The Conservative Cave
Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: bijou on February 29, 2008, 10:49:22 AM
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Police have discovered a factory in Sicily producing fake Ferraris. Engineers working for the mafia at the small workshop in Campobello di Licata, near Palermo, took second-hand cars and turned them into replicas using photographs as a guide.
Seven cars under construction were impounded, as well as £350,000 worth of machinery, tools and cash. Police also raided addresses in Milan, Rome and Puglia and seized a further 14 cars that were already on the road.
The cars, which were priced at between £15,000 and £35,000, depending on the model, were sold over the internet and in second-hand car showrooms across Italy. Police believe that dozens were being sold each month. The workmen were described as "extremely capable" by Francesco Carofiglio, who headed Operation Red Passion.
However, the fakes were easily spotted because they have a narrower chassis and thinner wheels than a genuine Ferrari. Police said the fakes could also be distinguished by the sound of their engine. Typically the engineers used the Pontiac Fiero,
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/29/wferrari129.xml
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Jalopnik has some pictures of the cars and workshop...
One upping the shenanigans of Unique Performance, a group of fine Italian coach builders has been caught by the police after attempting to forge supercars - badly. Seems these upstanding fellows thought slapping some kit car bodies onto the delightful chassis of GM's famed Fiero was a great idea, then the plan was to pass them off as one of Italy's most famous exports. We're not convinced, we're barely even holding in the laughter. The best is the buff mag on the work bench being used for inspiration. The Wall Street Journal article about this story seems to have only gotten the story partly right (typical).
Fake Ferrari-Forging Fumblers Furnish Fieros For Fiasco. (http://jalopnik.com/361739/italian-supercar-forgers-find-fieros-fantastic)
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However, the fakes were easily spotted because they have a narrower chassis and thinner wheels than a genuine Ferrari. Police said the fakes could also be distinguished by the sound of their engine.
Well, I guess there is that.
Knowing that those models of Ferraris are MID ENGINE cars could be a minor tip-off as well.
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However, the fakes were easily spotted because they have a narrower chassis and thinner wheels than a genuine Ferrari. Police said the fakes could also be distinguished by the sound of their engine.
Well, I guess there is that.
Knowing that those models of Ferraris are MID ENGINE cars could be a minor tip-off as well.
Actually Fieros are also mid engine cars. I owned a very sharp '85 Fiero GT. I saw a lot of them with the "Ferrari" body kits and thought it was ridiculous.