Some replica cars are brilliant, offering the style of some of the most coveted cars on the planet for a fraction of the cost. They can also show the skills of their maker, creating cars that on occasion are even better than the original. But for every tasteful Shelby Cobra, Ford GT40, and Porsche 356, there is a poorly made monstrosity that is even worse to drive than it is to look at.
Some replica cars show that just because someone can doesn't necessarily mean they should. A load of fiberglass, an awful starter car, and too much time will result in a rubbish replica that would be rejected by a junkyard.
10 Jaguar Vanquish Convertible
Some enthusiasts note that Ian Callum designed Jaguars and Aston Martins to look alike, but this is taking it to a ridiculous level. This Jaguar XK has been tarted up to look like an Aston Martin Vanquish. Aside from the general fit and finish of this car, the biggest giveaway that this is not a genuine Aston Martin Vanquish is the poorly fitted soft-top.
Aston Martins are always cool, especially the first-generation Vanquish. James Bond even used one in Die Another Day. This 'Vanquish' however looks decidedly uncool with its awkward headlight cluster and poorly spaced real wheels. It looks more like a cheap kit-car than Aston Martin or Jaguar.
9 Mitsubishi Reventón
Believe it or but this car is supposed to look like a Lamborghini Reventón. Based on a Nissan 300ZX, this is supposed to look like an exotic multi-million-dollar supercar. Study this car and you will not be able to see much resemblance of either car, just something that looks like a child's bad drawing of a generic supercar.
The actual car it's based on is an awesome machine. Only 20 (plus one for Lamborghini's museum) were ever made. It featured the iconic Lamborghini v12 engine, bespoke carbon fiber panels, and costs well over $1,000,000 to buy today. Safe to say this replica doesn't cost that much to buy, definitely isn't made of carbon fiber, and certainly doesn't feature a V12 engine.
8 Ferrari SC430
The Ferrari California was never the most attractive car, to begin with, but this replica is downright offensive. With its bloated panels and tiny wheels arches, it not only looks atrocious, but it also doesn't look very accurate.
To top it all off, underneath is one of the worst Japanese cars ever made, the Lexus SC430. This Ferrari SC430 is never going to fool anybody, especially as it will never drive or handle like a true Ferrari.
7 Audi Cougar
The Audi R8 is considered by many enthusiasts to be a future classic. When it was launched back in 2006 it proved that Audi were a capable mid-engined supercar manufacturer. Yet this one isn't an Audi. It is in fact a Ford Cougar made to look like an Audi R8.
This car looks more like an Audi A5 than an R8 with the front-mounted engine not helping the proportions. The nose is too long and the rear too short. There is no fooling anybody that a Lamborghini derived V8 is nestled behind the driver. This car is still running a front-mounted 2.5-liter Ford V6.
6 Maserati 8C Competizione
The Maserati 3200 GT is a fine-looking car, to begin with. So is the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Put them together however and you get something that looks awkward. Whilst a 3200 GT isn't exactly a beater, they are nowhere near as valuable as the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and so someone decided to turn on into an 8C.
Whilst this is a good idea in theory (both cars share the same platform and roughly the same V8 engine), the end product looks weird. The Alfa Romeo Brera wheels suit the car, unlike the elongated nose housing the triangle grille of an Alfa Romeo. Somehow, this person has managed to cheapen the look of a Maserati.
5 VW Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is one of the best looking cars ever made. With sharp styling, it is as desirable today as it was when it was launched in 1974. Yet, believe it or not, this car is not a real Lamborghini. It is in actual fact an old VW Beetle with an imitation body placed on top.
There is a clear attempt to make this car look like a supercar, but it really isn't fooling anyone. Those red wheels and thick tires don't look like factory options, neither does those exhaust pipes. No word on whether the archaic air-cooled VW engine has been replaced with a genuine Lamborghini V12.
4 Suzuki Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron was a genuine landmark car when it arrived in 2005. 1001 bhp from an 8-liter W16 engine and a top speed of 254 mph makes it one of the craziest cars ever produced. This replica can't match these figures sadly, making do with a 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine producing 85bhp.
It's almost cute, looking like a Veyron that shrunk in the washing machine. Based on the aged Maruti Esteem (a rebadged Suzuki Cultus), this Indian creation is never going to convince anybody that it's a million-dollar supercar.
3 Ferrari Fiero
The 2002 Ferrari Enzo is an amazing car. Featuring a 6.0-liter V12 and capable of 221 mph, it is a fitting celebration of 60 years of Ferrari. The Pontiac Fiero is nothing like a Ferrari Enzo, yet someone decided it would be a good idea to make one into an Enzo.
No V12 here, the standard mid-mounted V6 engine with a badly-made V12 engine cover has to do. With appalling bodywork, it doesn't look like an Italian thoroughbred. Plus, the Ferrari Enzo didn't feature Dagmar rear lights.
2 Peugeot F430
Both cars here do share one thing in common. Both the Ferrari F430 and Peugeot 406 coupe had styling by Pininfarina but to try and combine the two doesn't produce a car that works in any way.
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Aside from the poor fit and finish (especially those wheels), this car doesn't make sense as a replica. Part of the appeal of the Ferrari F430 is the mid-engined layout and this particular car isn't. This means that the cars require a weirdly lifted front nose to hide the engine, making it look even more visually jarring.
1 Pontiac Carrera GT
Since its inception in 1931, Porsche has produced some of the best sports cars ever made. This isn't one of those, this is a Pontiac Fiero that someone has tried to make look like a Porsche Carrera GT. One of the finest supercars ever made.
At least the donor car has its engine in the middle. Aside from this, the Porsche Carrera GT replica bears very little resemblance to the real car. The badges are what should get a gearhead really annoyed though. The Carrera GT had a V10, not a V12 and it certainly wasn't an RS model.
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