I have never one time understood kit car hate. It's about having fun. It's about being able to see things that look cool. And it's about being able to have fun in something without destroying an original work of art. It's about being able to try out new things on a budget. I love kit cars.
The coolest replica I stumbled across was a Countach in a barn, that was being built specifically for the track. The pervious owner passed away a few years ago, and now I've taken up the mantel to see his vision through 🏎🏁
Back around 1990 I had a buddy with a 308 conversion on a fiero. I didnt know he had it and had never been around a Ferrari but had a bit of muscle car knowledge. He brought this thing to work one day and everyone was going crazy over it. Not really my type of car but I'm checking it out. Everyone is drooling over this car and asking me how can he afford it. Then he pops the the hood. And while everyone goes Ooooooo, my head whips around and looks at him. We both just smiled. Here on both sides of the engine it says fiero in raised red print. No one else picked up on it but it was a good laugh for me and people kept asking about it. How real it looked idk, but it was cleanly gone.
The 355 shown is not from Extreme Sportscars which was a company based in the north of England (it of course no longer exists). It is in actual fact a model known as Exact 355 which was sold by a company known as Exact 355 based in Scotland. The moulds were taken from a US replica built originally for a Fierro but understand they were adjusted to fit a Mark 2 MR2.
I've never been the kind of guy who likes the body kit swaps. Trying to make Fieros look like Ferraris, and whatnot. But it's nice to hear the opinions of a guy who is super passionate about it, as it gives me a new perspective on it. Don't know if I'd ever come completely around on them, but I can't deny his enthusiasm is infectious.
@Hard up garage its hard not to love your enthusiasm, if guys haven't seen it there's a Russian channel that does crazy replica builds and there's this one I think they are in the Philippines they do supercar Replicas by starting with clay and then make a fiberglass body around it they both do crazy work pretty awesome.
I think if you're trying to pass it off as authentic I'm with you. But there is a certain bit of art to creating a convincing forgery, whether it's a car replica or a painting forgery, in getting all of the details correct. Like building a kit or model, but life size and functional. And as the guest says, he's also enjoying the trolling aspect of it - both the Ferrari owners and the Toyota MR2 owners. So I could see a lot of fun in these things, if you're not trying to pretend it's real.
World's Fakest Ferrari would have to be the CarBros Fierri, which kinda sorta looks like an Enzo if you have cataracts and it's foggy out. Still manage to get it into the Quail at Monterey Car Week though (and of course hilarity ensued). Was also driven by Jay Leno
Sam is the kind of guy that would be great to meet at an airport bar on a long layover, time would fly by, pints would be had and the start of a new Lemons team would be made
I worked for Pohanka Acura/Chevorlet in Chantilly VA back in 2003 and sometimes this Metallic Purple Diablo VT replica would come in for repairs since it was a Fiero. The first day that came rolling in on a flatbed I was standing outside flirting with a mechanic and I saw it. He immediately saw my eyes widen and stopped me from running over to the replica and said, "that's really a Fiero. Don't get excited Roxy" because I would buy any unusual dead car and fix it so he knew that even though I'd find out it isn't a real lambo right away I'd still want it Lol
@@RoxanneBarbelo The XR4TI is a rarity as well. Both had cool racing pedigree, so, I dont think you can go wrong with either build! Hope to see what you do with it!
I've got a Murcielago body I'm trying to weld a rock crawler frame for. Like a Mad Max villain's supercar. Not sure if I should use my 454 big block, or get a cheap V-12. Either way there will be a big blower rising out the back.
Sam makes Tyler Hoover look almost normal!!! Only Sam is funnier, more extreme and about as practical as a Corolla Power Shelby 500KR!!! The Rudyard Kipling of worst car decisions ever!!! Sam is the BEST!!! LoL
I’ve always wanted to own a replica of Speed Racer’s Mach 5. There’s a guy here in the states that converts C4 corvettes for around 100k. Still saving…
I once had a pretty decent Fauxrrari replica. Of course it was a Fiero, but it was stretched to the right proportions and had some actual Ferrari bits on it. The fuel filler was moved to the correct position. It looked pretty good. Sure, if you really knew the 328, you'd quickly know it wasn't legit... especially if you looked at the interior LOL. The interior was Pontiac to the T. Fun times. V8 Archie helped me put a 350 short block in it.
