What on earth is this? (possible 348-based special)

The image below was sent in to Wheels magazine in Australia years ago by a reader (though unfortunately an office move means the letter with the name of the sender was lost). Nevertheless, it was sent to me on Twitter recently by the mag's deputy editor, and he has given me permission to post it here.

It was - so the original letter said - taken near the Ferrari factory in or around 1986 (given what engine seems to be in the car, I don't think that can be right).

I now know from the very helpful Mr Sheehan that the location is Toni Auto in Maranello.

The exact identity of the car remains a mystery to me. Clearly, it's got 348 cues. However, those lights are not 348-spec. In fact, I think they are BMW E21 items (shout if you think that's wrong).

The rear clutch housing indicates that it's almost certainly a 3.4-litre F119 V8, so that's more evidence of a 348 link.

Has anyone seen this car before? The obvious ideas from people so far are that it was a bespoke creation for Brunei, but to my eyes the detailing doesn't seem refined enough. It looks more like a fairly rough prototype or test car in my view.

In any case, I've never seen this car before. I'm hoping someone on here has!

-Ed

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Well, that was fast. Now solved, thanks to a lucky Google search by Michael Klotz in Indiana.

It's a one-off prototype project build for Toni Auto, based on a 348.

Various bits of information in the following links:

http://www.menudeimotori.com/index.php?itemid=15130&catid=7

http://www.menudeimotori.eu/blog/videogalleries-toni-auto-gt-prototype-design-project-and-building/

http://www.menudeimotori.eu/blog/videogalleries-toni-auto-gt-25th-anniversary-1994-2019/

A few videos among the uploads on this channel showing sketches, CAD designs, build process and finished prototype etc:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_7BkJRKJjj8D8AvB6Qa_bQ/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0

-Ed