Author Topic: Hand-Made Lamborghini Built In Basement (Read 17807 times)

billf · « **on:** October 20, 2008, 09:34:17 pm »

This guy, Ken, hand built a replica of a Lamborghini Countach in his basement. Yes, you heard me right, in his basement. I met this guy once through a friend of a friend back in 1991 at a wedding. At the time he was well into the planning stages and had answers for every question thrown his way about how he was going to do it. The guy has done an incredible and meticulous job on it. He built the body and frame by hand. This friend of the friend kept me sort of in the loop all these years, by occasionally emailing pictures he got as the guy took them. It still amazing to me to see these pictures and now know its done and out of the basement.

This link is to Ken's website with pictures and some details about the build.

This link is to a forum that actually has more photos than are on Ken's website

DaveMMR · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:07:40 pm »

That's pretty sick! But did he not have a garage or something where it would have been easier to get it out?

billf · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:20:02 pm »

Nope. If my recollection is correct (remember I met the guy 17 years ago!) he wanted it "close" by as an incentive to keep working on it. He figured if it was out in the garage he wouldn't go out there and work on it during the winter - too cold. By having it in the basement, he could literally open the door to basement and see the car sitting there giving him an incentive.

Mauzy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2008, 11:15:45 pm »

So...how does he get it out to drive it? or does he?

billf · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2008, 11:21:26 pm »

Quote from: Mauzy on October 20, 2008, 11:15:45 pm

So...how does he get it out to drive it? or does he?

Did you not see the pictures where the car is now out of the basement? He had a contractor come in, take out a section of the basement wall, build an earthen ramp and dragged the car up to ground level.

Mauzy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2008, 11:25:52 pm »

Now if I had seen those pictures would I ask that question?

My bad.

At least he was able to get it out. My luck would have it that I would spend my life building then find out I couldn't get the damn thing out. I guess you don't take up a project like that without thinking of such things though. I'm already not sure If I can get my games out of the basement now that the walls are 6 inches thicker at the base of the stairs now that the drywall is done...

Blanka · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:09:22 am »

A few weeks ago I also found a guy who made himself an Murcielago.

billf · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:17:07 am »

Built from scratch? Linky to pics?

pinballwizard79 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:50:45 am »

He should start a BYOL forum

TOK · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2008, 06:07:05 am »

I used to have a video of a guy that build a small Ferrari (like 1/8 scale) but everything worked on it. It took him 10 years to build. I'm off to work now, but I'll see if I can find the link.

Something you can actually drive is a lot more rewarding though. Thanks for the link. Thats the coolest thing I've seen in months.

shardian · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2008, 08:14:59 am »

Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.

And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.

billf · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2008, 08:26:29 am »

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 08:14:59 am

Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.

And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.

Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."

shardian · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2008, 08:32:55 am »

Quote from: billf on October 21, 2008, 08:26:29 am

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 08:14:59 am
Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.

And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.

Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."

Those poor ---daisies--- that invest hundreds of dollars in custom cabinets - there are thousands of lonely, molested, abused, empty cabinets out there needing a home. They could have got one of those cheap/free for their MAME cab.

And geez, with the money and time saved by not building, he could have gotten TWO or more of those cabinets.

billf · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2008, 08:35:17 am »

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 08:32:55 am

Quote from: billf on October 21, 2008, 08:26:29 am
Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 08:14:59 am
Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.

And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.

Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."

Those poor ---daisies--- that invest hundreds of dollars in custom cabinets - there are thousands of lonely, molested, abused, empty cabinets out there needing a home. They could have got one of those cheap/free for their MAME cab.

And geez, with the money and time saved by not building, he could have gotten TWO or more of those cabinets.

ChadTower · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2008, 09:02:16 am »

Can't see the site... did he fabricate his own parts other than the frame or use OEM parts?

billf · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2008, 09:12:31 am »

He hand-built, from scratch the body and frame. He purchased some items that helped with the dimensions (ie. windshield, fiberglass front bumper and wheel arches). The body was formed on a wooden buck - basically wooden cross-sections of the car.

ChadTower · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2008, 09:16:01 am »

Funky. Serious fabrication skills. Makes me wonder why he would build a replica of an existing car instead of building a badass custom of his own design. What about the drive train and electronics?

billf · « **Reply #17 on:** October 21, 2008, 09:27:17 am »

A quote from his website:

Quote

A scratch built all aluminum body Countach with a Boss 351 V8 mated to a ZF-5 speed transaxle

Electronics? Not sure.

Who knows, another 17 years and maybe he will have his own custom design built!

ChadTower · « **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2008, 09:59:03 am »

Body of aluminum... yow. I have always wondered how aluminum would stand up in a real crash. Seems awfully soft when faced with something like a telephone pole.

billf · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2008, 10:08:21 am »

True, but I assume the real strength comes from the frame. Of course, any metal will seem soft when a telephone pole and speed are combined!

ChadTower · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2008, 10:13:29 am »

Did a bit of a google... saw an article that says aluminum cars can be safer. Not because of the material strength but because it can be designed larger at the same weight and thus have more crumple area, it crumples more predictably, and a lighter car handles better and thus will be in less accidents.

Not sure how they can say a lighter car handles better when all of the other design advantages are based on making it bigger and weighing the same.

TOK · « **Reply #21 on:** October 21, 2008, 12:51:01 pm »

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 08:14:59 am

Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.

And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.

Miami Vice cars were a Ferrari Spyder and then a white Ferrari Testarossa (unless you're just referring to something else you saw on the show). The real Countach is aluminum body over a space frame, so this is in a completely different league than a fiberglass kit.

shardian · « **Reply #22 on:** October 21, 2008, 12:56:16 pm »

Well white Ferarri then.

