A Kit: 1986 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Machiavelli
We’ve all seen those Pontiac Fiero based fake Ferrari kit cars…they always end up looking like a Fiero. But today’s fake Ferrari kit thing doesn’t look like a Fiero…it doesn’t even look like a Firebird that it’s based on. The Machiavelli is one of those odd kits that looks like something Ferrari could have built back in the 1980s if they were owned by GM. Find this 1986 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Machiavelli offered for $18,500 in Lowell, MA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1986 pontiac firebird trans am Machiavelli
condition: excellent
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 96,000
paint color: red
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
type: coupe
HERE IS A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS 1986 MACHIAVELLI , ITS A PRETTY COOL AND RARE CAR , LOOK IT UP FOR MORE COOL FACTS ABOUT THIS CAR (in example how Philip Michael Thomas who played “TUBBS” on the old Miami vice was actually the owner of Machiavelli and featured the MACHIAVELLI in scenes of the show , which pissed Ferrari off as well,LOL …. GOOGLE IT FOR ALL THE INFO ON THIS RARE 1 OF 12 CLASSIC — $18,500The car started life off as a new 1986 Firebird trans am and made to look like the Ferrari 308 gts and named it the MACHIAVELLI , fully modified in 1986 by Henderson Motor Works of Key Biscayne, Florida. This 80’s coupe IS NOT A KIT CAR it is 1 of 12 made in 1986 because Ferrari ended up suing the MACHIAVELLI company because of its likeness and use of original Ferrari 308 gt’s parts , is powered by a 5.0L LB9 Tuned-Port V-8 , it sends that power to the rear wheels through a four speed automatic transmission, it’s finished in red with RECARO Camel leather interior, it rides on aftermarket aluminum wheels that resemble Ferrari from the day, the Ferrari-style body makes it look like a 1986 308 GTS, the interior is in GREAT condition ,in fact the carpet still has the factory plastic covering it , it has the original Delco UM6 AM/FM/Cassette stereo, it has removable glass roof panels, it weighs around 3,300 lbs, and has 96,000 orig. miles.
THE CAR SAT INSIDE A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED BUILDING FOR 35 YEARS !!!!
This very rare car is located in Lowell, Massachusetts for $18,500
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Passenger seat pic. can anyone explain the logic of the seat belt being looped around its guide? does not seem like a very good idea. enlighten me.
Belt tensioner is probably shot, this keeps the belt from flapping in the wind
Okay, give me a minute, I need to grab my toupe’e. Taking my trophy wife in for bolt on boobs.
That rear wing though… ermagherd…
-Stan (who has a thing for Faux-rarris…)
PS Did Ferrari actually sue Machiavelli for copying, or just really, really bad taste? Actually, if you point the camera *just right*, and wiggle it a little bit when taking shots, it really DOES look very much like a 308… at least on this site it does:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/is-the-machiavelli-max-the-most-convincing-ferrari-replica-you-ve-ever-seen-162080.html#agal_13
Take that horrid rear wing off and it actually doesn’t look half bad… like the pix in your link. Not the best conversion I’ve seen, but looks pretty sharp for what it is, especially from the back.