Some automotive generalities are undeniable: Americans like their pickup trucks, and Italians like the style and flair of a Ferrari. It’s not often these two interests align, but today’s Rare Rides must have been written somewhere in the stars, because it’s just so right. Via Craigslist, behold the stunning Ferrar-olet.
Last week got the custom party started, with a one-off ZIL limousine. Though superbly luxurious, the $1,200,000 price tag meant it was a little spendy. We know the B&B likes a good value, so this custom Ferrar-olet can be had for less than one percent of the price of the ZIL.
It seats the same number of people as the Russian, and features custom bodywork to mirror the now-legendary Testarossa (still in production when this beauty was created). You must admit, the amazing coachwork you see here does bear quite a resemblance to the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari.
Under the hood resides the favorite powerplant of the ICE, a turbo-diesel. Wikipedia tells me this should be a 6.5-liter V8 version, introduced for 1992. The same article indicates this engine is still in use today in the Humvee. Must be a good one!
The interior has also been customized, with generous helpings of floorboards. Certainly it’s on par with your early ’90s expectations.
The rear bench seat is blemish-free, in case three friends who know class and style when they see it want to ride along.
As a bonus, the truck has lower miles than just about any other GM diesel from the period you might encounter. This alone makes the $9,750 asking price seem a pittance, even before you consider the rest of the bespoke goodness.
According to the listing, this truck was commissioned by a businessman who’d trailer his Ferrari collection to auto shows, and desired a truck that matched his Italian stallions. He was living the dream, and so should you.
[Images via Craigslist]
OMG what a POS
Do you mean the truck or the article… It’d be nice if credit was given where due:
http://jalopnik.com/for-9-750-could-this-custom-1993-chevy-diesel-dually-1792761116
Dear Jalopnik, don’t worry: TTAC loves you, but is just feeling a bit shy today.
So because Jalopnik did an article on the same vehicle at an earlier point in the day, they are the originator of all content about said vehicle?
That how that works?
Yes. If the worlds most popular automotive website posts an article at 8am, and that article is paraphrased here 6 hours later, they originated the content.
That’s how attribution works. In the end, a hat tip makes an author look more informed about their subject matter, and it doesn’t cost any clicks along the way.
The alternative is an author who presents themself as a car enthusiast and dodgy-Craigslist-car-blogger, yet claims to not read Jalopnik and supposedly isn’t aware of their much-lauded (and often imitated) NPOCP feature, on which this “Rare Rides” series is clearly modeled.
A simple hat tip is a lot easier for both the author and readership to believe.
Believe as you like, I don’t read Jalopnik.
Kill it with fire.
It already has Italian passion and fire.
It’s a Chevy, don’t blame FCA. Although, at first glance I thought it was a Dodge Rampage. But that was when Lido was in charge, not Sergio.
Agreed. It definitely reminds me of the mid 80s Laser/Rampage/Charger/Daytona front end.
My retinas are scarred now – thanks a lot.
It’s beautifulllllll!!! /head explodes ala Raiders of the Lost Ark
The original owner had much much more money than taste.
This would look perfect in the collection of Richard Rawlings.
Crack Pipe!
Wait… Wrong site, and I already voted there.
If it helps, I was going to write about this BEFORE I knew anything about their CP article.
It can tow a lot more than a Ferrari plus at first glance it looks like one!.
The 6.5 in the Humvee was significantly improved over the years. GM replaced them in the early 00’s with the DMax and while the military did continue to use them, they were actually built by Navistar who made several improvements to make them more reliable. The big ones are the higher nickel cast iron alloy and lower block re-design including a main bearing girdle. There were also improvements on the pump mounted driver which was prone to thermal failures on the GM version. The PMD was mounted to the injection pump which is located in the valley of the engine. Navistar relocated these as a standalone unit to get them away from the heat soak.
I was waiting for this. The Wiki page for the Humvee indicates it’s still in production, but I was having a hard time finding -who’s- producing them these days.
AM General bought the tooling and is building the 6.5 themselves now, both for their own use in the HMMWV and as service parts for GM and marine customers like Peninsular.
Are you saying AMG was (is) building them in house?
I’m not current on this but I have seen Navistar engine blocks in the flesh, circa mid 2000’s. The diamond emblem can be found toward the front of the engine, under the IP in the lifter valley.
So it’s not just almost a Ferrari, but it also has an AMG Engine?! *gasp*
http://www.amgeneral.com/our-products-and-services/commercial/
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of AM General, GEP produces the OPTIMIZER 6500 V-8 diesel engine at its 92,000-square-foot Franklin, Ohio assembly plant. This engine can be found in new HMMWVs, as a service replacement engine for numerous vehicles, and in marine applications.”
it’s possible Navistar does the casting for the block/heads.
Projectile vomit, as a truck.
Add this to the list of trucks that look less goofy than a Mitsubishi triton
Ferrari? That front clip is a dead ringer for a vertically stretched 1984 Dodge Rampage.