My grail car was the faux Ferrari GTO bodied Rhino GT, that fit perfectly onto a Datsun 240 frame. While searching for a salvaged Ferrari motor, I learned that they went out of business. I even had the perfect plate: PROVA1.
As a Toyota mr2 owner of a 1st and 2nd gen, I don’t hate this but it’s not something I can appreciate. It’s a little different here in the US/Canada. 2nd gen production only went from 91-95 and somewhere around 17,000 were produced. As you can imagine about half of those cars were automatics. Point being, they are starting to be appreciated for their rarity and doing this just puts another hack job on the road that very few people actually care about. It took me 3 years of ownership to see another driving on the road before our local Facebook group was started. I’d be surprised if there are more than a couple thousand 2nd gens left.
The cars you discussed in the video remind me of the '94 Ford Probe GT I had with a 24 valve DOHC engine, hi-flow intake, headers, and lowered. I called it "My Go-Cart for Grownups"! The only thing missing was RWD! I heard the phrase, "Marc - You're scarin' the sh!t outta me!" a couple of times! LMAO!
You want a sick looking car to track down and buy go look for the Nissan skyline 350gt(infiniti g35) in Japan thats got a q60 front end and r35 rear end.... thats a car ill never get over tbh
There used to be a replica Ferrari F40 and a 250 GTO on carsales in Australia from the same seller. They were on there for 15 years or more. They were hilariously bad, the 250 looked like the dash was made out of a kitchen cabinet, unfortunately they aren't up for sale anymore. No one bought them, I'm sure they are still in the same backyard somewhere in Australia.
You are correct sir. The Extreme kit is the most sought after 355 kit (given that is the kit you have it's hard to tell in the videos) I have one. The only thing you're missing is the Speedline f355 wheels. Which I have. I deleted my hood lathes because it's a 10 thousand point check list to open your hood "probably". Use the aero catch hood latch pins. The 4 cyl turbo that is in that car needs ripped out. Along with the radiator and all suspension. With a 2gr Toyota motor, new tig welded radiator and BC coilovers. I may upgrade the brakes as well.
There are 2 Holy Grail Fauxraris for me, and both have sold over the past couple years. The first is the Ferris Bueller 250 California Spyder, which sold for $390k in 2020 (the non-driving version used in the crash scene sold for $370k in 2022) and absolute King is the Miami Vice C3 Corvette based Daytona Spyder, one of which is I believe at the Volo Auto Museum NW of Chicago.
A 3SGTE engine in a Ferrari 360 makes sense, those engines were good for 500hp in Celica Rally cars and Japanese JGTC Supra racing even the 1996 Le Man's Supra !! (Yes, they put a 4cyl in a racing Supra in Japan. The 3SGTE design is simply a 4cyl version of the 2JZGTE engine. Same bore & stroke,)
I really have to agree that a car that looks, say, 95% like a Ferrari F40, and has a reliable, spritely Japanese V6, perhaps turbo motor, with a nice smooth 5 speed, I could be an incredibly happy chap driving one of those around. Until Ferrari kidnapped me and cut it up in front of me and forced me to eat the asbestos fibreglass body.
@@Hardupgarage Thanks for responding man! I’m nowhere near as innovative as you and your shop but a few years ago I acquired my personal dream car; an 01 Subaru 2.5RS 2 door and since have been building my ideal 2 door STi. So far all I’ve done is an EJ257 and 6 speed swap, STi Brembo brakes, Cusco coilovers, STi seats and a JDM STi cluster but it’s channels like yours that remind me that it’s my build and it doesn’t matter what anyone else would do or how they would do it. It’s not their car!
They DO have a cult following, or at least they did a couple of decades ago. A 3-cylinder manual-transmission first-generation Geo Metro is pretty much the category-killer for gas mileage (at least for cars available in the U.S. in the early 2000s), and there are people that care about that and try to push things as far to the extreme as they can.
