This $14,000 «Lamborghini» has just 98 HP under the hood

At first glance, it could almost fool a distracted passerby. Gold paint, large air intakes, tapered headlights, a black roof, and a low-slung silhouette: this sports car is clearly designed to look like a Lamborghini Gallardo. Yet behind this spectacular transformation lies a much more modest car: a 1988 Pontiac Fiero.

This replica is currently listed on eBay for $14,000. That’s enough to buy a car with an exotic look, but certainly not the performance to match.

A Pontiac converted into a Gallardo knockoff

The base vehicle is a Pontiac Fiero, a model that has often served as the starting point for sports car replicas (such as the Ferrari F40) thanks to its mid-engine layout. Here, the original bodywork has largely been replaced with custom panels inspired by the Gallardo.

Even though it doesn’t look much like the original, the result is quite polished overall. The gold paint is paired with several black elements, notably the roof, the rear, and the spoiler. At the front, the bumper, the headlights, and the large air intakes clearly evoke the Lamborghini.But its proportions quickly give away its origins. The hood is much longer than on a real Gallardo, the wheels look relatively small, and the rear end retains a silhouette more reminiscent of a 1980s American sports car.

The illusion continues inside the cabin

Inside, the Pontiac Fiero is still easily recognizable. The dashboard retains its original layout, but several modifications have been made to enhance the Lamborghini feel.

The black leather seats feature bull logos on the backrests. The car also comes equipped with a steering wheel with yellow accents, Recaro seatbelt protectors, an Alpine audio system, front and rear cameras, and lights that project a Lamborghini logo onto the ground. A few additional gauges have also been installed at the top of the center console.

98 HP in a supercar body

It’s under the bodywork that the difference from a real Lamborghini becomes particularly amusing. While a Gallardo is known for its V10 engine, this replica retains the Pontiac Fiero’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. In its stock configuration, it produces only 98 HP.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. In other words, this «Gallardo» has the look of a supercar but offers significantly more modest performance. The listing states that the odometer reads 56,000 miles, or approximately 90,000 kilometers. The seller notes that the car drives well and that its various features are in excellent condition.

A Curiosity Worth $14,000

Listed by a seller in Newport, Vermont, this customized Fiero already had a bid of $14,000. At that price, the buyer obviously won’t get the V10 engine, the chassis, or the performance of a Lamborghini Gallardo. However, they’ll walk away with a unique car that likely won’t fool a Lamborghini enthusiast for long.