There is a saying that “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck,” but would you say the same thing about a car? If it looks like a Bugatti and you can drive it around town, is that enough? Take a look at the photo of the car below:
This car, the spitting image of a Bugatti, is currently for sale with the asking price of $79,000.
If that seems like a lot of money, realize that the list price for a new Bugatti Veyron is anywhere between $1.7 and $2.7 million, depending on the trim. And since there are only 300 Bugatti Veyrons in existence, your chances of landing a brand new one are slim.
So, what is the catch? The Bugatti for sale on eBay is a replica car (sometimes known as a kit car, or a rebody car), hand-made by Mike Duff in Florida. The car is actually a modified 2002 Mercury Cougar two-door sport coupe. From the description:
The body is made of composite and fiberglass with a one inch tubular steel frame glassed into it. This one inch tube frame is welded to the donor car which makes the entire thing solid as a rock! … The car has a nice reliable 2.5 L V6 motor and Ice cold AC. … There are custom wheels and tires installed, 20 inch staggered. This car drives very smooth with the 20 inch wheels. I get so many questions asking how fast is the car. My best reply is fast enough. It is not a rocket ship, If you are a motor head you can install a larger motor, but I do not do that kind of work. … The seats are even modified stock cougar parts as well, Just everything has been recovered in a real leather, Leather seats, Leather headliner, Leather trim on the carpet, Leather Dash.
When I spoke with Mike about why he would go about creating a car like this, his answer was surprisingly touching and interesting. Mike has been working in different shops on more than nine different styles of rebody cars. Before the “Cougatti” (his term), Mike worked on a Porsche Carrera GT, and most recently a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. While the Lamborghini kit car was great, Mike had an addition to his family shortly after finishing the car: a very little girl. With no way to fit his growing family into the two-seater, he decided to work on something that would be more accommodating.
Enter the 2002 Mercury Cougar. The Cougar has the same wheelbase as the Bugatti, but, most importantly, it has a backseat. Mike was not concerned with recreating the large engine power of the Bugatti “because, of course, it is illegal to go that fast anyway.” [Editor's note: The Bugatti is fast. Last year the Veyron SuperSport hit a new production car land speed record of 267 mph.]. He fabricated the rear window of the Cougar to take the place of the engine compartment of the Bugatti, allowing room for rear seats.
I asked him why he works so hard on these cars, which look so much like the genuine article he even gets followed around by folks who want to take pictures. His answer:
Yes, this was a lot of work and I do this because it is my passion. It is very hard to sell the car for enough money to make a great profit, however I treat the project like a savings account. I build each one of my projects to eventually sell and start another. The attention this Cougatti is getting has really blown me away. I have met so many unique and fun people because everyone knows someone who has some sort of cool car or collection and they all want to just get the scoop if possible by talking to the driver. So many people tell me they never thought they would get to see a Bugatti, when I inform them they still have not they have a hard time believing it.
As for his plans for the future, he hopes to move away from doing replica cars and start creating his own car styles. Mike says, “I want it to be a very futuristic car that looks like it could not be built because I love a challenge.”
Who knows? Early concept car-maker Harley Earl changed the way we think about cars forever. Perhaps Mike can do the same.
Do they ship directly to your house?
It would be kool, until you get burnt in a race by pretty much any car on the road.
@Mike: You would need to contact the seller directly to get an answer to that question. His contact details are on the listing page.
…But, it’s FAKE.
and Good luck trying to sell it, when you get bored of it.
RE: It would be kool, until you get burnt in a race by pretty much any car on the road.
You’re right, but if you got 80,000 grand to dump on a car then you probably got another 10-20 grand to make the car fast. Personaly I think this guy should just pay to have a nice motor put in the car and sell it for a bit more.
cool
Coooooool lookin car. I envy your ambition and creative ability. Very few people are in your league. Keep up the greeeaaaatttt work!!!!!!!! Not only do you enjoy your hobby, but others as well. It’s like being an artist.
Obviously you wouldnt race it unless you are that big of an idiot lol
It appears to be nice craftsmanship to be sure, but personally, I think the Bugatti is ugly. The is another replica on eBay, item 200630473486, that is in the same price range, but has 1200 h.p. However, it has no back seat.
Well like someone said in a previous post “IF YOU HAVE $80,00″.
I guess its something that takes a special person to purchase. Not a good investment, but it does look pretty cool.
Personally, I would rather have a car that could bring some return on the investment as well as burn some ass on the street.
I’m thinking a nice Porche 911, Vette, or a nice used Ferrari.
80 grand can go a long way!! Why throw in a “PIT CAR”. Yep, I said pit (as in money pit).
For that kind of money I can buy a REAL Corvette that’s REAL fast, and has a REAL resale value.
A bolt on kit using a ford cougar as a donor for $80,000.00!!!!!!!!!!! I would rather buy
a used lambourghini for a whole lot less and still maintain a high trade in value.
Anybody who buy’s this kit is suffering from amnesia!!!!!!!!!
I must admit that if I had that kind of money,I would not spend it on this either.There is no way in sam hill that this vehicle would be a good investment….so speak those of us poor folks that dream of hot “exotics”.LOL!..this being said…I think it’s remarkable.This dude has done some unbelievable work!
I am positive that he will find a buyer from the top 3% eventually.Why wouldn’t he? This vehicle is beautiful!
Do chicks know if this is the “real thing”?
