This Lamborghini Murcielago replica is based, like so many others, on a Pontiac Fiero. Impressively, bidding has already climbed past $20,000 for this seemingly well-executed conversion, but I’ll still never understand how anyone could put that much money towards a gussied up Fiero. Regardless, workmanship appears quite sound and the car sports a supercharged Pontiac 3800 engine with several modifications, including increased boost and headers. Find it here on eBay with no reserve.
The car is based on a modified 1988 Pontiac Fiero chassis, and the seller notes he built the car personally three years ago. A bad back has caused him to enjoy the novel creation less than expected, so it’s being sold with few to no issues, aside from missing windshield wipers and non-working air conditioning. While there’s no mistaking it for the real thing, the seller says it still draws a crowd wherever it goes.
The interior also looks very much like the GM product it’s based on, but the work appears to be of a decent quality. The leather bucket seats and carpeted surfaces are in good order, but the shifter and center console is fooling no one in terms of its origins. The huge lower sill panel is also a giveaway that this is a garage-based creation, but the quality still looks decent. The seller says the paint is in excellent shape.
The drivetrain is perhaps the highlight of the car, as it seems the seller did find a powerplant that was suitable for the body – it avoids the whole, “writing checks you can’t cash” philosophy, wherein so many kit cars like this are still running engines and transmissions that offer performance well short of the expectations derived from the exotic shell that wraps them. Would you spend $20K (or more) on this Fiero?
It’s the 2017 Borborygmi Mucilage!
Nice car. Looks like top of the line build quality. Probably a ton of fun.
If you’re going to go to that much trouble, why not put in a BMW V12?
Quite simply because the 3800 series V6 engine swap is easy to do as it bolts into the Fiero as if it belonged there all along. This not only equals simplicity & no fabrication to make it fit, but it greatly reduces overall upgrade costs as well. The 3800 puts out decent power, is cheap to acquire & maintain, and works well when done right. The BMW V12 would have been impressive, but involves a high degree of skill to make it fit where it wasn’t meant to be. Having said that, only the owner’s imagination is the limit for engine swaps in a Fiero. Many different ones have been done successfully.
Someone is – for “fun”, not “investment”. More power to em’.
love it, I hope the quality is really as good as it looks. If I built this, I would leave off the Lamborghini emblems and just enjoy it for what it is, a really cool looking sports car.
Sorry, Jeff: I’m going to have to disagree w/ you on this one. Even though it is based on a Fiero, your comments about the interior are off. The dash and console bear little to no resemblance to their Fiero origins! :-)
Which itself is a point of distinction; usually the interior is the dead giveaway on Fiero rebodies, which isn’t the case here.
The dash and column are from a 2004-08 Pontiac Grand Prix. Most likely so the cluster would work with the engine/PCM package the donor was from. Since the GP is considerably wider than a Fiero, you can see the chop work on the end cap panels…
Also of note – diamond plate for the engine bay?? Yikes!
If I had the cash and space I’d buy it in a heart beat. I love Fieros and have had 3 of them. This is a real head turner and a quality build. I would love to just take it for a spin. What else can you buy today for $20k new?
Yep.if you really want to
stand out in the crowd
this cars for you! 😎
Wow, you really know how to rip apart a guy’s car. Dont buy the dang thing then. I’m sure he’s happy with the way it looks. Interior and all.
Park this in town and I’m willing to bet 80% of the people walking by will think it’s an honest Lambo. As long as the finish looks good as it does in the photos, most of the public are “car dumb” and won’t know what a real one looks like.
And that being said, if it’s fun to drive, who cares if it’s real or not. I’m sure it doesn’t drive like a Fiero any more..
“…but I’ll still never understand how anyone could put that much money towards a gussied up Fiero.” Really ?
I can give you 350-380 thousand reasons. It’s for people who don’t have over a quarter million dollars to blow on a real deal.
The same reason people make Clone Shelby Mustangs and Clone Hemi Cudas, but I’m sure you already know that and is why your comment is confusing.
While it’s clear this is not a real Lambo, it’s also clear this is no longer a Fiero.
I would say the reason being that the person doing the work doesn’t think of it that way. The build is based on a Fiero. Re body and modifying and extending the chassis. Adding a new body an upgraded motor doesn’t make it a Fiero anymore. Guys who build modified vintage Ford trucks using a Crown Vic chassis doesn’t make the truck a Crown Vic.
Sure you can ask why after the fact now that it’s done. It takes a lot of skill and determination. Money here and there is a moot point to complete the project. Once you start you can’t turn back. Many never get this far. People want to climb mountains. I am not one to question. I’ll stay safe on the ground just like the guy who writes a check for this amazing car. This is a still very impressive build no matter what you call it. The builder deserves a lot more.
However, a Crown Vic truck would be awesome.
Regarding replicas, my fake Cobra is my favorite sports car of all that I’ve had. My past includes Alfa, Aston Martin, Austin Healey, BMW, Bentley, Ferrari, Fiat, Jaguar, MG, Mercedes, Porsche and Triumph. No, it’s not the most valuable nor fastest but it’s the most fun to drive, perhaps because it’s the most reliable, easy and economical to maintain and because it doesn’t have the typical side pipes, stripes or other inaccurate “boy racer” parts it truly stands out, and yes, the attention it gathers is fun too. With it’s chipped, peeling faded paint, cracked windshield and upholstery held together with duct tape most think it’s an unrestored original. It’s fun trying to convince them it’s not real.
why not drive it and have fun with it!
3800 engine and small block Chevy. Two of the smartest engine choices on the planet………………….
And isn’t that a supercharger sitting on top of that 3800, added grunt and get up and go. Just drive and enjoy it, who cares where all the bits came from, it’s a cool machine that others would kill for and you’ll still be on top of the heap at the traffic lights.
Clay,Maybe if YOU are building a GM. Neither would MY choice.
Throw logic right out the window when it comes to cars.
Go back and scroll down a few – $79,500 for a rusty “gussied” VW Beetle.
It’s all crazy.