The Ferrari 250 GTO is perhaps one of the most cloned classic cars out there. Body kits ranging from God-awful to surprisingly convincing exist, and thankfully, the original Datsun Z-car makes it possible to build a tribute that could fool a few people. This is a “Velo Rossa” kit made by Reaction Research out of Scottsdale, Arizona. The roadster conversion listed here on craigslist is part of an estate sale out of New Mexico and offered for $12,000.
What’s interesting about this particular car is that we originally spotted it a few months ago. This same estate sale out of Albuquerque featured a car I was keeping an eye on, a red Oldsmobile Tornado coupe that sold for peanuts. The dry climate made it even more appealing for the prospect of buying a car sight unseen and not finding ugly rust underneath when it got dropped off. For whatever reason, this 250 GTO tribute kit has not sold in the intervening months; is the asking price too high?
There’s a familiar Z car engine under the hood, which makes this one of the rare kit cars that actually has the drivetrain to back up the sexy looks. Think about how many kit cars based on the air-cooled Volkswagen are out there, combining exotic looks with a engine cranking out 36 horsepower. This 250 GTO roadster build will actually move down the road decently enough, and you can tweak the drivetrain to make it slightly more fitting for an exotic tribute build. The seller claims the engine was started regularly until about five years ago.
The other gripe I always have with the Kelmarks and Bradleys out there is how the interiors always look like amateur hour. By utilizing the Z car components, you get both a respectable drivetrain and an interior that keeps up with the athletic exterior. The dash, incredibly, doesn’t appear to have any cracks, which is a milestone achievement for any vintage Z cars out there. This could quickly turn into a very polished kit car build, but you’ll have to pony up real money first for the privilege. Would you pay $12K for one of these 250 GTO builds?
Wouldn’t give 12K for it but as a seller I would have attempted some cleaning up so it doesn’t look like a desert rat. Cleaned and repaired it could be a fun car.
$12k for this? Not finished, odometer rolled over, salvage title. Better hurry, posted two weeks ago.
Before these came out I remember thinking a convertible GTO kit car would be so cool looking, they made a kit for a Z car GTO, as well as a convertible conversion for them also.
I’ve never seen one of these till now. When did these come out? I assume after the 2 real Ferrari 250 GTO spyders were built.
Real = alloy bodies on Ferrari chassis with lots of NOS parts. The first one had a multi-page writeup in Cavalino. I think I have a copy.
I drove the car with cameraman that made the video of the second one.
If it was the hard top a roadster with no top is a hard PASS
Look at the condition of the wiring under the hood, the fit of the right side door panel to the door etc. SCARY! Someone once coined the term “Fright Pig.” I think he was referring to this car. And as for the BF writer’s comments on performance – have you ever driven a 240Z – gutless, no torque, no fun.
A wanna-be will always be a wanna-be. Phony as a 3 Dollar bill. Pass.
I don’t think it’s fair to call this a wanna-be and phony. No one in their right mind would even try to pass this off as a “real” Ferrari and I’d rather see this on the road than just another cookie cutter Datsun (not meaning to denigrate the Datsun, but they were, at one time, quite common.)
I have a very large photo of one of the first Z car with 250 GTO body fiberglass in a historic race pace lap behind my car. Looks like a real GTO in the photo. I think I have some old incar video racing with him.
Chinga, makes me wonder if you have ever driven a 240Z. 151 HP for a car weighing 2330 lbs makes for a pretty quick car. A Z car was never intended to be a drag car. It’s all about the handling and the power combined. Something the 240Z did very well. Maybe not compared to more modern sports cars, but certainly a standout winner when introduced.
I drove quite a few, was never impressed, The Datsun 2000 always felt faster, more alive. Maybe I am spoiled – I used to daily drive an AC Cobra years ago.
I agree Azzura. My drive in a 240 was pretty impressive, not so much 0-60 but torque was great for windy roads and top speed was right up there. Now, this conversion, not something I’d want.
Large displacement complacency is all too common. The “no torque” comment is as over-used as the “put an LS in it”. I prefer to have an engine that delivers power over a wide range of rpms coupled to a smooth shifting manual transmission. The 240Z is a great drivers car, and for that matter even the 260Z & 280Z. I would have one if I were not so fond of the rotary in my RX7.
Back in the day we sold a boatful of Z-cars at Anaheim Nissan, including a 300ZX to Natalie Cole – but THAT is another story.
Looks a bit ratty & tired, The fit of the passenger door as mentioned is a question mark. Maybe it’s just ajar, but i don’t think so. Seeing the wires hanging out of the ashtray? makes me think the electric cover for it is not operational. Could be a descent deal for maybe 5 K if the rad cap and the dash gauges come with it. Salvage title, signed off from previous owner, bill of sale. Could be registration problems.
Not for me @ that price
Why would you do that to a beautiful 240Z? No thank you.