A Ferrari F430 was seized and demolished in Italy after it was discovered to be a complete fake built around a Toyota MR2.
The super convincing fake Ferrari was seized in Asti, Italy, following an investigation called Operacion Cavallino.
The car may have started life as a Toyota MR2 but it was unrecognizable as such when it was finally seized by cops.
The fake Ferrari F430 has now been destroyed by officials.
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The fake Ferrari F430 looked utterly convincing
Offering the looks of a high-end supercar at a much lower price, replicas and fakes can be tempting for those wanting a Champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget.
And some of them can be super-convincing, such as this Lamborghini Murciélago that looks a lot like the real-deal or this legit-looking DeLorean replica.
But while you still see plenty of fakes out there, using trademarked elements without authorization is a crime.
In 2022, a 26-year-old in Italy found that out for himself, when his fake Ferrari F430 was seized.
The car, which was built on Toyota MR2, featured real Ferrari manufactured parts, including the wheel arches, rims, and the front and rear hood.
It also had legit Ferrari and Pininfarina logos and badges on the inside and out.
“The police operation was in coordination with the Asti prosecutor,” police said in a statement.
“We aim to protect national production, especially in this case when they stand out for their high quality and for being one of the best known and most appreciated symbols of the Italian style in the world.”
The replica also came with fake documentation, including a registration.
In an update to the unusual 2022 case, the owner of the car was later acquitted, but a judge ordered that the car be destroyed.
According to local media, the owner launched an unsuccessful appeal to get his car back, but the original ruling was upheld, and on 30 June, the fake Ferrari was crushed.
There are plenty of fake Ferraris out there
Due to their desirability, there are plenty of Ferrari fakes out there.
A car enthusiast in Mexico recently went viral after footage of him failing to get a F40 onto a trailer was shared online.
But it turned out that the Ferrari in question was actually a fake, so no harm done.
Over in the US, these YouTubers were pulled over by cops after the plates on their ‘Ferrari’ flagged as belonging to a Toyota. Much like the case in Italy, the F430 was built around a Toyota.
They were left off with a warning that it probably wouldn’t be the last time they were pulled over in the fake Ferrari because the plate readers showed it to be a Toyota.
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