Tuesday 26th January 2010

Custom Calibra Apes Aston DB9

Thai tuners give Opel's two-door repmobile a makeover

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We can't all afford an Aston Martin, but that doesn't necessarily mean the dream of ownership has to stop there. It didn't for one enthusiast in Thailand who was sufficiently motivated by the desire to drive a DB9 that he built himself a replica.

Apparently using a spare Opel Calibra as his starting point, the conversion looks sufficiently convincing to fox the average passer-by if not the average PHer.

At least compared to some of the 'build your own babe magnet' projects we've seen, we've got to rate this one pretty highly. The interior still needs a bit of work to match the craftsmenship we expect from the boys and girls at Gaydon, perhaps, but it's a start!

Thanks to Polish website Motofilm for exposing the project to global scrutiny.

[10JH]

Looks a little stunted...

[Jduncan78963]

Why??

The interior looks about right.

[Senna s1979]

For what its cost to do all that you could buy a half decent sports car. And if your fooled by that then you really know nothing about cars!
Look at the rear lights for god's sake.

[Woodstar]

Will it be more reliable than the real thing i wonder

[andyps]

I don't really understand why, but have a lot of admiration for someone who can do that. If only they knew a designer and could come up with something original instead. The other trouble is that at the end of the day it is still a Vauxhall Cavalier in drag in drag.

[Zod]

Jduncan78963 said:

Why??

The interior looks about right.

You need smileys for comments like that to avoid your comment being taken at face value by some around here....

[senna007]

"one enthusiast in Thailand who was sufficiently motivated by the desire to drive a DB9 that he built himself a replica..............the conversion looks sufficiently convincing to fox the average passer-by if not the average PHer."

I doubt it would fox the average PHer into thinking its a DB9 as its a replica of the DBS.

[s_jon]

andyps said:

I don't really understand why, but have a lot of admiration for someone who can do that. If only they knew a designer and could come up with something original instead. The other trouble is that at the end of the day it is still a Vauxhall Cavalier in drag in drag.

in thailand import tax etc would make a second hand Aston that would sell for around £20K ish in the UK cost over £100K once imported

cheers

[MrTappets]

senna007 said:

"one enthusiast in Thailand who was sufficiently motivated by the desire to drive a DB9 that he built himself a replica..............the conversion looks sufficiently convincing to fox the average passer-by if not the average PHer."

I doubt it would fox the average PHer into thinking its a DB9 as its a replica of the DBS.

Ha ha, they didn't fox me! I saw those front air vents at the first glance!

[Woodstar]

MrTappets said:

senna007 said:

"one enthusiast in Thailand who was sufficiently motivated by the desire to drive a DB9 that he built himself a replica..............the conversion looks sufficiently convincing to fox the average passer-by if not the average PHer."

I doubt it would fox the average PHer into thinking its a DB9 as its a replica of the DBS.

Ha ha, they didn't fox me! I saw those front air vents at the first glance!

..not before those hellish aftermarket alloys though surely!

[nickpan]

The theory of the fake....

If you know - you spot the fake and the fool driving it. If you don't know..You don't care and therefore pay no attention to the fool.

What is the point.

[Arun_D]

If Aston wanted to make a sub-AMV8 model.....I'd probably expect it to not look far off that anyway (in a "all are cars vaguely look the same, just differ in size" manner)

Edited by Arun_D on Tuesday 26th January 12:44

[soad]

More importantly, will it sound like the Aston? What engine is he actually using?

[havoc]

I saw an MR2 "355" in the supermarket car-park the other day. From 50 yards (at dusk) it looked convincing enough to be worth another look. From 20 yards it just looked wrong!

...and I can see the Italians perspective (see PH article from last year about Italian police confiscating and destroying 'fakes' of all kinds) - these ARE just another form of knock-off goods, aren't they?!? Very poor fakes, admittedly, but fakes nonetheless...

[Paper Lawyer]

havoc said:

...and I can see the Italians perspective (see PH article from last year about Italian police confiscating and destroying 'fakes' of all kinds) - these ARE just another form of knock-off goods, aren't they?!? Very poor fakes, admittedly, but fakes nonetheless...

If the kits were being sold to customers then, yes, I'd agree. But if it is one-off personal creation then I disagree, Martin. It does look naff though

[wab172uk]

He's not made a bad fist of it. Can't help thinking a legal representive of Aston Martin might be paying him a visit.

[moskvich427]

Waste of a good Calibra. Hopefully, no V6s were harms in the making of this monstrosity...

[DrGP]

Agree with the others - why bother doing a knock off. I think it looks good, and you can see in the background he already has some new seats to go in. Just a shame he is wasting time doing a fake - why not create something original if you have the dedication and time and if it is any good he could sell it.

[Blue Meanie]

Well, good luck to the fellows, if you ask me. It may look funny, and be a bit crap, but as long as the guy is having fun, and enjoying building something himself, what's the harm?

[leon9191]

I saw a KTM X-Bow replica in a Magazine the other day, it is being developed as a kit and is based on the obvious choice of a Ford Mondeo, makes this thing look like a beauty.

The blokes at Aston should offer this guy a job, if he made them pannels by hand, dont suppose he had access to a DB9 to make moulds.