We blame the Ferrari F430. It gave its engine (minus 100hp or so), but this owner desired even more. This owner wanted its paint, its rear valence and its leather. And here we are, left on our own to sort out the result.

The Ferrari leather, as the seller puts it, is likely Poltrona Frau leather - good stuff, if you keep it out of direct sunlight. It's actually done pretty tastefully, and if you look closely, you can see that GranSport seats were used as seat donors for a nice upgrade. The paint is fine, but the body kit is bad. Real bad. Good thing it's totally reversible.

Year: 2002
Model:  Maserati
Engine: 4.2L V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  46,479
Price: $44,995
Location: Barrington, IL

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2002 Maserati Spyder GT

Very rare six speed manual. This is a Roadster Salon Lusso model, complete custom. Pet project of owner. Car features a brand new $15,000 full Ferrari leather interior, custom made body kit, engine and transmission refresh, warranty and other special one of a kind upgrades. Visually superior to Maserati Gran Sport, with advantage of more reliable true manual transmission. Ferrari Mondial engine. Tremendous performance and sound, touring ride quality at a fraction of the price of a comparable Ferrari California. Tremendous value. Will take an aggressive offer to pry this from our owners hands. Truly one of a kind, fast and unique. Looks $200k driving down highway. Cosmetics Car has been stored since completion, so no visible cosmetic flaws. Fresh Mondial red paint, brand new Ferrari leather interior with custom Ferrari seats with Maserati embossed logo. Used actual Ferrari material. Very expensively done. Body kit from Italy custom fabricated for this application. Exceptional work, and very handsome. Almost everything appears new. Mechanical and driving experience All service up to date. Car comes with warranty. Considering the similarity to the Ferrari California (with addition of true manual gear box and unique cosmetics), this car may be the ultimate bargain in the bling for the dollar category. The driving experience, acceleration, sound and overall feel is $200K all day. Fast, fun and one of a kind. You won't see another headed down Rodeo Drive. For the right customer, this car is a home run.

Why the seller describes the engine as a Ferrari Mondial engine is beyond us. Had the V8 been based on the Ferrari 360 V8, that would be somewhat true, but the F136 engine is based on the Ferrari F430 unit. We keep seeing the $200k figure thrown around in the listing, and we aren't sure what to make of the idea of describing a $20k car that listed as a $100k car as a $200k car. Must be the Italian body kit.

In all seriousness, we love the Maserati Spyder, especially in manual form like this example. Subtract $20k from the price (the seller should pay you for tolerating that body kit) and it's a pretty appealing car.

-Graham

As we've discussed in previous posts, the Scorpion began as a Pininfarina's proposal to Fiat as a Fiat 124 successor. Bertone ultimately won the business, resulting in the Fiat X1/9. But, Pininfarina continued to develop its mid-engine concept, and went on to manufacture the car as an addition to Lancia's Beta model range.

Like so many powerful concepts, the Scorpion lost its planned 3L V6 in the transition from show car to production car. And naturally, some who bought the production version longed for the lofty power figures of the concept car. This example improves substantially on the 118 smog-strangled horsepower of the US-market 1800cc engine, first with an upgrade to a 2.0L unit from a European model (or a US 124 Spider), and then with a turbocharger kit.

Year: 1977
Model:  Lancia Scorpion
Engine: 2.0L twin cam turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  52,540mi
Price: Auction
Location: Milwaukee, WI

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1977 Lancia Scorpion

Excellent original  Scorpion with 160 to 180 hp fuel injected, intercooled Lancia engine. All  mechanical sytems rebuilt: brakes, front and rear suspension, trans and clutch. Upgraded A/C with rotary compressor. Upgraded Pioneer Stereo/CD player and new speakers. Body stripped and repainted to correct original spider-webbing.of paint. Near mint original interior with original floor mats. Upgraded 15 inch wheels with new Yokohama tires. A spectacular looking and driving Lancia, the way it should have been.This car was featured in Car & Driver magazine in 1984 with a turbo charger of that era added to the original 1800cc engine to show what the performance should have been.
Call for more info. (414) 350-3199

The result of the turbocharging exercise is an estimated 160-180hp, which should faithfully replicate the 180 or so horsepower that one might expect from a 3.0L V6 from around 1977. As much as we love the Busso V6 from Alfa Romeo, we can't help but admire the relative ease with which one can add a turbocharger to this platform. No custom axles, no custom shift cables, no custom engine mounts - just a plump turbo and some plumbing and the power is ready.

