually says Ferrari across the back. They licensed the name? I would have it say Schmefari instead.
Russell.. I remember seeing a real one for sale for $60,000 I thought that’s a crazy price. Today we laugh at good old days!😂
Would be worth something as a Z. As this monstrosity, I wouldn’t give you a nickel. And that price? What a dreamer!
This is one of the few replica kits that you could drive without being embarassed. The GTO is not well enough known for people to roll their eyes at like one of those Countach kits on an anemic Fiero chassis. With 240-60 bones it could be a reliable driver with a stylish look.
The last couple of real 250 gtos sold for a good bit more than 50m.
I think it was Impact Parts in N.Y. sold this fiberglass kit.
I used to get other stuff from them.
Still have a lightweight race front end for a different car they gave me. I still race the Animal.
I still have a bunch of period aftermarket rear lamps for these and many others.
Shoulda sold them first and still have Marchal and Altisimo left to sell now.
25-30- years ago a z car with this kit used to race at road America. Made some neat photos with my car.
The last couple of real 250 gtos sold for a good bit more than 50m.
I think it was Impact Parts in N.Y. sold this fiberglass kit.
I used to get other stuff from them.
Still have a lightweight race front end for a different car they gave me. I still race the Animal.
I still have a bunch of period aftermarket rear lamps for these and many others.
Shoulda sold them first and still have Marchal and Altisimo left to sell now.
25-30- years ago a z car with this kit used to race at road America. Made some neat photos with my car.
I love these cars and it would be impossible for the average mortal human being to own an original one at this point right now so one of these isn’t a bad idea. Looks like a great project.
About 15 years ago, I was at the Fred Simeone Museum in Philadelphia and I went to go see one of the original Daytona cobras, CSX 2287. It was an exhibition of Daytona cobra design versus Ferrari GTO. I had no knowledge of Ferrari GTOs at that point.
I met the gentleman who owned The Ferrari GTO at the museum. His name is Bernie and he has now sold his for over $52 million or so several years ago. His Ferrari is very recognizable. I believe it’s the only one that is blue with a single white stripe. The interesting thing is that he actually installed air conditioning in his Ferrari for his wife because they used to drive it around Europe. Before he had the Ferrari, he had one of the other original Daytona cobras but not CSX 2287.
It was really cute because while we were looking at the Ferrari, I was with my eight-year-old daughter and I heard a very soft woman’s voice say to me, “Would your daughter like a picture in our car? We don’t allow little boys in the car because they touch everything and we don’t allow adults to sit in the car, but we only allow little girls.” Turns out it was Bernie’s wife and my daughter was the only person in the museum to get a picture sitting in the GTO.
19.5 k without a repaint? Uh. Ok