Is This Fake Ferrari California The World's Worst Replica Car?

Ferrari California Replica - Image from eBay

Replicas are big business.

For a comparatively tiny outlay on a donor chassis, powertrain and fibreglass body you can own a car that looks almost indistinguishable from an incredibly expensive or rare hero car of old. Ford RS200? No bother. Ferrari 355? Easy. AC Cobra? Nine out of ten Cobras on the road are replicas.

But that doesn't mean that every replica is good - or even a good idea - as this "Ferrari" shows.

Ferrari California Replica - Image from eBay

Let's be charitable and start with the good.

Like the real California, this sports a 4.3-litre V8. It's mated to an automatic gearbox too, driving the rear wheels, like the real car. Also like the real car it has a powered folding hardtop. And the man responsible for this 'creation' has at least seen some pictures of a Ferrari California at some point of his life.

Ferrari California Replica - Image from eBay

It's just a pity he didn't actually refer to the pictures when coming up with it. The car underneath? A ten year old Lexus SC430, oft-derided as one of the worst cars of all time, and certainly one of the most dismal sports cars of all time, with the handling precision of a badly thrown discus.

That means the 4.3 V8 underneath provides a lazily useless 290hp to the two ton sloth and propels it to 60mph in twice the time the real California takes; ending any confusion between the cars even to those not blessed with the gift of sight.

Ferrari California Replica - Image from eBay

Should you want this automotive homage to Jar-Jar Binks, you'll need to part with thirty-four thousand pounds according to the eBay listing. No, I didn't put in any extra zeroes and yes, that's £34k for a car where the front plate is held on with cable ties.

Is this the worst replica car in history? Well, it's certainly one of the most delusional...