ever hear "is that a kit car?"

This is something i've wondered about for years and hopefully not insulting to ask... it's probably less common in areas like California or Hawaii where people expect to see an exotic, probably more common if you show up in a blue collar location for whatever reason, but back in the 90's there was the perfusion of Fiero-Ferraris and Lamborghinis and all the rest before the trademark restrictions started cutting back on that. One time I saw a Lamborghini Countach that i'm positive was actually authentic, but others in the car I was riding with said "oh that's probably a kit car".

I for one would be crestfallen if I had a real, honest Ferrari that i'd worked and struggled to obtain, and it failed to universally impress all who saw it, including maybe lower class people or relatives from my past who to be honest (yeah it's a little petty) i'd like to show up at some future date when I see them at future reunions.

Social status is one of the reasons i'd like to obtain one, to make a hell of an impression while pursuing some marketing consulting opportunities. Ie - show success, attract success. If i'm going to someone's construction business where the owner is well off but the workers aren't and they suggest it's "fake" because they read kit-car magazines in high school and think they know, it might ruin a chance for business actually. So i'm curious whether there's any risk of this or if I should stick to social status cars that have never been knocked off. (like a Rolls Royce, or high end Mercedes/BMW)

 

The kind of person who can live with a Ferrari for a long time, does not care what others think or say about their car, especially when out of ear-shot.

 

I would take great pleasure in politely saying no (Non-owner.)

 

I've been asked a few times - I always am more than happy to let the person look at
the engine, and sit inside if they want - I don't think the "kit car" question is anything
other than they just aren't sure what they're looking at, having never seen any
Ferrari up close before, and just want to learn more about the car. I'm very happy to share.

Jedi

 

If you're looking for social status join a country club. Most will cost less than a Ferrari and it would mean one less poser with a Ferrari.

 

My .02 c worth, buy it to drive it. Thats what Ferraris are for. You'd be buying for the wrong reasons.

 

Agree. I appreciate your honesty, but the reason you want one is to impress others? Take them all on a vacation to Hawaii or the Swiss Alps, that will impress them. Leave Ferrari ownership to those who love the marque because of everything behind it, not what is does for your appearance to others.

 

I've heard that many,many times-- about a 427 Cobra that I built. And I was always proud to say "Yes!".

 

I'm the polar opposite. I like to play it down. I was considering getting a custom plate that says "ITSAKIT". I didn't buy it to impress any one else, I bought it to impress myself with the way it drives, handles, and sounds. I couldn't care less what people think of me. I also always dress down when I am about to buy a big ticket item. I just get a kick out of screwing around with the salesman that "qualify" me as a buyer when I walk through the door. I had fun with a Porsche salesman when I bought my porsche. I went in making sure that I didn't look like I could afford one. It was great, everyone in there was blowing me off. Then I guess who ever had their rotation up reluctantly approached. He was very respectful and nice, but the look on his face was priceless (he had that face that says "this sucks"). He gave me his card after I explained to him what I was looking for. Then he said, "when you are ready give me a call" and tried to walk away. I then looked at him with an intentionally confused face and said "I'm ready". The change on his face was priceless, I wish I had video. I know I'm weird, but I just get a kick out of that. I tend to laugh at people that try to hard to flaunt their money. There is nothing wrong with being proud of success, but to "elevate" yourself by using money you want people to think you have (some have it, some don't), that is definitely not my style. I'm not saying either way is right or wrong, it's just two different approaches.
Depending where you are, it is very easy to have negative consequenses by flaunting it. People get very strange when money is in the equation. It obviously was a tough battle for me to buy this car because of the "image", but I can't help it, I love cars too much. I do have to admit, now that I own it, there is a lot less negative attention than I thought there would be. Most people are really cool and seem to genuinely excited to see the car, they don't seem to have any negativity when I talk to them. That was a very pleasant surprise!
But please, buy the car for yourself. Don't buy it for anyone else. Other people really don't care, the girls don't care, nobody else really cares. If anyone gets the feeling that you think you are "showing off", it doesn't really help anyone. Especially in this economy. I don't think your neighbor who just lost his job in this bad economy, and is about to lose his house, is too impressed by your Ferrari. Food for thought...

