Replicas are a tricky business, with most so-called “clones” falling well short of the real thing. And that’s for cars made on an assembly line at a legitimate production facility, not what someone built in a garage using Cheerios boxes and plywood profiles for framing purposes. Those last two details are taken from the listing for this 1960 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa replica listed here on eBay, which was apparently built by a single individual with his father over the course of 20 years.
The Testa Rossa replica is fashioned over an Austin Healey 100/6 frame, which apparently shares near identical proportions with the actual 250 TR. This car is one of the best replicas I’ve seen, and the irony is it that it’s right up there with the other supercar replica made over several decades in someone’s basement: yes, I’m referencing the incredible Lamborghini Countach replica we featured a few months back. Maybe there’s something to a private individual, making a replica with near-perfect proportions without the help of machines or assembly lines, that leads to a stunning recreation?
The consignor doesn’t mince words about how detailed this replica is, down to the period-correct sport seats and a stunning dashboard and instrument cluster. Often times, when we see replicas, this is where the details fall well short, with the manufacturer choosing to raid some corporate parts bin to jam an interior in a custom body. While building a replica as this individual did is hardly an economical approach, I’m guessing most potential buyers would rather wait a few years for a faithful recreation than buy a hodge-podge of parts jammed together over the course of a few weeks.
Now, the only aspect of this replica that may fall short of expectations is the powerplant, which is still a respectable mill in its own right. The Austin Healey-sourced 2.6 liter inline-six is still a wonderful engine that makes some great noise befitting of a sports car. Like the rest of the car, the details are excellent, and the engine is fed by two SU H6 carburetors paired to a four-speed manual gearbox. It’s hard to put a value on a car like this, but it’s no surprise the $13,600 current bid falls well short of what this car deserves.
Beautiful car. Looks like a Speedster windshield. Fits well with the body lines. I like it.
I’ll step on on this. Beautiful car. Great job to father and son put this together!! Nothing wrong with that power plant at all as friends of mine had Austin’s with same motor. Bullet proof as the ford 300 six. Price so low think might bid on this one myself. Again, nice job, beautiful car!!
About the power plant, he could have changed the gallery head for a later head with manifolds. Difference of 20hp without any extra work assuming there had to be worked on the mechanicals during the build.
But beautifully made.
This car will struggle to get the $70k+ that the consignor wants. The straight-cut hood scoop is a let-down in contrast to the curvaceous body. And just my opinion but the pre-1959 250 Testa Rossas were much prettier with their hunky haunches and wasp-waisted look. After about ’58 the doors carried a straighter line that I just don’t care for. I know, picky picky.
Larry’s car was SOLD in record time ( a few days ) for a price in excess of 70k , a BARGAIN PRICE , given the extreme craftsmanship and authenticity involved !!! One 86 year old man was the sole maker of this awesome replica over a period of many years !
$70,000 for a well made but not identical duplicate, vs $3.5 million for a Ferrari based make over sold in 2014, vs $39 million for a genuine original..
Some of us get hard pressed op for anything over $700, so while we can appreciate the hard work, eye on quality and the labor to build this AH it’s sand lot baseball vs Wrigley Field for some of us-the best we can do is watch and marvel.
Good stuff-good catch, Jeff.
You, Michelle, have been around some class action and we appreciate your eye for detail.
This might do better at a big name auction, where the drinks are strong. I clicked on to see sellers other items, 968 vehicles came up.
All the inline 6 vehicles I’ve been in, and around, have been satisfying powerplants. 😌
There is nothing in me that can degrade one detail of this build. 20 years to complete and did it with his father? And the finished product…what’s not to appreciate?
I wouldn’t drive it nor would i want it but not for the reasons one would think !
It would end up being a garage queen as it is so well made , how could i drive uncaringly around with someone’s labor of love …
Now really , i have had trailer queens but i am
Over that but i still don’t use my cars in the rain , i purposely drive it dirty to convince myself that i don’t care but its not true so,
This rolling art piece has to go to someone else !
The car does look good, kudos to the builder! BUT…..many areas of potential disaster for repairs, super old chassis and suspension details, poor brakes, on and on. Certainly, of value to someone but not without all of the pitfalls of a home build. Is it worth, to the right buyer, $35-38,000 …. yes! Shows, talk piece at events, etc………not for me. Been there, done it. So much to worry about. The car should be used as a Mould to rebuild into skinned aluminum; change the hood scoop, add leather seats that are moveable, old Italian gauges, much better exhaust system, updated suspension……..you know where I am going. Now you have a great replica!
Hate to burst your bubble but the big Healey drum brakes do a great job of pulling down the high speeds.
I am in awe of the skill to build such a beautiful machine
Jaguar V-12 needed maybe?
I’d buy it to hide all my gold in it, while displaying it in my living room!
I like this creation very much because it has an aura of authenticity that most replicas don’t have. Even if it is not an exact copy of a real very early ’60s Testa Rossa, it looks enough like some sort of REAL Ferrari to make most people assume it was a one-off variant. I will even politely have a very slight disagreement with Michelle Rand about the bonnet air scoop. Even that scoop is not all that out of place for its time period, because if you look at 1961 production Ferraris–such as the one featured in the film Modesty Blaise–you see that exact sort of straight-cut scoop in an otherwise curvaceous body. All I would do is two of the things Sonny mentioned above. I would have to have those seats done in leather and install a set of vintage Veglia or Jaeger instruments.
I was searching for an AC Cobra when this popped up. This thing is almost as classic as what I am looking for, of course the $ are far apart. I know nothing about Ferrari cars but this one has got to be considered primo amongst those who know what they are looking at.
Very nice, but I prefer the 61 250 GT California myself. I mean come on…Ferris thought it was “so choce” 😉
I have an old MotorTrend magazine from the early 70s and there is….or was one for sale in the ads for $7500….1961 250 GT California! $56k in today’s money…but still..lol
I’m sorry but that “Porsche Speedster” windshield just ruins it for me – so obvious, so contrived. Better to have formed something more accurate from a plexi-glass boat windscreen
I was just pleasantly surprised to see this article about the awesome 1959 Ferrari Testarossa made in its entirety by one now 86 year old gentleman from Lancaster County PA . Not a “father and son” project , just one amazing craftsman named Larry ! MANY years of expert work in the making by this wonderful friend of mine . Larry was in the US Air Force stationed in Germany in 1959 and saw three identical Testarossas come in 2,3,4 behind Stirling Moss driving an Aston Martin DBR at the finish of that year’s Nurburgring Race . That event was the inspiration for Larry’s many year quest to make his own perfect replica , right down to the correct blue CLOTH upholstery like those originals . The car is simply stunning and a pleasure to drive , something Larry did with regularity in recent years after finally completing it . He won a number of awards , even getting a special award from Wayne Carini at one event . Sadly Larry has decided to consign this car recently due to a serious illness of his dear wife . I understand that it was SOLD in very short order to someone in Georgia . I hope they appreciate the incredible craftsmanship involved in their beautiful acquisition . Please take good care of Larry’s masterpiece but ENJOY IT !!! 😀👍👍
I saw this car in person at an AH car show in central PA several years ago, and spoke with the owner/builder. I know it’s easy to say when it’s not your money, but having seen it in person and seeing what people will pay for other classic cars, I’d say it’s worth the $70k.
Kudos to the builder for NOT trying to suggest it’s a real Ferrari by adding Ferrari badges, not even the horn button suggests Ferrari.