Reminds me of the Cordoba LS.
Or the 73-77 Chevelle Laguna S-3. Particularly the later slant nosed version.
I came here to say: K car derived truck.
If Lee could have figured out a way, it would have a Ram’s head, FWD and a Mitsubishi engine that sounds and smokes like the diesel this one has.
Jeep JJ.
I’ve seen something similar to this but I can’t remember all the details. That explains my 1,000 yard stare.
It is red has leather, side intakes and duallies. Case closed.
It’s the ideal truck to tow your Consulier GTP to the track.
It looks more Dodge Rampage than Ferrari. My eyes hurt.
And we all thought it was impossible to make something uglier than an Aztec.
I saw a 1970s custom Pacer once. Wide body kit among other atrocities. Its like they were trying to somehow pile on more ugly, and succeeded.
These guys took a handsome truck and turned it into an eye sore.
There’s nothing wrong with trying to be different, its okay to express yourself. But some idea balloons should be shot down before the job begins.
Some things cannot be unseen… like the first few minutes of the movie “Nocturnal Animals”.
I’ll take your word for it.
Wonder how much it would be to return it to stock. Nice on the inside and low miles.
Not worth the trouble or the money. Find some grandpa-owned time warp on eBay for less money to start with.
It is plush, but I’d probably “accidently” take out a fence with it and go from there.
Lol kidding.
Maybe.
Look up a Mark III C/K. There were several coach editions with plush interior. I still see them running country roads lol their owners won’t let them go and they take a beating (can’t speak to the 6.5L, only experience was with one and it was a POS).
Classic American Truck.
Bingo! Plenty of low mileage, clean, dually crew cabs from this era to be had in/from the southwest, rust-free, fully optioned, and relatively cheap. $1,000s less than this. Many with Roll-A-Long packages or similar.
The best examples from this era could be the next Hot trend, with what new 3/4 tons cost, built-in obsolescence and whatnot. Current 3/4 tons are closer their modern “capacity” replacements, minus their surefooted stance, and “style” if you ask me.
Looking back, their simplicity is unreal, with diesels you can actually work on. Classic “Big block” gas V8s were still available, except with fuel injection, plus overdrive. Manuals too.
Plenty of aftermarket vendors (Banks, Gear Vendors, etc) around to take them to the next level, or repair/restore/show.
I initially had the same thought about returning it to stock, but John is right…be on the lookout for a babied, grandpa-owned one, and you’ll come out way ahead.
Damnit Corey. Your column is “Rare Rides” not “Rides That Should Not Be”.
It makes me think of this: youtube.com/watch?v=3h80ZlYQtpg
If it helps, next time I’m going to do a rare super car.
You say Ferrari-inspired, I say ’83 Plymouth Scamp-inspired.
http://www.allpar.com/photos/plymouth/horizon/turismo-and-scamp.jpg
A tall Dodge Daytona with Peterbilt wheels..
Knock it all you want, but I am taking this gem back home where I’ll be the darlin’ o’ the trailer park!
For all you guys shouting “crack pipe,” I’ll counter with Nice Price. Now, why, you might ask, why??? Simple: where can you find a Ford, Chevy or Ram diesel-powered pickup with such low miles for such a low, low price? Nowhere, anywhere. Plus, a whole bunch of money has been spent to customize it so it doesn’t look like a truck every Tom, Dick and Harry owns. Sounds like one heck of a deal to me. But, if I really wanted it and could afford a truck, one of you guys would have already snapped it up for your collection.
And, for you guys with the time to go to cars shows, if you owned it and took it to a car show – any show, anywhere – you’d always be the envy of everybody else with your 1-of-1 vehicle. And, probably, there would always be a bunch of people offering you loads of cash to buy it from you. If you ever even considered parting with it.
Is it wrong for me to say I’m really diggin’ it? And, before somebody accuses ME of smoking something, I have to point out that I don’t smoke and never have.
Oh yes. It sure would be impossible to find something like thst, a low mile truck for around that price.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/1997-Ford-F-350-/262828616191?nav=SEARCH
Never in a million years. Or 2-3 minutes of eBay surfing.
Not that its as plush or as custom, but I literally posted the first one I saw that was below $10k and similar as far as drivetrain and miles, etc.
That F-350 for the same money is not even remotely as nice.
Notice it’s a used car lot, specializing on the high end. And the pictures don’t exactly match the description. They list it as an XLT with sliding rear glass, CD player, alloy wheels, etc.
In my opinion though, prices of this era crew cab, duallys could explode. I’m keeping an eye on them.
Dorks misspelled TURBO POWAH.
Needs exhaust stacks, “Panty Dropper” windshield banner, naked lady mudflaps, and “I Love Sushi” bumper sticker.
It’s the most beautiful vehicle I’ve ever seen.
Said no one, ever.
What a nightmare! Wrong on so many levels.