Buying a replica car may seem like a great deal. You get the prestige of driving an expensive and popular car at a fraction of the cost. Occasionally, you may even find a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Cobra replica for sale, which reduces the need to build the kit car yourself. Unfortunately, there are many reasons to avoid fully-assembled Mustang or Shelby Cobra kit cars and put in the extra effort of assembly.
One of the most important reasons not to buy a fully-assembled replica car is because such vehicles are often illegal. Ferrari is especially notorious for not tolerating replica cars, once ordering police in Spain to destroy replicas they had seized in an investigation. Many manufacturers view replicas as counterfeit cars, as damaging to their profits as knock-off handbags are to designers. Notable exceptions include AC Cobra replicas. As the Cobra is no longer in production, replicas do not affect company sales figures, so the replicas are permitted.
Even if you have found a Cobra replica for sale, it is still better to buy a kit and assemble the car yourself. Often, replica cars are listed for sale by unscrupulous companies using false addresses and stolen photos. The company will take a deposit on a replica car, then fail to deliver the product. These companies are frequently based in other countries, where United States laws are not applicable. Because such fraudulent companies often use the name or logo of legitimate brands to make themselves seem more credible, it is best to avoid purchasing a pre-assembled replica in the first place.
If you want an inexpensive but exotic car, your best course of action is to find a cheap base car, then purchase a kit to modify it. This way, you have total control over the car’s options, as well as full responsibility for its safety and the quality of workmanship.