One might argue that a car in such nice condition deserves to be kept a time capsule, and we're inclined to agree with such thinking ourselves. But, the spirit of the car is corrected with the turbocharger, as Pininfarina certainly did not design the car with US emissions laws in mind. The buyer of this car might end up spending quite a bit more than typical market price of a similar Scorpion, but doesn't that reflect the desirability of hot-rodded Scorpion?

I can think of few cheaper methods of obtaining something resembling the 1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Bertone Carabo concept by Marcello Gandini. Short of buying the show car, you could always go for an early Lamborghini Countach, which inherited the scissor doors and wedge shape of the concept. Faithful to the original, but not economical, the Countach.

Or, you could go the fiberglass route. Supposedly produced in a 400-unit run, the Aztec 7 by Fiberfab is executed quite well as far as kit cars go. A turbocharged VW 1600 engine and VW transaxle send power to the rear wheels, and if we had to guess, probably do a decent job of matching the acceleration of the 230hp V8 from the Carabo concept.

Year: 1979
Model:  Fiberfab Aztec 7
Engine: 1600cc turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  14,084mi
Price: $13,300
Location: Long Beach, CA

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1968 Fiber Fab Aztec 7

1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo inspired 70’s wedge! Hand built. A very loved and well cared for endangered species. Fiber Fab originally produced these rear engine cars called the Aztec 7. There were 400 produced. Possibly as few as 150 are left out there today. This car specifically has had a good life, finished in 1979 it still carries its original interior, wheels and drive train powered by a turbo charged 1600. Original photos of the car from 79’ when the car was completed are still with the car today. It’s been fun getting to know the history of this car and digging through the factory build manual and reading all the notes the he made as he was building the car. The last owner of the car gave it a nice refresh from paint to mechanicals in 2013. It’s recently had a transmission rebuild, new clutch and battery installed. The car starts right up, all electrical and headlights work as they should. Brakes and tires are fresh and the car handles well. All VDO gauges work well and are original to the car. Clean title and tags good till june of 2020, the car is turn key and ready to drive. The chassis below is showing only light surface rust in some spots, the rest of the body is fiberglass. Being all original (besides new paint and steering wheel) from 79’ she isn’t perfect but a lot of fun to drive. Climbing into a gull-wing wedge produces smiles for anyone involved. This would be a great car to show at Radwood LA in December. If you have questions about the car, I’ll do my best to answer them. I’m also happy to arrange a time for you to come see the Carabo in Long Beach, California.


The last owner hand wrote a letter that is still with the car, this is what it said:


This is Fiber Fab Aztec 7 tribute to the prototype by Alfa Romeo Bertone Carabo. It has been my baby since May of 2013. TLC has been lavished upon her by way of proper badging, front, back and sides, as well as shift knob and Luisi steering wheel. If it needed it, it was repaired or replaced. Featured in Kit Car Magazine January 1983, this is a lowered 1971 VW chassis with a BAE Ray Jay turbo charged 1600cc flat four motor the previous owner said he put $5,000 into. Registered in CA as a 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo Replica with a coveted referee's sequence of number certificate, (means NO smogging) Gull Wing doors, Lamborghini Miura windshield, battery shut off switch, air height adjustable rear shocks, MSD electronic ignition, single side draft Weber fully adjustable racing carburetor with tuning manual, manual choke, Western Turbine wheels, new tires, Italian Vitaloni racing mirrors, ceiling console toggle switches, new radio. Original assembly manual included. Not perfect but very impressive. Growls and turns heads. Great wow factor. Currently insured and driven. Title in hand and in my name. I am going to miss this car. 

VW running gear means that running costs should be quite manageable, and finding mechanical parts shouldn't prove to be an issue either. The condition of this example seems to be close to excellent, which makes sense in light of the low mileage.

We're not sure if this car makes more sense for the Alfa fan or the VW fan. I'm not so sure that the typical Alfisto has a garage stocked with air-cooled VW tools and supplies, nor do I think that the typical VW fan has a burning desire for a classic Bertone-inspired fiberglass car. In any case, the car looks to be an affordable entry into some serious Bertone design.

-Graham