offshore Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Gee, appears they need to set up camp here! IT'S not quite a lip-synching scandal of Milli Vanilli or Ashlee Simpson proportions, but last week's Top Gear Live performances were not quite what they seemed. The three Ferraris that wowed the crowd by doing burnouts just inches from each other in the confined spaces of Acer Arena were apparently fakes. Underneath their exotic red panel work, the "Ferraris" were believed to be infinitely less glamorous Toyotas. The replica Ferraris are reportedly based on Toyota MR2 underpinnings. The now-discontinued Ferrari 360 Spider sold for about $400,000, while the MR2 cost less than $50,000 new. Closer inspection of the slightly blurry image of the "Ferraris" in action shows they appear to be missing an air intake above the rear wheels. Other details, such as the windscreen surround, appear out of proportion with the genuine Ferrari 360. The secret was uncovered by an observant showgoer backstage. "When they came out on stage I thought something doesn't look right and something doesn't sound right," said the fan, who declined to be named. "Then when I saw them backstage they had their engine covers up and the engines were definitely not Ferrari engines." The Ferrari 360 has a glass cover on the engine, so the top of the V8 is clearly visible, but the ones used in the show appeared to have covers hiding the engines. The news of the fake Ferraris has even caught the local director of the show by surprise. James Cregeen told the Herald yesterday he had assumed the Ferraris were real. "I got pretty close to them and they certainly looked like the real thing. You've got me intrigued now. I'll have to get on to the UK." Much of Top Gear's appeal has centred on its apparent disregard for the well-being of ridiculously expensive cars, but it seems the stage show was not willing to play Russian roulette with more than $1 million worth of exotic Italian machinery. Several Herald bloggers who saw the show complained that the sound of the "Ferraris" had been drowned out by loud music and one suggested the cars may not have been genuine. Mr Cregeen is waiting to hear from Top Gear in Britain. Looks like someone spotted (and heard) the "tells" Offshore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarin.72 Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Gee, appears they need to set up camp here! Looks like someone spotted (and heard) the "tells" Offshore Well OS...seems to me that someone from the TOP GEAR stuff should have contact one of RWG moders before the show...i am pretty sure that some of the guys in here could perform miracles on the "Ferraris"...you know...just to enough to give 'em that gen look they ought to have!!! Thanks for sharing Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleobis Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 When will the factories fix that missing air intake, it's been bugging me for years...and now this...o dear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Now this is interesting, for all their buffoonery Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May do know their stuff, if the Ferrari's were fakes......they knew.....yet the director (their boss) claims he didn't know. Methinks someones telling porkies. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I went to the show the other night here in NZ, and I was pretty suspicious of those cars actually.. probably my replica sense at work.. couldn't place it at the time but something didn't look quite right about the proportions. It also seemed weird to drown out Ferrari engines with loud music. Keep in mind how many watches those guys own.. and you wonder if maybe someone is a member here :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieG Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 It doesn't surprise me really. Look how many times we all read threads on TZ about people who get burned buying fake watches on the bay. We are sitting there thinking how could they not know and spot the tells. Meanwhile they are regular vistors with hundreds of posts that hang out on those very brand forums. This is partly the reason counterfeiting is such big business. It is remarkably easy to fool most people. Notice the people who said they felt "something still wasn't right". If it were a watch instead and viewed by anyone here the callout would be very specific and swift... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rxus Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hmm, i wonder if Josh can source one of those fake ferrari's, not that it will stand out much in the city i live in but i figure the elderly snowbirds wouldn't tell the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 :opps: Naughty boys. Mind you how do you find a pair of F360 owners in AU/NZ who are willing to lend their cars to that threesome? Col. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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