Sad thing is, the MR2 is a better car then the 355 and worth more in most markets. It's damned sure better then a garbage replica. Sad seeing an MR2 go out like that
I challenge you to... DARE you rather to find a Pantera replica... The throaty big cam motor exhaust sound could definitely be replicated with a junkyard 5.3 truck motor or even better a true LS. The wheels dash trim etc etc. is gonna be a pickle to find.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
We DO NOT ADVISE a "Holy Grail" Sam Hard drinking game.
Lol.
😂
Hahahahah I’m in!!
Too late already doing it
You're not the boss of me!
I have never one time understood kit car hate. It's about having fun. It's about being able to see things that look cool. And it's about being able to have fun in something without destroying an original work of art. It's about being able to try out new things on a budget. I love kit cars.
The coolest replica I stumbled across was a Countach in a barn, that was being built specifically for the track.
The pervious owner passed away a few years ago, and now I've taken up the mantel to see his vision through 🏎🏁
What is car is the replica built out of?
make a video of it bru
Bless you! Please put it on RUclips!
Back around 1990 I had a buddy with a 308 conversion on a fiero. I didnt know he had it and had never been around a Ferrari but had a bit of muscle car knowledge.
He brought this thing to work one day and everyone was going crazy over it. Not really my type of car but I'm checking it out. Everyone is drooling over this car and asking me how can he afford it.
Then he pops the the hood. And while everyone goes Ooooooo, my head whips around and looks at him. We both just smiled. Here on both sides of the engine it says fiero in raised red print.
No one else picked up on it but it was a good laugh for me and people kept asking about it.
How real it looked idk, but it was cleanly gone.
The 355 shown is not from Extreme Sportscars which was a company based in the north of England (it of course no longer exists). It is in actual fact a model known as Exact 355 which was sold by a company known as Exact 355 based in Scotland. The moulds were taken from a US replica built originally for a Fierro but understand they were adjusted to fit a Mark 2 MR2.
Sam is paving the way for all Vinwiki guests to show up with a shirt showing all their sponsors
Hahahaha
Pretty sure the only sponsor he has is one from AA or NA.
I've never been the kind of guy who likes the body kit swaps. Trying to make Fieros look like Ferraris, and whatnot. But it's nice to hear the opinions of a guy who is super passionate about it, as it gives me a new perspective on it. Don't know if I'd ever come completely around on them, but I can't deny his enthusiasm is infectious.
I can definitely understand trying to give them similar power while remaining reliable but beautiful like the original/authentic version.
Thanks homie 😊
Now I want to see a Ferrari that looks like a fiero
@Hard up garage its hard not to love your enthusiasm, if guys haven't seen it there's a Russian channel that does crazy replica builds and there's this one I think they are in the Philippines they do supercar Replicas by starting with clay and then make a fiberglass body around it they both do crazy work pretty awesome.
I think if you're trying to pass it off as authentic I'm with you. But there is a certain bit of art to creating a convincing forgery, whether it's a car replica or a painting forgery, in getting all of the details correct. Like building a kit or model, but life size and functional. And as the guest says, he's also enjoying the trolling aspect of it - both the Ferrari owners and the Toyota MR2 owners. So I could see a lot of fun in these things, if you're not trying to pretend it's real.
Love to see a “reverse” engine swap and show up at a show
There was a turbo K24 swapped Ferrari 308 at SEMA last year.
@@HBlakeH stance works built it, there's a build series on RUclips for it
Use a Ferrari to build a Toyota mr2
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 if I had the money I'd do this, I've been talking about it fot years, it would be super funny messing with people 😂😂
World's Fakest Ferrari would have to be the CarBros Fierri, which kinda sorta looks like an Enzo if you have cataracts and it's foggy out.
Still manage to get it into the Quail at Monterey Car Week though (and of course hilarity ensued). Was also driven by Jay Leno
That guy better be glad he never ran into...DOUG TABBUTT 😅😅😅
8o8
I thought this was going to be a Doug vidro
who?
@@billmadison2032 reply to me if u find out
We all know Corvettes are superior
Sam is the kind of guy that would be great to meet at an airport bar on a long layover, time would fly by, pints would be had and the start of a new Lemons team would be made
After surfing r/whatisthiscar for weeks now I can confidently say that it’s a Fiero Body kit. Thank you for your time 🙏🏻
I was worried it was gonna be a Pontiac Fiero 355 replica with the 2.5 Iron duke 4 cyl making a whole heap of 89 hp
V6 version is better. Just a little.😂
The only Ferrari within a hundred miles of where I live is a 308 with a Pontiac engine.
