Description
NOW BELOW £9K!!! That must be a first for a V6 Rep!
Previous Owners description when I purchased the car about 9 months ago the conversion was actually carried out in 2011 but has covered few miles since:-
FERRARI F355 GTS REPLICA V6!
DONOR CAR – (originally ‘M’ REG) 1994 UK SUPPLIED MR2 – T-BAR
CONVERTIBLE STYLE
CONVERSION PANELS FROM MR2 KITS – FIRST OWNER WAS THE ONE WHO DID THE CONVERSION – SECOND OWNER WAS ME – THIRD OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM ME – TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF SHOWS THEN STORED THE CAR UNTIL I BOUGHT IT BACK !
CHERISHED ‘355’ PLATE INCLUDED WITH SALE -
CAR FINISHED IN “TOUR DE FRANCE“ BLUE – FERRARI COLOUR – COLOUR CODE ON LABEL IN DOOR PILLAR -
INTERIOR ALL NEW LEATHER – CREAM AND BLACK – WITH FERRARI INSIGNIA ON SEATS -
ENGINE IS REFURBISHED HONDA/ ROVER 2. 7 V6 24 VALVE UNIT – MATCHING 5 SPEED GEARBOX -
HONDA DIALS USED FROM SAME CAR AS THE DONOR ENGINE – ACCORDINGLY THE MILEAGE WAS 19000 - the mileage of the original car is estimated 160k, but see below - nothing mechanical has covered this mileage...
MOT EXPIRY IS MARCH 2015 (now renewed - see below!) – CORRECTLY REGISTERED AS “TOYOTA FERRARI REPLICA” IN THE V5C
NB: AT THIS STAGE IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT THIS CONVERSION WAS DONE BY 2 METICULOUS ENGINEERS – NO EXPENSE SPARED – WHEN YOU READ THE SPECIFICATION YOU WILL APPRECIATE WHY THE PARTS TOTALLED OVER £18000 – WHERE POSSIBLE GENUINE FERRARI PARTS WERE USED – FURTHER, THE CAR WAS FEATURED IN COMPLETE KIT CAR MAGAZINE RECENTLY -
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FITTED IT WAS ENSURED THAT THE MOUNTS WERE OF A HIGHER SPEC THAN THE ORIGINAL MR2 FIXINGS – FURTHER, NEW TAPPETS FITTED, PLUS A NEW WATER PUMP AND NEW CAMBELT – AND A
NEW CLUTCH -
THE BODY PANELS ARE OF GOOD QUALITY AND IT WAS ENSURED THAT EVERYTHING FITTED CORRECTLY WITH CLOSE GAPS TO ALL SECTIONS –
RE LIGHTING – XENON LAMPS USED – GENUINE FERRARI REAR LAMPS – BRAND NEW WINDSCREEN FITTED -
THE DOORS FIT EXACTLY AND THE OPENING METHOD IS HIDDEN – KEYLESS ENTRY IS USED VIA THE CLIFFORD SECURITY SYSTEM – CAT 1 - CAPACIOUS REAR BOOT FROM THE MR2 – SMALL BOOT AT THE FRONT –
RE SUSPENSION SYSTEM – EVERY PIECE WAS REMOVED, CLEANED, AND POWDER COATED – BRAND NEW “APEX” FULLY ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN FITTED TO THE CAR – NEW WHEEL BEARINGS ALL ROUND – BRAND NEW DRIVE SHAFTS AND BUSHES -
THE INTERIOR WAS REMOVED AND COMPLETELY RECARPETED – CENTRAL BOX REMOVED – INTERIOR REDONE IN CREAM LEATHER – INCLUDING THE NEW RECARO SEATS – THEY HAVE THE CORRECT INSIGNIA ON THE HEADREST SECTION –
A HIGH QUALITY LEATHER STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN FITTED – ALSO FERRARI HIGH-PITCHED AIRHORNS -
RADIO/ TAPE/ CD/ MULTIPLAYER IS FITTED – DRILLED ALLOY PEDALS -
A SET OF FOUR GENUINE FERRARI ALLOYS WERE LOCATED AND REFURBISHED – THEY STILL HAVE THE FERRARI LABELS ATTACHED (VIDEO PROOF) – ALL NEW TYRES – FERRARI-TYPE CALIPERS ON MR2 DISCS – WHICH HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY COATED AGAINST RUSTING –
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM – A GENUINE SYSTEM MADE BY FERRARI WAS LOCATED AND AN EXACT COPY OF IT WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM S/ S – GIVES A LOVELY GROWL !!!
