The process of marrying an Italian exotic with dirt-simple (and cheap) American muscle car mechanicals is a tried-and-true tradition of the replicar marketplace. Frankly, it’s a nice change of pace from using a VW Bug as the basis for your cheap supercar build. Over the years, different attempts have been made to create a convincing replica of a Ferrari Testarossa, and although this one listed here on Hemmings.com isn’t the best, it’s also far from the worse. The car is located in Florida with an asking price of $29,995.
Over the years, a few genuinely intriguing Ferrari replicas have been produced. The Datsun 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica is one of my favorites, but in researching this car, I found out that a company called Classic International in California built a replica with a C4 front end and a Testarossa rear end (like this) that actually looked quite good. It made me realize that the better option is to leave the standard Corvette nose in place and focus on creating the iconic rear tail panel of the Testarossa, while also sprinkling in the side strakes.
In doing so, you avoid the need to make the front end match the unusually wide snout of the Testarossa, proportions that the standard C4 body cannot possibly match. You can mimic the width going down the sides by adding layer upon layer of fiberglass, but it’s hard to pull off up front without making the car look awkward – a fate that our subject car suffers from. Inside, it’s standard-issue C4, with factory bucket seats, gauge cluster, and center console all in place, and just a fake Ferrari 3-spoke steering wheel to remind you of the badge on the hood.
Mileage is low for a C4 Corvette, and this car should prove cheap and reliable to run. In all likelihood, the 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 hasn’t been modified, as that rarely happens with these fake exotics – all of the time and money is spent on the bodywork. Fortunately, this fake Ferrari has the correct staggered wheels to fill out the rear arches, and I have to admit that it looks good with the top up or down. I’m not sure about the asking price, as the market for these cars has to be fairly limited. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find.
Ugh!
This is the type of car that if you are driving on one of the major interstates at 65 MPH “someone” might be fooled for a millisecond about what it truly is – the question remains – is that level of enjoyment worth $30K? My answer would be a solid “NO” but to each his own!
Someone definitely put some time and effort into this and I agree – it’s a step up from your average VW kit car.