Would you want to own this car?

[Pingu]

Yep. Wrong audience. Members of a forum for BMW Zed enthusiasts being asked if they like the idea of destroying a perfectly good Z3 to make a kit car. But away from the forum I'm sure the majority of people in the street would agree your car is a beauty.

I must confess that, even though I'm well into a rebody myself, even I'd struggle with the idea of taking spanners to a perfectly good 3 Litre Z3 to make a ferrari look-a-like.

My excuse, for my car, is that it's a 1.9 nearing the end of its life. Even just replacing a few Z3 parts exceeds the value of the car. But bolting on a pile of GRP panels - which really isn't that far from sticking fibreglass sills on an old zed - just kinda makes sense to get another 20 years out of a car that I've already had for 20 years and grown attached to.

It also justifies the refresh you will have given the "chassis" to keep the car going.

I'm spending about a thousand every winter refreshing the M. I wouldn't be doing it to a Z3 1.9, but I would if it were a Fauxrarri 1.9.

 

[Pingu]

I think I asked the wrong question to the wrong audience TBH.

I think it's the right question, but to the wrong audience.

I think the audience who would give the most positive answer are car lovers who are not car enthusiasts. They are a very portion of the Venn diagram.

Most people who go to car shows would be positive, as most are drivers, not fixers, of cars.

Most of the general public don't even know if their car has a dipstick, but they know what they like - and most will like what they see.

 

[Z Victor 1]

'Wrong audience' . Not just this site, anybody who knows about cars. It looks fantastic so the ordinary man/woman who likes cars would say yes, but anybody more knowledgable will consider the cost, value, practicality etc. Just can't get away from that. These cars are there because someone wanted to build them.Some like this one, are superbly finished replicas. Love to see them, but...

 

[Pond]

'Wrong audience' . Not just this site, anybody who knows about cars. It looks fantastic so the ordinary man/woman who likes cars would say yes, but anybody more knowledgable will consider the cost, value, practicality etc. Just can't get away from that. These cars are there because someone wanted to build them.Some like this one, are superbly finished replicas. Love to see them, but...

They are a very niche market, of course. They are 'fake' and a kind of 'kit car' which many many instantly dislike (I am not a fan of kit cars strangely). Added to that they are not cheap to buy as a built car; probably the most expensive 'kit car' out there. Even more than a really good Cobra replica, which have always been pricey.

There are, however, people who just couldn't build one even if they wanted to but like them and have the money. Just not many.

As I said earlier, a car like mine is not really a car anymore, just an ornament with an MOT (to me at least). To want to own one you really need to love them and have quite deep pockets as they are expensive to buy (not to own though).

The original question was "would you want to own this car", not "do you want to buy it"? They are very different questions IMO.

The reason I asked the question in the first place was to get a more subjective view, as I am completely biased. I adore it because it is so pretty (which is the only reason I wanted to build it in the first place). I have an indoor cover for the car, but keep taking it off as I can't stop looking at it!

 

[Ianmc]

I wouldn't want to own a fake Rolex watch, but some do. Or put M badges on a non M engined BMW, but some do.
So whilst acknowledging the time and money expended, I wouldn't want to own this car. Sorry.

 

[Jam03]

The good thing is that you have a very good replica of a car that is basically unobtainable for most people. Even as a replica, it is rare. I think the fact that Ferrari don’t like them means that the replicas are sometimes not well received, unlike GT40 and Cobras, which I think people just always assume are replicas and generally don’t have a problem appreciating.

 

[Jam03]

I saw this on Instagram recently. It’s a very good replica from the look of it. The cool thing is that it can actually be driven without worrying too much.

 

[AlexGSi2000]

Looks lovely.

