> ‘I CAN BURN DOWN TO CANADIAN TIRE’
The car: 1988 Lamborghini Countach replica The owner: Todd Shepherd, Toronto The story: In 1984 I was 16 and had just gotten my driver’s licence when my brother and I had an opportunity to see a Lamborghini Countach up close.
Having also heard the scream of the V12, I was briefly on a mission to own one. I quickly learned the real deal was way out of reach, because of the price and the cost of maintaining the car as well.
I was looking for the latest car magazines when I stumbled across kit-car publications. Leafing through them, I found the Countach — or so it appeared — and my mission, somewhat altered, began again.
By my mid-20s I had ordered every video and brochure on replicas that I could get my hands on. I also travelled to Indiana to Elegance Motors, the closest kit-car builder I could find. Later, in Toronto, I found a builder (Future Shadow, I believe it was called) using Pontiac Fieros for the drivetrain, or tube frames (you buy the body kit and custom-make everything else).
The shop was nearby and I was able to watch how the kits are assembled, and quality issues to look out for, but it again became apparent that even a kit was going to take more time, knowledge and money than I had.
For 25 years I kept up with the industry, going from magazines to the Internet, watching builders come and go, keeping my eyes peeled for versions truest to the original. Prova, Kustom, Easton, Armstrong, Sienna, Exotic Illusions and Euro-works pushed my buttons. From what I can tell, all have now moved to alternative businesses, after feeling pressure from the original makers.
The dream was fading when my wife and I were discussing our next-car needs. She drives a 1998 Dodge Durango with 340,000 km on it. I had a 2002 BMW 540 6-speed with 380,000 km but still a blast to drive. Lucky for me, I married the best wife in the world; she figured it was now or never for the kit car!
Building one was out of the question, so armed with years of data I started my search for a used Countach replica.
First was a black Kustom Koenig version in Ontario.
The car was good, but there was no way that I would fit into it (I’m six feet tall).
The next four were in the U.S. so I decided to wait until the spring to continue the search, but the Internet turned up another in Eastern Ontario. After emails, phone calls and reviewing the car on a lift I knew it was the one. A test drive later and it was on a delivery truck.
Luc Chartrand (founder, designer and co-owner of the HTT Plethore, the car you may have seen on Dragon’s Den) built the car, which appears to be a Kustom kit, registering it in 2002. The first owner put only 4,000 miles on the car before selling it to the person I bought it from.
Kit cars may not be the car itself, but they have their own cool. At a car show people ask, “is it a real one?” We say it’s not, “and here’s how to tell.” I have a website and blog where I share the good, bad and ugly of owning a replica.
About performance: I’ve never driven a Lamborghini, so I’ve no way of comparing, but I had that BMW 540 and this drives as nicely. It’s low and wide and with the wedge shape the faster you go the more it’s stuck to the ground.
The main thing is you can drive it. If a car is worth a half-million dollars, most of us can’t own it. On a real one, a clutch can be an $11,000 repair. My car has a V8 from a 1993 Corvette. I can burn down to Canadian Tire to get what I need.
Show us your candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us highresolution pictures of you and your family with your beauty, and tell us your story. The more photos the better — of the interior, trim, wheels, emblems, what you admire. Email wheels@thestar.ca and be sure to use “Eye Candy” in the subject line.