Replicas can do one of two things: they can make you acutely aware of how a copy will never match the original, or they can cause your jaw to slam to the floor when you see how well it’s done. This Ferrari 250 GTO replica is in the latter category, as it appears to be an achingly beautiful recreation with fantastic lines, original Ferrari components, and a drivetrain lifted from the powerful TVR Tuscan sports car. This build clearly shows extreme attention to detail and thought given to the design and execution, so it’s priced accordingly. Find it here on eBay for $330,000.
First of all, the bodywork is clearly done to a high level. The shape of the replica looks quite sympathetic to the original design. While I can’t claim to have the exact dimensions of an original 250 GTO memorized, I’d like to believe a car with this much attention to small details gets it nearly correct. The seller notes that original Ferrari components were used wherever possible, and I’d love to know how you go about tracking down original items like the following: OEM taillights and rear indicators; OEM 250 GTO door handles; correct aluminum front, side, and rear emblems; and even a correct Nardi steering wheel. Where do you go to find original door handles?
And then there’s this interior! Wall-to-wall with leather or imitation leather material. The only thing I don’t love is the instrument panel in the center of the dash, as it looks slightly cheap; there’s also that instrumentation that is hidden behind a leather door that doesn’t make much sense to me in terms of placement. I could certainly see getting to a point in a complex build like this and just wanting to put the last piece of the interior somewhere. This is a small nit to pick in the grand scheme of things, but for $330,000, you do expect a product with very few quality issues. The seats are said to be custom Sabelt racing seats, made in Italy, of course.
Look at the shape: absolutely stunning, regardless of how close it comes to the original. It’s just a striking car, especially sitting on those gorgeous Jaguar E-Type wire wheels with correct Ferrari knock-off hubs. This is the sort of build where it would be wonderful to hear more about the craftsman who did the work, or whether the chassis is a one-off or not. Some small details that really make the story even better when selling a car like this, which certainly didn’t come together overnight. The 4.0L “Speed Six” engine produces a healthy 360 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, so this replica should certainly live up to the performance reputation of the original car. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find.
It looked really off to me..so pulled up some pics of original GTO’s and ya..this replica is WAY off..poorly so.Fenders,roof,window openings are terrible..this is worse than a kit car…Sorry..but this isnt worth a 10th what they are asking.
I didn’t pull up an image of an original, but I have to agree. The door windows can’t be right with square corners, and the rear wheel openings are maybe too small? IDK Ferraris at all, but it doesn’t look right. It doesn’t really matter, I’ll never be able to operate a right hand drive car safely anyway, LOL.
Had a buddy who did a 250GTO kit that used a 240Z base. His was pretty darn close to exact except for the drive train (used a modern 370Z but dressed up to look like a 1960’s engine somehow), the frame and the suspension (though he did hand fab that to be very close to the 250’s but better). He even got to measure a real 250GTO to get things correct.
The interior on this one is actually pretty good. Its the exterior thats way off. The roof line is too low and the side windows are not correct.
Due to it being a replica Ferrari, and not the real thing, I think the builder has done a remarkable job and as long as you don’t put them side by side the average man in the street would believe it to be a genuine Ferrari. The only thing that might put me off thinking that it’s an original would be the non gated gear stick.
I took a look at one online – the tail and spoiler are correct, or damn close. The topcould not be further off than this – was Ferrari going after them if they made it more accurate? The windshield and the side windows are off by a large margin, and the roof only makes it worse. $330K is an awfull lot of money for this – given some of the equipment and the claimed performance, I might see $50K.
I agree with you guys. When I saw the first pic it looked really detailed and was excited to see more but the side profile pic ruined it for me. Off the top of my head the roof is too low, windows too small, front fender arches too tall and overall looked a little stretched and rear end too long. But definately done to a high degree of detail.
I’m not a Ferrari person, I don’t have that kind of money, however I do like to admire a good example. This looks good from afar, however it is a replica. That is OK also, if that is your desire. My question is: Who is the market to buy a replica for $330K? If I was told the price of $33K, I would say, ‘ Yeah, that looks right!” I still would not buy it though…I would agree on the upper comment as far as price is concerned!! It is certainly an interesting read! That is about it, for me….
