When cars don't look like what they ought to.

[bmcnut]

I spotted an MX5 based Mitsuoka roadster earlier, and when i googled it I found other MX5 based awesomeness





This reminded me of the old Peugeot 406 Coupe ferrari.




And the MR2. The first time I saw one of these outside a bodyshop I couldnt believe it



There are plenty of questionable attempts out there to try and make something look like what its not, but sometimes they get it right. Not just elaborate bodykits, but kit cars aswell. The art of making something completly fool you into thinking its underpinnings are more than bread and butter.

[braaap]

Lots of Ferrari-esque Pontiac Fieros spring to my mind.

[hurnleft]

My old Tribute Automotive Ferrariish 250swb on BMW Z3

[vitesseefi]

I like that

[bmcnut]

I don't think ive ever seen one of those z3 ones before, what a beauty!

[rsmithy626]

Here's an old Fred about Gone in Sixty Seconds Eleanor reps based on Ford Sierras.

forum.retro-rides.org/thread/48729?page=3

[Adambt]

edit - I just posted in the wrong thread! cool replicas here though!

[skinnylew]

The BMW Z3 - AC Cobra kits have a real appeal, no IVA issues as it's all bolt on panels, keep all the modern aspects of a Z3 but wrapped in a Cobra-esque shell. Granted if it's a 1.9 not a lot to back up the looks but if someone does it to a Z3M that'd be interesting. or even engine swaps a 5 series V8 in there......

[bmcnut]

I'm not sure if using a Z3 coupe as a base would make it or ruin it, might look better if the screen surround was painted black.

[bmcnut]

Hold up..


Damn........

[79cord]

Very nice MX "Aston-Zagato" but Cobra effort NEEDS its front re-grafted on 4" lower.
At first I thought the title meant cars that just didn't turn out as they should have, & think that applies to BMW's Z3 styling as well.
Personally I'm still waiting to see the Z3 achieve its own styling potential better.
Headlights perhaps?

[ratchart]

I saw this bit of news today and thought immediately of this thread.

For those who can't be fussed to read the article, Ferrari have been granted recognition as a work of art for the 250 GTO, through the Italian courts. I think that means it's illegal to make a copy of the design. I'm not really sure how this differs from existing copyright laws which some of these replicas are flirting with quite dangerously. Frankly I don't understand how they get away with it. I mean nobody who's interested in cars will mistake most of them for the real thing* but the makers have clearly copied someone else's design. The same goes for all those thousands of "Cobras" "GT40s" and 30s "Fords". 

*That grey coupe is very convincing to me, (as someone who's not a massive Ferrari fan).

[metalshapes]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is.

Like you said, no one who has a bit of interest in these cars will mistake one for the real thing.

And besides that, even if the bodyshapes were accurate, including the brand /size/ offset/rideheight of the wheels ( which they almost never get totally right ), the bodies are Fiberglass.

Not Superleggera construction of aluminum skin over a thin steel frame.

So at best, in a way, its no different than a Mona Lisa on black velvet.

I don't see why the original manufacturers don't take these copies ( or replica's, or whatever you want to call them ) for what they are.

An extremely sincere compliment.

And let the owners/builders have their fun with them...

[metalshapes]

Seems to me, the " vibe" of the originals is because they were created by car guys.
( probably no longer the case for most new cars )

Which strikes a nerve with other car guys, in a "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" kind of way.

Seems to me the people who are fighting this are lawyers, legal depts.
( possibly on retainer, and looking for something to do )

Although, one of the earliest manufacturers who made a big stink about replica's was Carol Shelby.
(who was always hunting money for his heart foundation, and saw a lot of money passing by )

But to be honest, he didn't create the entire Cobra.
He bought a AC Ace, and stuck a V8 in it ( yeah, I know it was a little more involved than that )
And the Ace had more than a passing resemblance to a Ferrari Barchetta...

[strikey]

waste of a 944 s2...

[Littlepixel]

Japan says "Hold my Asahi Beer - I got this!"

Japanese Tuning house Rocket Bunny does a great Cuda Clip for the Nissan 240SX


You can get lots of fun kits for Kei Cars:

Renault 4 kit for Daihatsu Lapin:


"Dream Factory Blow" does Yank-style kits for Kei Vans:






And for Hiaces:


Also these for the Sambar but I don't really dig them:


Then there's the Mitsuoka March/Micra Kits:

Mk2


Mk3

Mk4

Mitsuoka Stingray MX5



Mitsuoka Morgan thing:



They even do Exec Barges for CROWNs / Soarers




Let's not forget the Mira Gino

carsofmalaysia.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/img_7099small.jpg" alt=" "]


And Mini-clipped Walk through Vans:




Lastly - I don't quite have the words for these ones:

Pajero / Pinin 'Thing'

Impreza 'Casa Blanca"

Dead Fish



This wag has put the front clip on a WRX. Lolz!

[petroholic]

Some horrific looking cars there, but the Mini clipped walk through van is actually quite cool.