I worked for Pohanka Acura/Chevorlet in Chantilly VA back in 2003 and sometimes this Metallic Purple Diablo VT replica would come in for repairs since it was a Fiero. The first day that came rolling in on a flatbed I was standing outside flirting with a mechanic and I saw it. He immediately saw my eyes widen and stopped me from running over to the replica and said, "that's really a Fiero. Don't get excited Roxy" because I would buy any unusual dead car and fix it so he knew that even though I'd find out it isn't a real lambo right away I'd still want it Lol
I wanna turn my 1989 Merkur Xr4ti into an Cosworth Ford RS500 replica
Taste
@@RoxanneBarbelo The XR4TI is a rarity as well. Both had cool racing pedigree, so, I dont think you can go wrong with either build! Hope to see what you do with it!
@@RoxanneBarbelo my boss had a red over black xr4ti in 1989....I loved driving it so much!!!
It was in Lynchburg, Va
9 inch wheel spacers? Wow! That's so dangerous
yo mom wouldnt think much of it, 9 inches that is...
I've got a Murcielago body I'm trying to weld a rock crawler frame for. Like a Mad Max villain's supercar.
Not sure if I should use my 454 big block, or get a cheap V-12. Either way there will be a big blower rising out the back.
I remember back in the day I was seeing a Chrysler Sebring going around converted to a Bentley continental gt it was pretty cool .
A low vin number MR2 has no more value than 100,000+ vin has. What are you even talking about?
Sam makes Tyler Hoover look almost normal!!! Only Sam is funnier, more extreme and about as practical as a Corolla Power Shelby 500KR!!! The Rudyard Kipling of worst car decisions ever!!! Sam is the BEST!!! LoL
I’ve always wanted to own a replica of Speed Racer’s Mach 5.
There’s a guy here in the states that converts C4 corvettes for around 100k. Still saving…
Mach 5, hope it comes to fruition. Fan.
I once had a pretty decent Fauxrrari replica. Of course it was a Fiero, but it was stretched to the right proportions and had some actual Ferrari bits on it. The fuel filler was moved to the correct position. It looked pretty good. Sure, if you really knew the 328, you'd quickly know it wasn't legit... especially if you looked at the interior LOL. The interior was Pontiac to the T. Fun times. V8 Archie helped me put a 350 short block in it.
Pictures, Videos?
Ferris bueller ferrari, the ultimate kit car anyone would be proud to drive
To be fair you don't need to do a reg check to spot a MR2 355 rep. You just need eyes that are not covered in marmalade.
Hahahahhahahaaa
My grail car was the faux Ferrari GTO bodied Rhino GT, that fit perfectly onto a Datsun 240 frame. While searching for a salvaged Ferrari motor, I learned that they went out of business. I even had the perfect plate: PROVA1.
Sorry bro, you loss me when I saw the 56 Cadillac behind the Lambo. Sweet!
Putting an MR2 engine in a supercar body? Sounds like the next level of Lotus Elise!
As a Toyota mr2 owner of a 1st and 2nd gen, I don’t hate this but it’s not something I can appreciate. It’s a little different here in the US/Canada. 2nd gen production only went from 91-95 and somewhere around 17,000 were produced. As you can imagine about half of those cars were automatics. Point being, they are starting to be appreciated for their rarity and doing this just puts another hack job on the road that very few people actually care about. It took me 3 years of ownership to see another driving on the road before our local Facebook group was started. I’d be surprised if there are more than a couple thousand 2nd gens left.
Someone needs to do this the opposite way around to fuck with people, build a mr2 rep out of a ferrari 🤞🤣
😅😅
What about the (arguably) the original kit cars like Bradley gt, coyote ?
I insured my 1.1 Fiesta and drove around in my Orion Ghia 😂
Happy Days
putting reliable engineering into unreliable brand shell is always awesome, imagine a bmw or masterati that never dies even with minimal maintenance
There's a 350z turned into a buggati veyron put there somewhere
I done that NFU insurance too, i insured a 205 but i drove a prelude.
