Sam Foose-built Alfa Romeo Carabo clone for sale

If Helen of Troy's face launched a thousand ships, Marcello Gandini's Alfa Romeo Carabo concept from 1968 most certainly launched two decades' worth of wedgy, mid-engine machines, a number of them penned by Gandini himself during his tenure at Bertone.

This car, however, is not that car. This one was built in California, by legendary car builder (and father of Chip) Sam Foose back in 1972. Bertone, understandably, was hesitant to part with the Alfa Tipo 33-based one-off, so Foose was commissioned to construct an open-roof replica of the car on De Tomaso Pantera mechanicals. Yes, that's a walloping Ford 351 Cleveland standing in for the original car's jewel-like 2.0-liter V8.

The Clonerabo has floated around a bit, having last been spotted on eBay in 2010. It's now up for grabs at an eminently reasonable $55,000. And unless you're Murilee Martin, it's a damn sight more desirable than a Pontiac Fiero-based Lamborghini Countach. But would you take it over the Cadillac NART Zagato?

By Davey G. Johnson