 

My guess would be that people can't believe that they are in the presence of a ferrari and just assume its a kit car because they think Ferraris are exclusive and impossible to obtain. We know that's not true. There are plenty of ferraris out there to satisfy whatever budget ($30k-30mil)

Buy the car to enjoy it and drive it. That's what they were made for

 

Back in the late 90's, a number of times when I parked, I could over hear people saying my 355 was a kit car and not a real Ferrari. This was after I left the car and was inside a restaurant or store. One expert even said, and I quote, " you can tell its a fake cause the rear end cover say's Ferrari on it"!! So funny, all 355's have Ferrari embossed on the rear clutch cover!

 

I've been asked. I answered "yes". In other words, I don't care. 16 years of ownership BTW.

Dave

 

I get that question all the time about my Spyker.

 

Same here, my Factory Five Cobra I built always gets that line... Doesn't bother me, it looks great and goes like stink! Never heard it with the Fcar yet.

 

I've never had that question with the Mondial. Many people aren't familiar with the body style so maybe they figure it must be a Ferrari. Really, most people like the car and ask what it is. I tend to spend time in very rural areas. Some people have never heard of a Ferrari. I've had people say "nice Porsche". Doesn't bother me at all. I only own the car for the way it makes me feel when i'm behind the wheel. I also like seeing it in the garage when I'm all by myself. My friends have gotten a kick out of driving it.

 

This.

 

I can't really blame them for asking about the Spyker. Not too many people know what a Spyker is even around where I'm from. There are many expensive cars here on Long Island, but a Spyker is still exclusive....I think they are awesome!

 

a guy a few weeks ago asked me if my '79 Boxer was a kit car. I said, nope, it's the real thing. He said "cool man"

 

I like the way you think. Enough said.

 

I agree. At work someone asked me if I got my 'Corvette?' I just said "yes." My collegue who overheard the conversation said "I thought you were getting a Ferrari." I said I did but since most people don't know the difference I'm OK with them thinking it's a vette.

 

Napolis has a great story about a kit car with his J6. With his permission, I borrowed it for the last scene in a book I have written.

I'll let him tell his story, if he wants. If not, in a couple of days, I will share my few paragraphs.

 

I've told this story on here a number of times, but I picked up my Ferrari from the dealership and on my way HOME the FIRST question I was ever asked as a new owner was "Is that a Fiero?" Yeah, that was a bit of a let-down....

I do get asked the question frequently but am always happy to answer "no, its real." It is largely as stated above because people see Ferraris so infrequently. They really dont know until its pointed out to them that yes, its a real Ferrari.




PDG

 

There's a thread buried deep in this forum; a member enters his genuine 328 to a kit car show in Southern California, leaves for a while, comes back to his car and can overhear people commenting how if this/that was done to the car it would make it more authentic.

conclusion: People with kit car on the brain can't tell the difference if the genuine article is in front of them.

 

During my time working at a South Florida
exotic car dealership, this was a very common
question.

Tourists, mainly, would come in the showroom
which was packed with Ferraris, Lamborghinis,
Maseratis, Rolls Royces, Excalibur SSKs, etc. and
say "They're not real are they?".

Others would come in asking if the place was a
museum and if there was an admission charge.
If I'd been thinking, I could have made a killing
selling "tickets" to unsuspecting tourists.

The best was a guy who on looking at the chrome
exhausts on an Excalibur SSK and stated very matter
of factly "That exhaust dosent work, it's just ornamental".

My reply was, "Tell you what, I'll start it up, let it
run for ten minutes then you touch that exhaust and
you tell me how 'ornamental' it is!"

BHW

 

I got asked that regularly.

My Dino was always in question.

On the other hand, at one car show, I had a young guy RUN all the way across the parking lot, stop short and exclaim, "That's a REAL Dino, not a kit car?" When I told him yes, he spent a half hour with me, going over it from nose to tail, asked a million questions. He had never seen one in the flesh and was captivated. I had a blast talking to him.

I've had it called a corvette, a mustang, a kit car, and countless other things. Never bothered me, and if the person was really curious, I'd take a couple minutes and explain the car.

It was always part of the fun for me because at car shows, sometimes even Ferrari shows, as it was often the only 246GT there, and got a lot of attention.

I didn't buy it so that people would go "OOOOH, a Ferrari." I bought it because it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen, and I had wanted one for 30 years.

D