TOK · « **Reply #23 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:13:21 pm »

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 12:56:16 pm

Well white Ferarri then.

May Enzo's ghost spare you this halloween.

TOK · « **Reply #24 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:16:40 pm »

Don't want to jack the thread, but here is the scale Ferrari I referred to. Anyone who appreciates the hand built Lambo will also probably like this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA[/youtube]

SavannahLion · « **Reply #25 on:** October 21, 2008, 01:32:42 pm »

Quote from: TOK on October 21, 2008, 01:16:40 pm

Don't want to jack the thread, but here is the scale Ferrari I referred to. Anyone who appreciates the hand built Lambo will also probably like this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA[/youtube]

~~I thought you were referring to the other Ferrari.~~ That model ---smurfing--- rocks. The 1:3 scale 312PB. According to another article, nearly everything except the gearbox* is fabbed with his own hands. The guy even studied rubber er... science(?) and fabricated his own tires.

*The 1:3 scale gearbox was manufactured by Ferrari because the guy didn't have the facilities to machine the metal required for the high stresses.

I used to build scale models, but nothing I have ever built even comes remotely close to what any of these guys have done. It makes my stuff looks like home made wood blocks made with an off kilter table saw.

edit: struck out garbage. added italics. Per my stupidity at relying on crappy work PC's.

billf · « **Reply #26 on:** October 21, 2008, 02:49:20 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on October 21, 2008, 02:48:06 pm

This isn't a 'hand made' Lamborghini. It's a bunch of hand made panels and frame bolted to an already made engine and power train. More like a 'hand made' kit car, if you ask me.

shardian · « **Reply #27 on:** October 21, 2008, 02:58:21 pm »

That 1/3 scale 100% replica is BAD ASS!!!

I can't help but think the Lambo custom is nothing compared to it.

I'm in the same boat as Jim (just not on the same belligerent aft section of said boat), and my cost/time Vs. finished product ratio evaluation makes it not as impressive as it could be.

You know, its alot like PixelHugger's Mission Control cab. Even when its done, it won't be near as impressive as it could have been.

shardian · « **Reply #28 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:09:18 pm »

The main thing that bugs me about the car is the ghetto interior. I would assume that if someone were to spend 10 years of their life working on this, that they would not have a pop riveted interior and ricer seats.

billf · « **Reply #29 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:19:15 pm »

Wow, some of you guys are tough critics. My guess (and really its only a guess) is that the interior is that way because he plans to bring it out to a track and "race" it. Not against other cars, but against the clock. The friend I mention in my original post, has a Corvette Z06 that is customized for racing at that track. He even has a video camera mount in the 'vette to video laps at that track.

Level42 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:20:56 pm »

A Lamborghini with a US engine ? HAH !

Seriously, I can appreciate all the work he put into it but it will NEVER be the same thing without an original engine in there.

shardian · « **Reply #31 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:24:38 pm »

Yeah, basically he spent 10 years forming a few custom body panels.

I would fully expect my wife to divorce ---my bottom--- if I had that bad of a mid-life crisis.

"Honey, I'm gonna build a Lamborghini in the basement - of which there is no means to remove said vehicle".

"okay, but how will you get it out?"

"I will pay $10k to have a contractor remove a wall, excavate to the basement, then rebuild it all."

Yeah, I bet that would go over real well.

ChadTower · « **Reply #32 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:28:27 pm »

"Then you'd damn sure better paint that thing hot pink and let me drive it."

That's my wife's answer.

billf · « **Reply #33 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:30:48 pm »

Well, he is married and has three kids I believe. It's his hobby and I'm pretty sure she was on board right up front - she'd pretty much have to be. And I know he had a plan to get it out from the start or he wouldn't have done it this way.

Or maybe his wife loves him more than your wives love you.

ChadTower · « **Reply #34 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:33:16 pm »

Or maybe she knows the marriage is better off with him in the basement most nights than it is with him out of the house. I know a few guys like that.

mountain · « **Reply #35 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:37:09 pm »

Quote from: shardian on October 21, 2008, 03:09:18 pm

The main thing that bugs me about the car is the ghetto interior. I would assume that if someone were to spend 10 years of their life working on this, that they would not have a pop riveted interior and ricer seats.

How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto?

ChadTower · « **Reply #36 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:37:36 pm »

That only works when the story is something like "dude, I just met a guy who is my friend's second cousin who felt up Olivia Munn in the tenth grade."

billf · « **Reply #37 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:39:14 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on October 21, 2008, 03:33:38 pm

Quote from: billf on October 21, 2008, 03:30:48 pm
Well, he is married and has three kids I believe. It's his hobby and I'm pretty sure she was on board right up front - she'd pretty much have to be. And I know he had a plan to get it out from the start or he wouldn't have done it this way.

Or maybe his wife loves him more than your wives love you.

Sorry you didn't get the hero-worship-friend-of-a-friend-of-an-awesome-friend-street-cred you obviously expected.

Oh yeah PBJ that's exactly why I posted this.

Go spout your inane drivel elsewhere.

shardian · « **Reply #38 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:57:20 pm »

Quote from: mountain on October 21, 2008, 03:37:09 pm

How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto?

Dude, I've seen redneck ghetto. That interior is definitely redneck ghetto.

Compton has "the hood", we have "the holler".

Level42 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 21, 2008, 04:04:46 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 21, 2008, 03:33:16 pm

Or maybe she knows the marriage is better off with him in the basement most nights than it is with him out of the house. I know a few guys like that.

Hey Chad, leaf me out of this !

Damn, I don't have a basement


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