How Much Is "Too Expensive" For A Convincing, But Fake Lamborghini Replica?

It is not every day we get to talk about replica cars and their value, but while browsing the Lamborghini Replicas page on Facebook a few days ago, I stumbled upon something peculiar. One owner is attempting to part ways with his Lamborghini Diablo replica project, which is drivable, but still needs a few things. The description is fairly accurate (including pros and cons) and somewhat amusing, but the prices raise eyebrows as there are contradicting factors. Let’s see what the owner says:

“I decided to sell my IFG Diablo Roadster kit on a stretched 1984 Pontiac Fiero.

The car is fully drivable, powered by a Fiero V-6 with a manual transmission.

Pros:

•Very high-quality build, complete turn key replica

•Everything works: all lights, turn signals, horn, heater / fan, dash lights, gauges, hand brake, etc.

•Absolutely no rust / only been on roads about 10 miles.

•Matching Door locks with extra keys

•Clean title, titled as fiero

•19” rear and 18” front rims with new summer tires

•Upgraded 88' front air suspension like original Diablo (needs alignment after installation, can’t get it done in village where i am)

•Almost complete Diablo-style interior (need to connect interior door handles, currently race car straps)

•Starts on the first crank and drives reliably (as a Fiero)

•Included Targa roof panel + trunk mounts/locks (just need installation and painting, can be easily installed for a transportation)

•Included Rear spoiler (just need installation and painting)

•Included complete OEM-style V12 6.0 engine cover w side covers (painted, just need proper installation)

•Included OEM-style exhaust tips - (need installation)

•Wipers motor in place, just need Alfa Romeo GTV wiper arm installed to match OEM Diablo.

•Gated shifter frame included (needs to be installed)

Cons:

•Paint 7/10 – small chips and need polishing (I have matching paint with the correct code)

•Cracked windshield (replacement found $1,000, but it wasn’t bothering me).

Price:

Asking $28,000, cash only, can help with shipping it to another state.

Located in Vail, Colorado.

A few things stood out to me in the ad

The fact that the seller says “it starts and drives reliably (as a Fiero)” is not the most confidence-inspiring thing you want to hear. The Pontiac Fiero developed a reputation for being unreliable, due to early models having severe engine issues (mostly catching on fire). This being a 1984 Fiero means that it is the most problematic model year of the mid-engine sports car.

The build comes with a lot of parts that need to be installed. The OEM-styled exhaust tips, gated manual shifter frame, wiper arms, targa top locks, rear spoiler (which is unpainted), and more parts are available, but not on the car, which leads me to believe the owner has given up on the project. The cracked windshield is also worrying as it may turn out to be a lot more than $1,000 as the seller claims. Availability isn’t great, and the cheapest Diablo windshield I found was for the equivalent of 4,644.74 (at the time of writing this), on Eurospares.com (shipping not included).

The owner fitted a front air suspension, but it requires alignment. This was likely done to replicate the hydraulic front lift system on a real Diablo, which helps you clear speed bumps and other obstacles.

What I like about this Lamborghini Diablo replica build.

The replica convincingly poses as a Lamborghini Diablo roadster, featuring the facelift aesthetics with the Nissan 300ZX (Z32) headlights. Replicating the targa top instead of the fixed-top version of the Italian supercar is a more challenging task, as it requires replicating the external mounting points for the roof, located above the engine cover.

The OEM-style engine cover, featuring the cylinder firing order printed on it, is a nice touch that adds to the illusion that this is a genuine Diablo.

What I don’t like

Plenty of unfinished and unmounted (but available) parts mean you are essentially finishing what someone else started. People start these projects with passion before they realize it is too much of an undertaking or that it requires too many resources. Whatever the case, you are walking into something that couldn’t be completed by the previous owner, and the potential problems are plenty. 

The Pontiac Fiero’s powertrain isn’t ideal. The Iron Duke is generally considered bulletproof, but underpowered. However, pre-1988 variants were particularly unrefined, nosy, and could catch fire, especially in the small, mid-engine Fiero. 

The price may be too high, given the amount of work that needs doing. The owner is asking $28,000, and while this may be chalked down to the amount of time spent on the build, some group members who are in the Lamborghini replica scene struggle to see the value. Some members even claim to have seen the same ad for $25,000, which may or may not be a result of the seller’s realization that he is asking too much.

In the end…

The Pontiac Fiero is a common platform for replica builds due to it being an affordable mid-engine sports car with a space-frame chassis. This makes it ideal for building clones of exotic mid-engine cars like the Lamborghini Diablo, especially given the price of an original, which is well into the six figures, with rare examples fetching over $1.0 million.

If you are after the looks of a 1990s Italian exotic, this particular example is worth it (for slightly less than what the owner wants for it). In my opinion, this thing needs a proper V-12 to match the aesthetics. You can clearly see the transversely-mounted GM V-6 under the “V-12” cover. I rarely cover replicas, but let me know what you think of the build. How much would you pay for a fairly convincing replica of an Italian supercar? What do you think about replicas in general? Let me know in the comments below.

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Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: Ilya Most / Lamborghini Replcias via Facebook