I transformed £2,000 Ford Ka into ‘Ferrari' with racing-style seats & digital dashboard – now it's SOARED in value
Businessman Daniel dos Santos, from São Paulo, Brazil, bought the tired hatchback at auction for just BRL 16,000 (around £2,123) and set out to turn the humble motor into his dream machine.
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After hundreds of hours of painstaking graft, Daniel proudly revealed his unique creation, a bizarre mash-up of budget car and high-end flair.
But he's taken care to avoid upsetting the real Ferrari makers, whose legal teams are known for cracking down on copycats.
Instead of badging his car with the famous Ferrari logo, Daniel came up with a tongue-in-cheek twist.
He's dubbed the vehicle the 'Ka-rrari' — styled in the same distinctive font — and swapped out the iconic prancing horse for a grinning donkey.
The outside of the car now features dramatic Lamborghini -style scissor doors, while inside he's fitted sleek racing-style leather seats and a modern digital dashboard.
Despite the flashy upgrades, the engine under the bonnet remains the original one-litre Ford unit, pushing out a modest 72bhp — a far cry from the 199mph Ferrari SF90 XX he took inspiration from.
Still, Daniel reckons the unique build has sent the car's value soaring, claiming it's now worth around BRL 190,000 (around £25,194).
He said: 'The idea is to transform an ugly car into a beautiful one.'
Daniel isn't the only one breathing new life into tired Fords.
Iconic 1965 Ford Racer that starred in Top Gear is so rare only two in the world exist - but could be yours at auction
Another car enthusiast in the UK who revamped his rusting 2004 Ford Fiesta with luxury leather interiors, LED lighting, and a booming sound system — claiming it turned heads everywhere he went.
Another car lover proudly showed off his Ford Focus that he transformed into a replica rally car — complete with a bold wrap, racing stripes, and a custom spoiler.
He admitted the car cost more to modify than it was originally worth, but said, 'it puts a smile on people's faces, and that's priceless.'
Meanwhile, a DIY mechanic on a tight budget managed to craft a convincing Aston Martin replica out of an old Ford Mondeo, using second-hand parts and plenty of ingenuity — proving that with vision and patience, even a family saloon can become a head-turner.
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