I would certainly love to own / drive - however the only thing that doesn't sit with me is the Ferrari badge.
Ferrari fans will know its not real within a few seconds, and those who don't know - don't care. A bit like wearing a fake watch.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I didn't vote because I really don't know. I had to read through the thread to figure out what the deal was with it as didn't really get what it was at first. I'm not a car guru. Now that I realize what it is (a Z3 converted to look like some model of ferrari I've never seen or heard of)....it's not really something I'd pursue. If someone gave it to me, and I had garage space to store it, I guess so, but I'd feel a bit like a poser driving it around. Kinda like guitar players who buy pre-aged guitars to look like they've been playing it for decades when it was just made last year.


It looks cool, but what it's trying to be is kinda lost on me and it's a little too....pretentious for me. I have my Z3 because I think they're cool looking and talked my dad into buying it 25 years ago, but I'm not really a BMW/Mercedes/Ferrari/etc. kinda guy. My other vehicles are a Ford F-150 and a Kia Telluride. Honestly, I'm sometimes kinda embarrassed about the attention I get driving the Z.

 

[Pond]

I didn't vote because I really don't know. I had to read through the thread to figure out what the deal was with it as didn't really get what it was at first. I'm not a car guru. Now that I realize what it is (a Z3 converted to look like some model of ferrari I've never seen or heard of)....it's not really something I'd pursue. If someone gave it to me, and I had garage space to store it, I guess so, but I'd feel a bit like a poser driving it around. Kinda like guitar players who buy pre-aged guitars to look like they've been playing it for decades when it was just made last year.


It looks cool, but what it's trying to be is kinda lost on me and it's a little too....pretentious for me. I have my Z3 because I think they're cool looking and talked my dad into buying it 25 years ago, but I'm not really a BMW/Mercedes/Ferrari/etc. kinda guy. My other vehicles are a Ford F-150 and a Kia Telluride. Honestly, I'm sometimes kinda embarrassed about the attention I get driving the Z.

'Ferris Bueller's day off'. Ever seen it? I am guessing not.

The car is a replica of a Ferrari 250GT California SWB from 1962. Only 57 originals ever made. 56 were left hand drive, as nearly all were sold to the US.
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
Also one of the most value cars on the planet. Mine isn't that valuable TBH.

 

[Pond]

I saw this on Instagram recently. It’s a very good replica from the look of it. The cool thing is that it can actually be driven without worrying too much.View attachment 356325

Sorry but don't like those. In fact I don't like any of the other replicas; only the California.
I have never wanted to 'build' a car. I don't like kit cars and I don't like 'fake' cars. I don't like BMW Z3s either TBH, but that is the car needed as a base.

But I fell in love with the 250GT California. I could never afford to buy, or keep, a real one so this was the only alternative if I wanted to have one.
So after seven years of searching, I found a kit (which I paid way too much for and it wasn't very good) but it was the ONLY choice I had.
I had to build it, as there was no other choice.
I didn't enjoy building it (I'm not a masochist) and I didn't enjoy the amount of money it swallowed. But I did it and the results are everything I wanted.

Not everyone's cup of tea, that's fine. But judging by the amount of positive attention my car receives wherever it goes (or even sat in the garage) many people agree with me.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Definitely looking forward to seeing it at Thoresby @Pond .

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

'Ferris Bueller's day off'. Ever seen it? I am guessing not.

The car is a replica of a Ferrari 250GT California SWB from 1962. Only 57 originals ever made. 56 were left hand drive, as nearly all were sold to the US.
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
Also one of the most value cars on the planet. Mine isn't that valuable TBH.

Actually, I have seen it...a number of times. I guess I didn't recognize it. Sounds like the real deal is easily 7 figures....

 

[Pond]

Definitely looking forward to seeing it at Thoresby @Pond .

I need to book that one. Just out of interest which day are people booking for; Sunday or Monday?
I am going to book some 'public' tickets aswell as exhibitor but the Sunday says they are not available.

 

[Pond]

I guess I didn't recognize it.

None taken!

 

[elevensies]

yes, i love it and would have it 100%

 

[Z Victor 1]

Thoresby, Monday @Pond .