GTO Engineering California Spyder - On what PLANET does this make sense?!?

From the ad:

• Expertly hand-formed California Spider aluminum coachwork married to an authentic Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 chassis“

 

This is what I don't like. A real Ferrari gets chopped up to build this replica.

 

One way to look at it is a good Bugatti Type 35 is valued around $2-3 M, and you can get a best-of-the-best Pursang creation of same for roughly 10-15% of that. California Spyders are what, $15-18 million-ish these days? So if you can get an arguably best-of-the-best recreation for 15-20% of that, I don't think it's too far out of the ballpark, relatively speaking. So in that way, I can sort-of see how it could make sense, to the right buyer.

What doesn't make sense to me, is that with a car like a real California Spyder, that $15-18 M doesn't just buy the specific experience of that car. No car is worth that for the driving experience alone IMO. A huge element baked into that price is the pedigree of what the car is and represents: a genuine, rare and desirable Ferrari of the period; it's an icon, in effect a historical artifact, not just a car. You don't get any of that for $2.5-3.5 M, so it doesn't make sense to me when seen that way (which is how I see it).

I agree with you, if I had $2.5-3.5 M in the Ferrari kitty, a recreation, no matter how good, is not what I would choose to spend it on.

Somewhere there's a video review of a GTO Engineering SWB I saw awhile back, and it seemed pretty fantastic - made all the right sounds, and the experience appeared as genuine as you can get without ponying up for the real thing. But for the money, that's a lot to spend when all you get is sizzle with no real steak, so to speak.

 

This ally version sold in the $100.000 range, based on a BMW Z4. I know the creators quite well.

https://www.motovillage.co.za/shop/product/2000-bmw-z250-vetroresina-evocation/

 

I think the issue is that GTO engineering said they aren't making anymore?

I agree it's wildly expensive and doubt it will sell. You can pick up a pfcab s1 for 6m and it's as pretty as a cal spider.

 

I thought that GTO Engineering was sanctioned by Ferrari for these replicas? somewhere I remember reading that GTO makes parts for Ferrari Classiche - Enzo era - up to the 70's cars that need new parts? Maybe Ferrari is doing all that in house now? I've seen a 250 SWB by GTO Engineering - and its virtually identical to the real thing... the one I was in had AC, but it was very stealthily done. sounded great - with a 250 GTE engine that was massaged to SEFAC specs.

 

these repros by GTO are very very good cars. it is essentially the complete opposite of a 'piece of junk'
they cost about $1 mil and more than a year to build.
they are perfect, and they work.
to my mind, they are worth about 10-15% of the real thing - and in this case this car is probably worth about 1-1.5 mil.
it might be worth twice that to a guy with money who does not want to wait, and does not want to baby the real thing and worry about dealing with a $10-15 million car - which is a whole different prospect.

be happy that everyone has a choice of what they want to spend their money on...

 

we shall see.....

i think when you get wealthy people, who cannot, or do not want to, deal with an original for all sorts of reasons, then this is the fastest way to get what they want and have it work.

 

There is a Superformance dealer near me. I was there for an open garage lunch last year and was listening to one of their guys talk about the GT40 cars they offer. His pitch was these were built to original spec, with minimal and only required modern equipment. While using as many OEM Ford parts as the originals. This was for both the dreamers as well as original GT40 owners who don't want to worry about thrashing their 7 figure investment, or car with race pedigree. But want to be able to still drive and experience a GT40 in the road.... Be it still a 250-400k purchase.

So I'm all for the reproductions, everyone has their reasons. It's not necessarily about pretending to be something it's not

 

High bid of $2.3m

 

Yeah like travel jewelry- wear the fake one while the real one is back home in the safe…


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Mr. Chandelier must have a warehouse full of cars!

 

Newman's Rolex is a real Rolex; not a "replica", "reproduction", "revival", "tribute" or any other inventive way to avoid using the correct word.... FAKE.

 

True..... but it will always be a fake. Granted, a beautifully and wonderfully made fake.

 

What do we think was the last real bid then?

 

Not only that, but it is arguably one of the most influential watches in the world. Cant be compared to a well-made replica car that has no real meaning other than itself.

 

Real replicas have become so widespread in the high end markets where the reproductions are so true to the original that experts can’t distinguish them. Cartier will not appraise the value or authenticity of any of its high end jewelry without the card or certificate which came with the piece but also the original bill of sale is required as their jewelers cannot differentiate the replica from the original.
At what point does it no longer make a difference?


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Pretty certain the second option has happened. This replica based on a BMW was filmed and photographed at Richard Workman's house in Windermere, FL and alongside a real. It could be a friend of his and he's allowing photos/videos on his property, but if I had to bet it was his.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/dna-2fifty-cal/

 

The seller manages the Rare Wheels Collection.

 

and the real deal sold for $17 mil.... so this one chandeliered for 13.5% of the real one....much like i said at the start.....

 

Already exists as a sub-forum under Vintage, not just a sticky thread.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forums/recreations-non-period-rebodies.235/