YouTuber finds two 'abandoned' Ferrari F40s on Google Maps, but they're just replicas

A Spanish automotive YouTuber, known online as Georgesmithgood, embarked on a quest fueled by a Google Maps discovery: two seemingly abandoned Ferrari F40s. The iconic sports car, presented in 1987 as the last model personally approved by founder Enzo Ferrari, sparked immediate excitement. However, the reality proved to be a series of letdowns.

The first supposed F40 was located in a remote shed near the Portuguese border, surrounded by other discarded vehicles. While the silhouette was unmistakable, closer inspection revealed it to be a crude replica built on the chassis of a Pontiac Fiero. This American car from the 1980s is a popular base for "kit car" projects aiming to mimic expensive supercars, but the illusion quickly dissolved upon arrival.

Undeterred, Georgesmithgood pursued a second lead further south, near Valencia. The satellite imagery again suggested a derelict F40. Yet, this discovery also led to a disappointing realization: it too was a replica based on the Pontiac Fiero. The owner of this second fake F40 even offered to sell it for approximately $35,000 (32,000 euros).

The phenomenon of F40 replicas, particularly those using the Pontiac Fiero, is so common that it has become a running joke among car enthusiasts. The Fiero's mid-engine layout, appropriate size, and proportions make it an ideal, albeit inexpensive, platform for aspiring replica builders. Some enthusiasts even go as far as modifying more valuable cars, like the Acura NSX, to create these F40 look-alikes, a practice some liken to altering an original Rolex to resemble another luxury watch.