- A young Chinese auto enthusiast built a Lamborghini replica out of plywood.
- Chen Jinmiao said he downloaded the plans from the Internet.
- It is not yet known if the pseudo-Lambo will be authorized as street-legal.
CHENZHOU, China — Dreams of the young can lead in some surprising directions. Chen Jinmiao had always wanted a Lamborghini but knew he would have to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and come up with a less expensive plan than buying one. The result is a sort of love match of a soapbox derby special and a supercar.
Chen downloaded plans from the Internet, he said. His bright yellow replica, costing under $3,000 total, has many signature Lamborghini features including the rear-mounted engine and gullwing doors. Out on the roads, in its own colorful fashion, it can reach up to a peppy 55 mph. Not Lamborghini territory, to be sure, but Chen is apparently one of life's happy optimists. The details on what powers the ersatz replicar were not mentioned in Chinese media.
Chen, who is a truck driver and has been trained as a mechanic, says that he is not sure if the car will be made street-legal by the authorities, but if not, he intends to keep it as a collector's item.
Inside Line says: When life hands you the inability to afford the Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition, why not get out the lemonade-colored paint and plywood, we always say. — Maggie Hostetler, Correspondent
