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I just bought a Pontiac Modena 360


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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/5579193.html

 

 

Feb. 28, 2008, 3:39PM

Counterfeiters were turning Pontiacs into Ferraris

 

By COLLEEN BARRY

Associated Press

 

 

MILAN, Italy — Italian financial police have busted a ring of counterfeiters who built fake Ferraris and sold them for as little as $30,000 a car, officials said today.

Authorities have confiscated 14 fake Ferrari Modena 360s — seven sold and seven under construction — in an operation reaching from Palermo to Milan, said Guido Geremia, head of the Palermo unit that led the investigation.

Investigators do not know how many of the cars have been sold in the past — but Geremia said the buyers knew the cars were fakes and were clearly seeking to impress unknowing neighbors with the sleek-bodied speed machines.

"That is the only reason," he said.

Eight people are under investigation, authorities said. The ring used mostly Pontiacs as their base, but also Mercedes and Toyotas, building a copy of a Ferrari body over the original car's engine.

"It was done very well — they were very skilled," Geremia said.

The financial police, who lead Italy's fight against the counterfeiters who cash in on the peninsula's reputation for quality in everything from handbags to prosciutto, launched the Ferrari investigation six months ago. Geremia said they were helped by Internet sites where the cars were offered up for sale.

The 360 Modena went out of production in 2004, and was priced at the time at $215,000, said Ferrari spokeswoman Mariella Mengozzi. The current suggested retail price by Italy's consumer auto magazine for a 2004 model is around $150,000.

Mengozzi said it is not the first time the Ferrari brand has been copied and that the automaker, which is owned by the Fiat Group, monitors Web sites for evidence of fakes.

"Ferrari is a product that maintains its value over time and of course we try to protect our clients who buy the real thing," Mengozzi said.

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FYI its not counter fitting its called building kit cars. Its not illegal, at least not in America.

 

There are one of those Pontiac Fiero/Ferrari at my boys shop I could buy it for $3000 yes $3000 it would be fun, rear wheel drive and the car is as big as a CRX but Fiero's start on fire...

 

Here is one of the places you can buy them.

http://www.air-dynamics.ws/

You want an old school ass batmobile?!

www.cyproductions.com

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Investigators do not know how many of the cars have been sold in the past — but Geremia said the buyers knew the cars were fakes and were clearly seeking to impress unknowing neighbors with the sleek-bodied speed machines.

 

The buyers knew they were fakes though...I dont get the problem...

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