In 2017, Lazareth, a car customization and prototyping company from France, successfully transformed a Mini Moke into an amphibious vehicle capable of traversing both land and water. Ludovic Lazareth and his team, however, were not short of creative ideas for extravagant upgrades to this iconic British utility vehicle. Their latest creation is a unique Moke featuring a Maserati V8 engine sourced from Ferrari.
Lazareth
Known as the Mini V8 M, this Moke conceals a 4.7-liter V8 engine from Maserati. With an output of 454 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, this engine is likely borrowed from a post-2012 GranTurismo or GranCabrio, both powered by 4.7-liter versions of the Ferrari F136 V8. Due to the original Moke’s lightweight construction, adding this engine and its transmission only raises the Mini V8 M’s weight to 1,874 pounds, providing it with a more impressive power-to-weight ratio than an actual Ferrari. Surprisingly, it boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 484 horsepower per ton, outshining the Ferrari F8 Tributo’s 449 horses per ton.
Although the Mini may lack the technology, electronic aids, and wide tires necessary for accelerative performance like the F8 Tributo, one can’t deny that its convertible top, British heritage, and compact dimensions promise a more thrilling driving experience than many contemporary supercars. An adventurous buyer will surely seize the opportunity as Lazareth has decided to offer this vehicle for sale, with the detailed pricing available on request.
Regular folks, on the other hand, can appreciate the Mini V8 M by watching Lazareth’s comedic take on the classic French short film C’était un rendez-vous. This parody, resembling a scene of a Ferrari 275 GTB racing through Paris in a rush to meet someone, likely involves a few traffic violations, given that the Mini V8 M isn’t street-legal. However, unlike the original film, the engine sound in Lazareth’s creation is authentic, not dubbed over footage of a Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9.
h/t: Engine Swap Depot
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