You do bring up a valid point but being the originals are pulling millions of dollars, $330,00 is a bargain. I met the owner of the blue ‘62 GTO with a single white stripe down the middle maybe 10 years ago and if I recall his car sold privately maybe 7 years ago for $52,000,000.
The last Ferrari 250 sold for $70 million in 2018 the prices these cars are selling for is insane prices. With the fact they rarely come up for sale that keeps driving up the prices and for the very wealthy being able to brag they own one.
Guy spends 330 K for this and some one pulls up alongside him at a stop light and says- “Cool car- my buddy has one just like it with a Volkswagen motor”
“OOOooo, A GTO, Looks beautiful”, I thought, seeing the front in the street intersection, Then seeing the side view, I said aloud, “YIKES !”
Looking back at the front view, then the side again, SHEESH,,, how could it look so wrong.
Ohh, it’s so easy to be a critic when somone put all of their abilities and flavours into one thing as seen here, If it was made as a replica, to look just like a GTO, it is well off. But, it might just be what the builder wanted and likes. I won’t pick it apart.
The lines sure look out of proportion, perhaps it is the camera? $330k is a laugh.
Back in the ’90’s a friend built a replica Ferrari. It looked pretty good. One day the Ferrari police came after him because he had put Ferrari badging on it. This was in Truckee, how they found him in that little bitty town was beyond me. But then again it was in CA.
I’m not sure if they still protect their brand like that.
As an aside, I’ve been watching the snowfall totals there talking about 3″ an hour. Back in 1983 we had a period where it snowed a FOOT an hour. Houses were collapsing.
But it was good to be in the snow related business back then
“…snowfall totals…”
we called it “White Gold” in ol days B4 climate emergency. Now very poor income. Gota ‘free truck’ w/the plowing (other contracts w/neighbors, commecial accounts = gasoline, food, others on barter) registration, insurance, woods wrk (inc own coord wood) free driveway plow @ home (1/2 mi) etc.
Yuck. Awful in every way. I wouldn’t pay $30k.
I’m not knocking the project… it is what it is…. a replica that is well crafted for what it is! It is not a Ferrari! My question is: If you paid 30K for it and turned around and tried to sell it for 30K, would you be able to get that? Maybe the Ferrari parts are worth that? I don’t know….Car markets, (all types) are very strange today…..Everyone thinks they have gold!
The windshield shape tells the tale.
The chassis is also TVR Tuscan, compare side by side pics with one, and you’ll understand why this replica isn’t close…..
now I understand Y that drivetrain is used
Good grief the thing is an eyesore to people who know the original shape! You can’t copy a 250 and not see the differences, so whoever built it forged ahead regardless. Might be a case where the builder got sucked into the project and couldn’t let go of the tigers tail? It is what it is and if I’d never seen a 250 before I’d say it’s nice. I wonder what the engine looks like?
I love the irony of the author writing, “First of all, the bodywork is clearly done to a high level.” immediately under a photo of a very poorly fitted trunk lid.
Some of the styling details are impressively close to the original, but the shape and proportions are way off, and rather ungainly, to boot.
Ccfisher
Could only give you one thumbs up!
I didn’t catch that.
The proportions are all wrong. Front fenders are too tall, roofline is too low. The wheel size appears off as well.
I have a fair bit of experience with 250s.
This is the worst copy replica that I’ve seen.
The side view looks more like a Marcos.
I sold the remaining Marchal and Altisimo taillamps like gtos used to a restoration shop several years ago.
I still have some of the other aftermarket brands.
Red. Amber and white
250 gto wasn’t the only car to use those lamps.
Door handles were likely used on other cars too.
Prime example of spending too much to build a unique car that nobody else wants, and the price is ludicrous. For half that money you could own a real Ferrari; not a GTO, of course, but still…
This car looks nothing like a real Ferrari 250 GTO.
For a third of a million dollars I would expect a PERFECT visual double of the real thing. I doubt it will sell unless the price comes down ten-to-twelvefold.
Wife “you sell the car or I’m leaving”… Husband “Ok, I’ll put it on ebay but I’m not going to give it away, I want to get what I have in it…..
Wife says to me sell the car or I’m leaving me okay I’ll help you pack are you going to stay at your sister’s house .?
As Ralley said, some factory parts like the handles and tail lights were from other cars, common for low production vehicles. Why bother engineering unique parts when they already exist in your inventory. And some of those parts are likely just Fiat.