And now my rather more honest description and works carried out since I have owned the car.
The Speedo never worked so a new sensor was fitted - now there is a working Speedo.
One of the gearbox linkage cables snapped – I could have fitted a breakers part but decided new was better (over £300 - Without the labour!)…
The car was hunting on idle at normal operating temperature (this was even noted on a previous MOT advisory) and misfired slightly when warm, also the EML would occasionally light… The main problem was a massive air leak on the inlet – eventually diagnosed as a completely broken and leaking inlet manifold gasket – new one fitted…
Although no longer hunting the car was still missing slightly when warm. When the car went in for the MOT recently it failed badly on emissions which is obviously not right on an engine of this low miles. This was diagnosed as a faulty lambda sensor – this was replaced and the car passed the emissions with flying colours!
The engine now runs smooth and does not misfire anymore – nor does the EML come on anymore!
Slight kerbing on N/ S rear wheel - a £70 refurb would sort it...
Slight stone chip damage to cover of drivers side door mirror - could be easily filled and repainted
The clutch has always slipped slightly when accelerating hard. This is still the case so will require attention at some point. The car is still perfectly drivable but plant the right foot down in higher gears at lower revs will see the clutch slip. The clutch was supposedly new not so long ago and does not make nasty noises so this is something of a mystery. This was next (and final!) on my todo list…
So to answer a few questions that everyone asks:-
Q) Does it sound like a Ferrari?
A) No, neither does any other rep (especially 4 cylinder ones)... But with a V6 and an exhaust to the same design of the original the sound is loud and ‘raspy’ and about as close as possible without actually fitting a multi-valve V8 – but it does turn heads and fools most…
Q) Does the interior look like a real F355?
A) Not really, the seats are virtually indistinguishable from the real ones but the dash etc looks like an MR2 dash with a Ferrari badge or two – just like every other MR2 based rep… The interior does look smart though with the same colour scheme as used on a real F355.
Q) What is the MPG?
A) Never measured but probably not less than mid 20’s
Q) Can you get to the spark plugs and oil filter etc…
A) Yes, the rear plugs are fiddly but definitely possible. Oil filter – no problem.
Reluctantly I have moved house and this car really is too good to leave outside to the elements and do high commute miles. I did purchase an expensive cover for the car (3 figures) which of course will be included with the car. Since moving I am commuting around 40 miles a day and have decided to go green and electric! There is currently just under 22, 500 miles on the clock but will go up slightly as has occasional use - I have decided to use the train for work to avoid piling the miles on this car, although there is absolutely no reason why this car could not be used as a daily driver.
This rep is truly a one off being a well-built kit that looks right (headlamps in the right place (not half way up the bonnet), T bar not visible with roof on, quad exhaust (actually the tips are real Ferrari & the rest is hand built stainless to the same Ferrari design!), genuine Ferrari wheels, the right width because of the right kit, genuine mirrors etc etc even a genuine 355 filler cap..! With a V6 in the stunningly different Tour de France blue colour – it attracts an enormous amount of attention wherever you drive or park up! I have often returned to see people posing in front of it with someone else taking pictures on their phone! Petrol stations usually result in a conversation or two… This is a more accurate kit than most out there... If you don’t want the attention this car is definitely not for you - everyone looks and many flash, hoot or rev their engine!
The car was magazine featured back in 2011 and has appeared in Kit Car shows… Comes complete with the back issue.
There is now around 10 months MOT on the car and is ready to enjoy over summer – I have never taken the one piece (more authentic for a GTS) roof off but underneath is the original MR2 T bar convertible which of course is not so authentic Ferrari.
There are quite a few real Ferrari parts used in this car with expensive genuine F355 wheels. You wouldn’t expect to see a real F355 with a set of cheap alloys now would you? - But many reps have them (sometimes with 'F' insert badges)! Even the petrol filler cap under the flap is a genuine Ferrari item! The horn sounds like an F355 because it is a Ferrari horn! So this rep is a whole lot closer to the real thing than many 355 conversions.
The colour is a refreshing departure from the usual red… Tour de France Blue is a stunning genuine Ferrari metallic colour that has to be seen close up in the flesh to be fully appreciated! When this car is clean and polished it looks beautiful....
Serious enquiries only please.
£8, 499 but open to sensible offers as the clutch will require attention at some point.
Not interested in any part ex unless you happen to have a Nissan Leaf Acenta or Tekna (electric vehicle) for my commute…
The car can be viewed in Virginia Water, Surrey.
Obviously not taxed after new owner registered on logbook thanks to the recent law change...
Please contact me for more details on the details below...