Oh lookie, it’s the internet where everyone with a worthless opinion trashes anyone who has put in heart and dedication to something they are passionate about. NO one really cares if you think it’s a good value, or what kind of race you’ll win or loose with it. Try simply realizing that someone put their heart and soul into something and that in it’s self is a worthy cause.
Mr. Duff, thanks for being a creator and visionary, we need to celebrate people like you. Good luck on your next project.
What makes a real Bugatti valuable and exotic is the power and internal components not the fiberglass outside. He missed the entire concept of a Bugatti he should have used something cheaper than a cougar if he left the weak six cylinder in that heavy car people buy real Bugatti’s because of the performance not the looks. He might sell it easier if he puts a better motor in it not to mention suspension and everything else. Who wants to buy a Cougar I think worst possible choice for a car to start with.
ok i understand not likeing the car cause its not fast, but drop a couple grand to get a nice V8, and theres only 300 of those bugatti’s. I personally think this is awesome!!!
I admire his hard work. It’s obvious he put a lot of work into it. I’m not a fan of replicas in most cases, however this is more of a work of art.
@JP – thanks for the kind words for Mr. Duff. I agree his work is to be celebrated!
i would have to say, its a hard sell, but the quality is there. i wouldnt have guessed it started as a cougar, looks more like an Audi R8 platform, or maybe a TT. Whoever said v8, forget that a nice supra motor would swap in nice keep it light and have plenty of power to make anyone believe it really is a bugatti. That is for sure one well built ride.
80k for that is a joke. spend it on a used ferrari or lambo. or newer porsche. i wouldnt pay 8k for that car. 5k i would, and give it to my son
“people buy real Bugatti’s because of the performance not the looks”
People who can afford Bugatti or who buy $50000 swiss watches or Vertu phones don’t care about perfomance or internal components or whatever. It’s a status symbol and that’s it.
great job on this car it’s a real challenge to do this and many people would love to have the talent to pull this off.i have a third generation 1994 mazda rx7 that is sitting in my garage has not been driven in two years all original i keep thinking about selling but love looking at it.i have had people ask what kind of car is it i bet when driving a vette no one ask’s about it because you see them all over the place just a common car that anyone can own.keep up your work and build one that you design try using a mazda twin turbo rotary it kick’s butt on vettes and is a good strong long lasting engine with decent gas mileage
I love the replica! I’m an insurance agent and I see luxury accidents all the time! I bet half of the exotic cars you see on the road are clones! Insurance on those cars are a fortune! So I understand why people turn to making replicas! But for a replica of a million dollar car I say its very nice looking! But the price is a little steep unless you added a v10 or v12 with turbo and it had 800-1200 hp! A reasonable price would be like 45-$50,000 but that’s just me! He put a lot of work into it so I know what he means trying to get his self out there to making more cars! Good job! But we need more pics lol!
This goes to show how the name of an item can make the price.
10-20k for a enormous motor and its very close to being as good as 1.7-2.7m…
completely leather!!
Is a real Bugatti expensive simply because of how rare it is?…
If this were the case why wouldn’t every car company make one super car and call it quits, then wait and hope they hit the “lottery” to say.
daaaaaaang!!! competition red two tone black this things a cougar
lifes a garden dig it ! keep on keepin on lol ……
I agree with the person who admires Mike’s work, it is so easy to be hyper critical over somebodies work… I bet the “naysayers” have never created a thing…. Don’t be so mean spirited! Mike did this for himself… you do not have to buy it! you probably couldn’t even if you wanted to! So back up and give the guy a break! Very nice work Mike.
come on a 2.5 v6? the bugattis have like 12 cylinders. cool look a like though.
What am I not understanding? This man did something that NOBODY on here could do in their wildest dreams. Why are people saying negative things? Jealousy?? He isn’t selling is as a race car. He is selling it as a replica (body wise). I think it is amazing!! My fiance’ absolutely loves the Veyrons and if I had 80k I’d buy it for him. Lord knows we’ll never have 2 million to spend on one! You can put whatever motor in it that you like. If this man had done that, he’d be selling it for a lot more!
A 30 second search of the web shows turn key Veyron clones for $24-50K, $24k getting a HO V-8 not a 170 HP V-6. What makes this one so special to ask such a premium? The rule of thumb is you never get back what you put in to a car, & tens of thousands put in to a Cougar is money not well spent.
To JP… +1
Mike did an awsome job on that car. He took an ordinary cougar and turned it into one heck of a car. Sure it does goes as fast as a real one but it looks EXACTLY like the real thing. If I had $80,000, I would buy it knowing that only 300 exist. If you look at a lot of other replicas, they don’t look half as real at all!!!!! You people have to give this guy a lot of credit. None of us here could probably do it as good as that. Nice job Mike. Hope you make more replicas.
P.S. – Whoever has a negative comment should keep it to themselves.
@Bob. Sure you could buy a “Real” Corvette that does go Real Fast and has a “Real” resale value. Your “Real”Corvette is made from REAL PLASTIC. It does actually go Real fast. But as for the “Real” resale value, not all that great. (better than a cougar and alot of lower end cars but…..)
This man is a True Artist and this is his medium.
For all of you putting him or this car down, what have you ever accomplished artistically that can be compared to this?? and be worth $80,000??
just say the man did a great job even if you wouldn’t buy it because it’s not fast enough for you. Grow up.