Vipervette is the latest project to kill two performance nameplates in one go

The 1986 Vipervette is exactly what you think it is: part Dodge Viper, part Corvette, all painful. Riding on a 1986 Corvette chassis, the Vipervette is said to have inherited its body (and not much else, apparently) from a 2000 Dodge Viper. Because of this hodge-podge mix of machinery, we have a car with some very awkward proportions.

The car is motivated by the '86 Vette's power train - a 5.7-liter V8 and a 4-speed stick - so don't expect to be going anywhere in too much of a hurry. Inside is more of the 1980's, with the Corvette interior color-coded to line up with the Viper exterior (meaning it's the mighty played-out red and black).

At least it's based on a relatively modern car, so it's got common amenities like power steering, power windows, the Viper's removable top, and a CD player. There's no telling about the quality of the project's fit and finish, but if you're interested in finding out for yourself, this little monster can be yours for the low, low price of $12,250.

For that money, I'd pass and get a cherry 1980's Corvette (and still have money for a vacation, to boot).

By Phil Alex

Link: Autabuy - Hat tip to Brian!

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Toyota MR2 Turned into Ferrari F430 Replica Showcased at Meeting Alongside the Real Thing

This isn't the first time we've seen a Toyota MR2 dressed up as something else, in this case a Ferrari F430 Spider, but the story here is that the owner of the replica took it to a classic / sports car meeting of some sorts in The Netherlands parking it close to the real Italian deal. Talk about having faith in your creation... See all the pictures after the break.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Autojunk.nl

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Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing: Lexus SC gets Mercedes-Benz AMG Makeover...

I really should hate this as much as that '95 Thunderbird with the '50s Ford front end, but I don't.

Maybe it's because this Z30 Toyota Soarer, otherwise known as the first generation Lexus SC in the U.S., with a Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM-esque front end and SL AMG rear end is so well done. Heck, it's a lot more convincing than those Miata-based replicas we see so often.

Of course, it's not all good. The window line is more E46 BMW M3 than CLK and the rear end looks more like a S15 Nissan 200SX than it does a Mercedes-Benz. And there's all that jiff about besmirching the manufacturer's name with this cheap knockoff, and ruining the original car.

Though it has to be said the Z30 Soarer was kinda boring to look at. It had those rounded, utterly inoffensive designed-by-committee looks that most Japanese cars of the '90s seemed to have. So if anything, this is a noticeable improvement.

Am I a heretic? Tell us in the comments below.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: Minds Farm

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How not to Customize: '95 Ford Thunderbird Meets '50s Ford Kit Parts

Like everything in life, there's a right away and a wrong way to customize. The right way could be fitting a modern motor and transmission to a classic car body. That way you get the economy and reliability you want in a daily driver with the looks of a classic.

The wrong way is bolting an Easy Rods '50s Ford lookalike kit to a 1995 Ford Thunderbird. It's the sort of kit you buy when you have a) money for spending and b) no taste.

We found this fire engine red example up for sale by a dealer located in Charlotte, North Carolina. You still get everything that made the tenth generation Thunderbird...uh..."great", including its 205 hp 4.6-liter V8 with 265 lb ft (359 Nm) of torque. You also get a 4spd automatic transmission and independent suspension, air conditioning, cruise control and power everything.

How much, you ask? It's a "steal" at just.... US$19,995.

There's even a video, accompanied by Angels & Airwaves' 2006 hit, "The War". We can think of some other songs we might have used, such as Daphne & Celeste's "Ugly" and Melanie Safka's "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?"

Let us know what you think in the comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: Streetsideclassics

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