The cars you discussed in the video remind me of the '94 Ford Probe GT I had with a 24 valve DOHC engine, hi-flow intake, headers, and lowered.
I called it "My Go-Cart for Grownups"! The only thing missing was RWD!
I heard the phrase, "Marc - You're scarin' the sh!t outta me!" a couple of times! LMAO!
Ed's Voice Is So Good... That I Don't Mind Hearing Him Talking About VinWiki Sponsors...
He Makes Commercials Interesting.
Love my MR2 Turbo, wish this didn't happen to such an incredible machine, wish more parts were available for these
You want a sick looking car to track down and buy go look for the Nissan skyline 350gt(infiniti g35) in Japan thats got a q60 front end and r35 rear end.... thats a car ill never get over tbh
Just reading the title I knew it was Sam 😂🤣😂…. The British Hoovie himself lol
Thanks matey
For Sam's next replica: Pick up some $1 store bling and make a Pagani.
You can run a fiero transmission with a 5.3 front wheel drive V8 and that would make a cool swap into the Ferrari on a limited budget
I own a 86 MR2. I have loved them since I was a kid in Belfast. Currently she has a warped head on the motor.
There used to be a replica Ferrari F40 and a 250 GTO on carsales in Australia from the same seller. They were on there for 15 years or more. They were hilariously bad, the 250 looked like the dash was made out of a kitchen cabinet, unfortunately they aren't up for sale anymore. No one bought them, I'm sure they are still in the same backyard somewhere in Australia.
There's a Rolls Phantom kit that goes onto a Lincoln Town Car that looks passable at night
As someone who's owned both a Fiero and a Ferrari 360, I've never considered swapping the engines until now 😂
The dude that bought that 26k hellcat and got scammed could've used Caramel the service lol, feel horrible for him.
You are correct sir. The Extreme kit is the most sought after 355 kit (given that is the kit you have it's hard to tell in the videos) I have one. The only thing you're missing is the Speedline f355 wheels. Which I have. I deleted my hood lathes because it's a 10 thousand point check list to open your hood "probably". Use the aero catch hood latch pins. The 4 cyl turbo that is in that car needs ripped out. Along with the radiator and all suspension. With a 2gr Toyota motor, new tig welded radiator and BC coilovers. I may upgrade the brakes as well.
Mexico actually produces new Volkswagen Beatles on the 69 platform. Newly built cars with old body.
There are 2 Holy Grail Fauxraris for me, and both have sold over the past couple years. The first is the Ferris Bueller 250 California Spyder, which sold for $390k in 2020 (the non-driving version used in the crash scene sold for $370k in 2022) and absolute King is the Miami Vice C3 Corvette based Daytona Spyder, one of which is I believe at the Volo Auto Museum NW of Chicago.
Great story, great energy for the love of replicas. Keep up the great videos/stories!
A 3SGTE engine in a Ferrari 360 makes sense, those engines were good for 500hp in Celica Rally cars and Japanese JGTC Supra racing even the 1996 Le Man's Supra !!
(Yes, they put a 4cyl in a racing Supra in Japan. The 3SGTE design is simply a 4cyl version of the 2JZGTE engine. Same bore & stroke,)
There is a company in the UK who take a old porsche boxter and turn it into a new 911 😂
Link?
You need a Fiero Mera. I think they are ugly AF but the Fiero guys all seem to love them!
This guy will literally make up any excuse in his mind to buy something hahah love it
I really have to agree that a car that looks, say, 95% like a Ferrari F40, and has a reliable, spritely Japanese V6, perhaps turbo motor, with a nice smooth 5 speed, I could be an incredibly happy chap driving one of those around. Until Ferrari kidnapped me and cut it up in front of me and forced me to eat the asbestos fibreglass body.
What about that eastern European McLaren Mercedes SLR which is based on an old SL. I don't think that guy's gonna sell though.
Mr.Hard should connect with chad/CB media and explore Thailand.....CB media visiting the VinWiki chair might be cool as well?!?
He needs to find a jaxsport Streetster! Harley Davidson powered 3/4 scale roadster!
Cool free five five
I’m wondering if he’d ever own an original Pontiac fiero mera
Looks at 93 Mr2 with gen3 motor in my garage….. looks back, y’all finally know what this car is.
