Lamborghini Replica Packs a Twin-Turbo Lexus UZ V8
This Marlboro-liveried Countach replica looks quite real, but its powerplant is a clue to what's really going on here.
Lexus-Powered Lambo
Given their reliability and power potential, it's not really a surprise that we've seen a variety of Lexus engines powering vehicles from other brands. But one thing we haven't seen is a UZ V8 under the hood of a Lamborghini - until now, that is. In all fairness, the Countach in this video from CB Media is a replica, but it's incredibly cool, nonetheless.
Look the Part
Wearing a Marlboro livery, this replica does look rather real, which can't be said for a lot of Lambo rip-offs out there in the world. But in reality, it utilizes parts from a variety of different automotive manufacturers. What's also interesting about the car is that it's owned by Thai singer and actor Kawee Tanjararak, otherwise known as Beam.
Interesting Choice
For starters, the Countach replica rides on a front-wheel-drive Hyundai chassis, though it's been converted to a rear-wheel-drive via a custom rear frame section. Why the person that built it went to that sort of trouble rather than just going with a setup that was already RWD, well, we don't know. Meanwhile, many of the suspension components were sourced from an R32-gen Nissan Skyline.
Piece de Resistance
The piece de resistance here, however, is that Lexus V8 that partially hangs out of the bottom rear portion of the car. It's been fitted with a pair of turbos, so we're betting it makes pretty great power. However, the video doesn't reveal too many details about it other than that.
Mix and Match
The beefy V8 is backed up by, of all things, a Subaru transmission. We're guessing that it was chosen for packaging reasons, much like everything else, but who knows? Perhaps the person that built this wild ride just wanted to see how many different kinds of parts they could slap together in one vehicle.
Lots of Breakage
While our host waxes poetic about this car's build quality, it winds up doing pretty much what all kit cars do when they take it out for a test drive - it breaks. The first time they were filming, one of the shocks broke. The second time out, the front suspension broke.
Bad Luck?
We imagine this was just bad luck, and the car obviously needs to be sorted as a fairly fresh build. Regardless, it's certainly a very cool creation and one that we'd like to take a deeper dive into. Perhaps CB Media will do a follow up once the car is running and driving perfectly, or at least we certainly hope so.
Check out the how-to sections of ClubLexus.com for help keeping your car in great shape.