It Came from eBay Hell: V6 Powered Ferrari Fiero-rossa auf Deustchland zukommt*

Suppose you are a used car buyer in Germany, with €9,990 (US$13,199) to spend on some new wheels. Would you - even in your darkest, most masochistic hour - consider buying this...this thing? Let’s run down the list of why you shouldn’t buy this car:
1. It’s a Pontiac Fiero. Yes, it’s mid-engined and built in the good ol’ U.S.A., but it was built in the good ol’ U.S.A. in the 1980s and has a body made of plastic. That’s like saying, “She’s Latino and has a great body, but she has rotten teeth and herpes.”
2. The owner has made some modifications, including the addition of Ferrari Testarossa-style side strakes and a pair of Lotus Type 47-inspired snorkels that look like they’re made of old drainpipes. Classy.
3. The price is ludicrous. You can pick up an immaculate, first generation Toyota MR2 for half that. And a dozen better cars, to boot.
More worrying than the above though is the V6 modification the owner has carried out and the fact the registration papers have expired. Why? Well, it’s a Fiero. Fiero owners, by their very nature, rarely make their cars “better”. And the expired registration papers imply, to me at least, that the car is no longer roadworthy.
So, dear readers, I leave it up to you. Is this V6-engined Ferrari-wannabe a God or a dog? Your verdict, gentlemen and ladies...
* That’s, “from Germany” for those not as savvy with Google Translate as moi.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay Germany

1985 BMW 557i with Corvette V8 Heart Transplant

Owning a mint condition E28 BMW 5 Series would be a dream come true for most bimmer fans. However, the owner of this Euro-spec 1985 528i was probably not impressed by the stock 2.8-liter powerplant’s 184-ponies, so he performed an engine swap.

If it was up to me and money wasn't an object, I would've probably tried to fit a V12, but the 1999 Chevy LS1 V8 isn’t a bad fit either - that is, if you really feel the need to hear an American V8 burbling under the hood of a vintage German sedan.


The seller of the car claims that the new engine has clocked up only 6,600 miles since the open-hood surgery was performed and that he has invested more than $35,000 in the vehicle over the years.
According to the description, the spiced up Bimmer features a set of 750iL-sourced front and 540i rear brakes, custom headers and exhaust, modified suspension (with Bilstein shock absorbers and H&E springs) and wheels from a 540i.
There are interior appointments as well, such as power sport seats, XM radio and improved soundproofing. Judging by the photos, it’s looks like the car was taken care of. The body looks OK, the engine bay is neat and the seats have just the right amount of wear and tear, which gives the leather character.
Furthermore, the car’s papers seem to be in order, too, so it could make someone very happy in the future. For now the seller’s reserve was not met, as the bidding stopped at $11,400.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: eBay , Via: Jalopnik



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Bodacious Moke for all the Hodaddies* in the Hood

As originally envisioned, the Mini Moke was supposed to be a home-grown Willys Jeep for the British Army. As finally built, the Moke lacked the ground clearance and ruggedness to be of much use to the British army, but made waves as a low cost, easy to maintain beach buggy for the world's surfies.


That's "people who surf and enjoy the beach lifestyle" for those who aren't down with the lingo. It only makes sense then that the Moke, which shared mechanicals with its Mini namesake, would also be popular with customizers.

From that Great Southern Land, Australia, comes this 1979 Mini Moke that has undergone a pretty thorough customization including "Pure Orange" paintwork, white interior, padded grab bars and 17-inch white mag wheels. All up, it's a pretty sweet looking ride, with a Buy It Now price of AU$15,000 (US$14,784) on eBay.

It's the sort of ride any beach bum would be happy to be seen in. Check out the pics and give us your verdict in the comments section below.

* A "hodaddy" is someone who's into cars and doesn't surf but likes the scene. No really, it's on the internet and everything.

By Tristan Hankins

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Brillante Vendetta a Ferrari Testarossa for Yuppies Hit by the Economic Crisis

If there's one manufacturer that every motoring enthusiast adores, it's Ferrari. And from the mid to late '80s, the king of wall poster exotics was the make's epic flat-12 engined Testarossa.

So what does a budding Ferrarista do in the late '80s? Well, you can't buy a Testarossa, as the thing costs US$180,000 or more than the median house price at the time. You could buy a Chevy Corvette for a lot less, though really that's just admitting that you're not as rich or cultured as the guy with the Mercedes-Benz 450 SL.

So why not go for something that's home grown but with an exotic edge? No, not a De Tomaso Longchamp; I'm talking about something that's really home grown. Home built, even. A Brillante Vendetta!

According to the seller, California based Classic International began converting C4 Corvettes into the Testarossa-lookalike "Brillante Vendetta" in the late '80s. The seller bought this particular example new for US$70,000 in 1989 and has owned it ever since. To put that into perspective, a new C4 Corvette would set you back US$32,000 in those days.


With just 15,000 miles on the odometer, all relevant paper work and the promise that it has been regularly serviced, this Italian impersonator comes with a 5.7 L V8, auto tranny, full grain Italian leather interior and inlaid burl wood on the dashboard. Couple that with power everything, climate control, steering wheel mounted controls and even one of those awesome, car phones from the early '90s and you've got yourself...well, something, that's for sure. Finished in Ferrari's trademark red with black soft top and clip on red hard top, a recent insurance appraisal valued the car at an alleged US$35,000.

So what's the verdict?

Well, it looks pretty good for what it is. Yes, Classic International was a little ambitious trying to recreate a Testarossa instead of something simpler like a Mondial and the interior looks a bit more kit car that superstar. And there's the fact that for a few thousand more than the US$21,900 asking price you could pick up an actual, second hand Ferrari or even an immaculate C4 Corvette.

So I leave it to our readers: would you or wouldn't you?

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay


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