Lightning McQueen has been interpreted onto a wide variety of cars in the past, including a Mazda RX-8 and Toyota GT86 but now the popular film icon has been morphed from a 916 Alfa Romeo GTV in Italy. We see the resemblance although we’re not sure if the copyright lawyers at Disney will be all too happy about it.
First appearing on the film circuit in 2006, the animated film which featured voices of actors such as Owen Wilson and revered car-nut Paul Newman became a beloved choice of future petrolheads. As such, the 16 years since its release has ushered in a generation of youth (and not-so-youth) who instantly recognise the fictional icon.
In more recent years, private owners with a creative inkling and finances to match their vision have converted their own cars into replicas of Lightning McQueen, although legal teams from Disney have often sent out notices to desist from the fun. Now is the turn for the Italian version of the icon, after a 916 Alfa Romeo GTV underwent some surgery to achieve the appearance of the film star.
The GTV, which seems to have started life out as a Twin Spark equipped with the 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated motor has now been replicated, detail by detail to emulate Lightning McQueen adorned in Piston Cup livery. While the resemblance and linework of the Italian coupe to the fictional icon is uncanny, especially from a side view, the owner Gaetano Sturniolo had to put the 916 Alfa Romeo GTV under the knife to achieve the desired result.
This includes some minor front end bodywork which sealed the Scudetto (grille) on the composite bonnet as well as removing some of the vents from the bumper, leaving only the radiator vent that naturally beholds the silhouette of a smiling Lightning McQueen. Sturniolo states that the reduction of air circulation into the front end has not compromised its cooling ability.
He further states that: “The goal is to make children and young people happy, especially the less fortunate, giving them the chance to get on board to enter the world of Cars!” Here is hoping that the legal teams of Disney can see it this way too.