Holy fucking shit. Another gd super car video. That makes 10 of the last 15 videos about stuff that normal people cant buy.
there is a McLaren F1 LM based on a Porsche Boxster in the Uk...just saying :D
Really? Need to find some pictures of that
I know the ultimate kit car for you. Evoluzione II body kit from about 20 years ago.
Ferrari (inspired) meets third gen Camaro.
Here in America you can buy SR-22 insurance for your license and drive anything.
This guy has enough passion to make the Geo Metro have a cult following.
Thanks matey
@@Hardupgarage Thanks for responding man! I’m nowhere near as innovative as you and your shop but a few years ago I acquired my personal dream car; an 01 Subaru 2.5RS 2 door and since have been building my ideal 2 door STi. So far all I’ve done is an EJ257 and 6 speed swap, STi Brembo brakes, Cusco coilovers, STi seats and a JDM STi cluster but it’s channels like yours that remind me that it’s my build and it doesn’t matter what anyone else would do or how they would do it. It’s not their car!
@@josephfranzen9196 true that what ever you do just do you buddy x
They DO have a cult following, or at least they did a couple of decades ago. A 3-cylinder manual-transmission first-generation Geo Metro is pretty much the category-killer for gas mileage (at least for cars available in the U.S. in the early 2000s), and there are people that care about that and try to push things as far to the extreme as they can.
I live vicariously through Sam Hard. Welcome back Sam. Don't be a stranger
Thanks matey
Lmao a MR2/Fiero engine in a Ferrari. That's legit hilarious idea that is 100% in line with Sam.
They have a kit to make your Rav -4 look like Lamborghini Euruss now.
In bend Oregon there is a pretty insane Bentley Continental Convertible replica on a Chrysler Sebring
Sad thing is, the MR2 is a better car then the 355 and worth more in most markets. It's damned sure better then a garbage replica. Sad seeing an MR2 go out like that
Anyone know where to buy full body kits
I challenge you to... DARE you rather to find a Pantera replica... The throaty big cam motor exhaust sound could definitely be replicated with a junkyard 5.3 truck motor or even better a true LS. The wheels dash trim etc etc. is gonna be a pickle to find.
I could see the car trex going over to make a fake super car episode
Go to Japan and buy an old drift car
What became of the Honda Veyron Tavarish had? 😂
That’s a new for me Feryota MR355!
Mr2 sounds great with the camry v6 and there's a kit available. But 9in spacers 😬🥶🥵🤯
you want the mount everest? how about a fake that was on a hit TV show!!! The fake Ferrari Daytona from Miami Vice
This guy should buy the 1930s Bugatti replica Samcrac found at copart.
You know its made in china if sam hard owns it
This guy is 100% correct. The Extreme is rare. I have one
What about a Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona Spyder on a C3 chassis and a LS motor at 700 hp?
What if you took the motor and trans out of a crashed C8 Corvette and put it in the Ferrari 360
Fake supercars are better you can modify them to your preference and the real one suck anyway I'd rather have a muscle car great story but👍
My ex-girlfriend's father had a Lamborghini countach replica in white with a Cadillac V8 in the back.
This is like how I really want a fiero with the F40 body kit on it
I have one for sale, it needs an engine swap or rebuild. Asking $13,000.
I watch this guy just for his accent. His stories are cool too!
Thanks matey
@@Hardupgarage hey Sam, Indica or Sativa?
i always wanted to get a fake countach, and rebadge it as the "poontach".
My first car was a twin scroll Mr2 turbo as well ❤
I would totally drive that replica 355. How much fun would that be??
Great video. Sam you are one of a kind.
Oh. Interesting way to spell "a piece of work".
Sam you need a Miami Vice McBurnie Spyder, Ferrari Daytona replica. I think those are the holy grail of replicas.
The next car engine you should put in whatever you buy should be a supra motor 2 jz if you will. At least get some power in them
Sam, have you got a Countach replica yet? Have seen some BLURSED ones here in the US.
holy grale....wrong stearingwheel😂😂😂
Am I a bad car guy for not caring AT ALL about vin numbers? I don't care if a car is the first or last off the line.
volkswagen bonito is one of the cars they made a lot of kittcars on
the doors seem a little short
Love this guys stories