- 08 Feb 10, 16:23#184234
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
The bizarre hybrid took the pair five years and cost more than £150,000 to put together.
They took the chassis and engine of a speedy Ferrari F355 Berlinetta and combined it with the body of a 12bhp Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette bread-van.
To finish it off they gave the 2CV's ageing white body a glossy Ferrari red paint job.
And they stuck the iconic prancing pony logo on the front above the famous Citroen double chevron emblem.
The result of their efforts is a striking vehicle that can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in less than five seconds.
The car was put together by Nicolo Lamberti, 35, and Milko Dalla Costa, 51, who run the Italian Nimik rally team.
Mr Lamberti said they found the Ferrari at an "interesting price" and decided to modify it.
They had the idea to combine it with the 2CV after seeing it abandoned in the back of a garage in Turate, in Northern Italy.
He said: "We decided to purchase the Ferrari even though we didn't know what we were going to do with it.
"But because of our crazy minds we were confident that an idea would soon come to us.
"Then we saw the 2CV and Mr Dalla Costa, who is a Citroen collector, had the idea of combining its body shell with the Ferrari.
"The 2CV hardly cost anything because it was in such bad condition. It had no engine and all that was left was the body shell."
The team at Nimik modified and widened the 2CV's body, and added a giant air vent to either side.
They mounted the Ferrari's huge V8 engine in the middle of the rear wheel drive car, which still features the 2CV's familiar circular headlights.
Beneath the giant wheel arches the car proudly boasts the original alloy wheels from the Ferrari.
Inside, the car's two seats are decked out in plush black leather and there is even the polished silver gear stick from the F355.
Mr Lamberti added: "It took us so long to build so at the moment we are just enjoying it and showing it off to people who are passionate about this kind of work.
"But if we meet someone willing to offer us an interesting price then we could sell it."
The Ferrari F355 Berlinetta was built from 1994 until 1999 when it was replaced by the 360 model.
The Citroen 2CV was originally designed as an economy car for peasants to drive to the market in France in 1948.
Between 1949, when the first model was available, and 1990, more than five million 2CV cars and vans were produced by the French manufacturer.
“ An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one orders a beer. The second orders half a beer. The third, a quarter of a beer. The bartender says “You’re all idiots”, and pours two beers.
Best sounding V12 ever (well, in a road car anyway). Not to mention the looks of the original.
I know they were trying to make something a bit different, but there are times when it's not such a good idea...