This replica of the pricey and iconic Ferrari 250 SWB is one of the better ones I’ve seen and even has respectable underpinnings that don’t trace their roots to a Fiero. The Ferrari is one of a handful of replicas built each year by a company called Tribute Automotive in the UK that specializes in the usual assortment of replica Cobras, Ferrari 250 Californias, and vintage Maseratis. Most of their cars are based on BMW’s Z3 and utilize the familiar 2.8L inline-six, just as this SWB replica listed here on eBay does. The opening bid is $50K and the reserve is unmet.
Now, the proportions still look goofy compared to the real thing, with the rear wheels protruding way farther from the wheel wells than they ever did on a genuine SWB. The bodywork, however, appears to be of very high quality, and smaller details like the lenses and the badges are sympathetic replicas of the original design. The dual exhaust fills out the rear valence nicely, but still looks slightly more aggressive than the original design. Online articles about the company that builds these kits indicate the rear glass is sourced from an MGB GT while the windshield is from the Z3.
The interior is sharp, with aggressively bolstered bucket seats and leather-covered surfaces everywhere else you look. You can’t hide some of the origins of other pieces in the car, like the door panels that clearly look too modern for a vintage Ferrari. The benefits to kits like this is the inclusion of modern conveniences, so it likely has a functional radio and air conditioning system courtesy of the BMW that gave its life for this creation. While you can’t ignore the clues to this car’s more humble origins, at least the Z3 was built to a high quality when new – more than you can say for a Fiero.
Of course, the suggested opening bid is also indicative of the seller’s belief that this kit is of a high caliber. $50,000 with a reserve is certainly going to limit the potential bidder pool, and is a bit of a shock considering how often replicas go for peanuts – but those examples are often quite cheaply strung together. This 250 SWB replica, with its torquey and modern drivetrain and seemingly high build quality, stands apart from those cheap replicas that do little to hide their econobox origins, so perhaps this high-dollar kit car is worthy of the opening bid amount.
Too much money for too little car. Drag strip rear wheels, no bumpers, no attempt to show details of the car and now pulled from sale. Could be someone got to him/her about the price for a replica car. Interesting though….
Or the gent’s in the black suits from Marenello showed up to discuss the fact that he was calling it a Ferrari
I wonder if Ferrari threatened the seller with a lawsuit?
This thing is dopey
Yo Yo, check out the “250 GTO” in the background. Whatever this guy is smoking, I’d like some.
Oops, Listing ended. Said Maranello suits must have come a knockin.
I’ve always hated replicas. Just buy a cheaper car that performs well and improve it over time. Can’t afford a 928? Buy a Supra and improve it as money comes in.
The Ferrari plaque on the dash ia annoying. Really? It’s a Ferrari?
I just see a lot of Frankensteinian NO.
Surely in this age of 3D scanning…somebody should be able to get the dimensions right.
One of the least appealing cars I have ever seen.
We’re being too hard on this little red guy. If you debadged it, and dropped the price by about 25k, I’d be saying it was a fairly nicely done custom that you could drive to work worry free. That said, it says Ferrari all over it (like ALL over it) and he’s asking double that figure. I think this is the problem with so many kits – by design we’re forced to compare them to the actual sports car they’re trying to copy. And this comparison never adds up well, no matter how hard the builder tried. If this were simply a vintage style rebody of an inexpensive but fun to drive convertible I’d be giving the guy a high five.
Some friends of ours in Alabama built an AMX replica on a Z3 for the 24 hours of lemons.. Way cooler if you ask me http://www.roadkill.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Class-A-1.jpg and it’s won a bunch of races btw
In my head I’d buy that! That thing is awesome.
Time to head the car back to the garage and perform some massaging to the wheels and tires…. Good grief! I would expect to see this wheel application on some teenagers hot rodded and raked Pontiac or Chevrolet. Shall we use the metaphor “cheesey”? Ok,…. a critique, but certainly deserved considering the efforts that were made in this cars creation to emulate an iconic Ferrari. Visually a fun driver, that does not require a $8000 service every 15K miles. Priced appropriately after the wheel and tire exchange and and it will probably sell, rather than languish and end on Ebay with no bids as it did here.
The rims are spot on ferrari knockoffs, if you google 1961 ferrari wheel thats exactly what will show up(Try it i beg you!)what kind of rims did you think ferraris or sports cars in general had in 1961?
Where else but from Florida?!
You gotta watch the video, it’s hilarious! From “you can take it to the track and compete with any Miata out there” to the guy struggling (and failing) to open the hood… that’s gold, Jerry!
https://youtu.be/qC3dKV76du0
Video is amazing! What a doofus. “Beautiful synchromesh downshifting”, can’t open the hood, needs more Ferrari badging….
I don’t like to slam or belittle people, but this video is an exercise in automotive comedy
Is it steel, aluminum, fiberglass or paper-mache?
This is what the real thing looks like