It’s just amazing what people can create just for fun. Just look at this insane replica Ferrari F40 with supercharged 2.8L V6 and beer cans instead headlights. There aren’t many ways for a Ferrari replica to become a prized possession (except in its builder’s eyes, of course). Many might argue that no imitation Ferrari deserves any praise, but I’d beg to differ. Enter the WTF40, a faux Ferrari F40 that stands out to me for two key reasons: its humorously exaggerated look and its intended purpose in grassroots racing.
To start, this build is so absurd that it’s actually brilliant. Just take a look at those front “headlights.” Earlier this week, Mihnea introduced us to the Scraptona – a Frankenstein Mopar homage to the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, priced at $150,000 and featuring BMW E30 headlight buckets. Well, the WTF40 takes it further by using beer cans as headlights, which is why it’s so entertaining!
More importantly, guys created this car not to fool anyone into thinking the owner is a Ferrari collector. Instead, it was purpose-built for racing in the 24 Hours of Lemons.
This endurance racing series requires participants to build cars on a budget of $500 or less, covering the base car and modifications. However, racers can offset some of these costs by selling off unnecessary parts, like headlights, meaning the final expense can be a bit higher.
Additionally, critical safety gear, as well as brakes, wheels, and tires, are not included in the budget. Anyone familiar with cars knows that quality tires can make a world of difference on the track.
The Lemons racing community, which has been active across the U.S. since 2006, focuses on fun, skill-building, and negotiating with judges to avoid penalties. There’s even a “Bullshit Factor,” where racers lose an extra lap for every $10 spent above the allowed budget.
Ratsun Racing built the WTF40, which has spent a good amount of time on the track over the last decade. However, after suffering significant damage in 2019, it appears to have stayed in the garage until recently.
Like most Lemons cars, the WTF40’s “hooptie” status means it’s prone to frequent breakdowns. When a breakdown occurs while navigating a tight corner, things can get… interesting.
2.8L supercharged V6 instead 2.9L twin-turbo V8
If you guessed that WTF40 has Pontiac Fiero as a base, you’d be correct. However, the original Iron Duke engine is no longer under the hood. The team replaced it with a more track-friendly Buick 3.8L V6 paired with a supercharger. This engine, along with the 4T65E-HD four-speed automatic transmission, was sourced from a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP.
A few months back, Ratsun Racing shared updates on Facebook. They announced they’d replaced the car’s broken windshield and made other repairs. As a result, the Ferrari F40 replica was ready for action again and made its racing comeback at the 24 Hours of Lemons in Houston last weekend.
While it didn’t take home a class victory, it likely earned the unofficial popularity award. After all, the 24 Hours of Lemons is known for its wildly creative entries, where it’s normal to see vehicles styled after boats or airplanes.
I guess you may see fun level closer. Just 3 beer cans instead projector lenses :-) I guess that’s the funniest feature of this Ferrari F40 Replica. Ferrari fans can be even resentful :-) However, there is no lie here. Everybody wants to own than legendary Ferrari F40. But original cars are very expensive, even after serious road accidents. By the way, this replica is much more realistic that Nascar racing cars. Even with Beer cans in headlights.