- The fabled Honda NSX served as a base for a Ferrari 360 replica in Switzerland.
- The owner wanted a reliable Prancing Horse lookalike without the high maintenance costs.
- This one-of-a-kind creation is currently up for sale, priced similarly to genuine Ferraris.
There are few cars from the 1990s that manage to blend supercar performance with everyday usability quite like the original Honda NSX. Sold under the Acura badge in North America, the NSX quickly built a reputation as one of the most balanced and desirable machines of its era, praised not only for its speed and precision handling but also for its near-bulletproof reliability. It’s the kind of car that purists and collectors alike still seek out.
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At launch, the press often labeled it a “poor man’s Ferrari.” The comparison made sense on paper: a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, supercar-level capabilities, and a price tag that didn’t require offshore accounts to justify. Of course, most people understood that nickname as a figure of speech – except, apparently, for one Swiss owner who decided to take the idea literally.
The Ferrari That Isn’t
This particular NSX that we found for sale is the result of that mission. According to the listing, the goal wasn’t simply to make a cheaper Ferrari lookalike. Instead, the owner set out to build a Ferrari alternative that wouldn’t leave them stranded on the side of the road or drained from eye-watering maintenance bills. It had to be reliable enough for daily driving, easy on the wallet, match the performance of its Italian counterpart, and sound just as good doing it.
The Honda NSX was the only vehicle that checked all those boxes. Its mid-engine layout and dimensions closely mirrored those of the Ferrari 360 Modena, making it the ideal candidate. While today a manual NSX might fetch more than a Ferrari 360 on the used market, things looked quite different 18 years ago when this conversion took place.
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As mind-baffling as the idea sounds to enthusiasts, the execution is surprisingly well done. The builder didn’t rely solely on imitation parts; original Ferrari components like the mirror caps and lighting units were sourced to keep things authentic. The bodywork has been entirely reshaped to resemble the 360, though the NSX’s unmistakable greenhouse still peeks through. It rides on a set of original Work Meister S1 alloy wheels (17 inches up front, 18 inches in the back) that complement the reworked exterior.
Inside, the cabin has been overhauled with an eye for detail. Fine leather and red Alcantara wrap the seats, while Ferrari’s prancing horse emblem adorns the seatbacks. Titanium door sills carry genuine Ferrari plates, and other touches include a Momo steering wheel, aftermarket infotainment upgrades, and carbon-style accents on the center console and instrument cluster.
Under The Skin
Dubbed the “Ferrari 361,” the car’s name is a nod to its inspiration and conveniently matches the last three digits of the NSX’s chassis number (00T000361). While it may lack the firepower of a Ferrari V8, its naturally aspirated 3.0-liter VTEC V6 has been tuned to a respectable 296 horsepower (221 kW / 300 PS). Power is sent to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox, and a stainless steel valve exhaust system has been fitted to ensure the soundtrack keeps up appearances.
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According to the listing on Mobile, the NSX-turned-Ferrari has covered 98,562 kilometers (about 61,244 miles) and remains in “top condition,” having just undergone a major service. It’s stayed with the same owner for the past 18 years and comes complete with the original Swiss registration documents and Honda service booklet.
More Expensive Than A Real Ferrari?
The asking price for the “Ferrari NSX” is €75,000 ($81,300). A quick search shows that several Ferrari 360 Modena and Spider models are listed between €70,000 and €90,000 ($76,000–$97,000), putting this NSX squarely in the same price range as the real thing. However, it’s safe to assume it’ll be considerably cheaper to keep running compared to a genuine supercar from Maranello. Ironically, despite the extensive makeover, this replica is actually one of the most affordable manual NSXs currently on the market in Europe.
For prospective buyers, the vehicle is located in Switzerland, though a handover in Germany can also be arranged. The replica seller, who reportedly owns a collection of 17 cars, is open to trade-ins, whether that’s another sports car or even a pickup.
