1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replicated Out of a Chevrolet Optra / Daewoo Lacetti

The clone-happy tuners of India's BigDaddyCustoms, which we came to know from their efforts to replicate the Range Rover Evoque SUV with a Tata-based model, have struck again.

Their next automotive victim is the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 'Eleanor' from the 2000 Hollywood blockbuster 'Gone in 60 Seconds' starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.

The Indian custom shop chose the domestic market Chevrolet Optra, also known as the Chevrolet and Daewoo Lacetti, as a base for the creation of the half-sized Eleanor Mustang with the overconfident sticker at the back that reads 'Muscle Always Wins'.

BigDaddyCustoms doesn't mention any other details about the replica.

If the Indian clone of the Eleanor piqued your interest, you may want to check some of the replicas of the 1967 Shelby GT500 movie car that we have posted over the years including the Smart ForTwo-, Toyota Supra- and Toyota MR2 - based models.

Story References: BigDaddyCustoms via Indianautosblog

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Canadian Chevrolet Aveo wants to be a Jaguar Vanden Plas when it Grows Up

We understand that in the minds of most drivers, some car brands and models are more respected and have a higher cache than others, but trying to pose as something you are clearly not usually doesn't end well.

Like this first generation Chevrolet Aveo, itself a rebadged Daewoo Kalos, which was snagged on camera by Carscoop reader 'MiniMania' in Canada.

Our reader tells us: "A Chevrolet Aveo disguised into a Jaguar…. Love its attention to detail… Look at the decoration on its door."

We can’t see what's going inside, but on the outside, the car sports a miniature version of Jaguar's chrome grille and leaping-cat hood ornament, the XF's side blades and several badges on the tail gate including a Vanden Plas moniker (once a brand of its own, but in later years used as a designation for higher-end models).

Thanks to 'MiniMania' for sending in the photos!

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Mercedes GL-Faced Ford Excursion will Make Limo Drivers "Twice as Much" as Regular Model

As many premium and wannabe-premium carmakers found out over the years, the BMW roundel and Mercedes-Benz star are highly regarded by consumers, even if their products aren't always the best.

A limousine maker is a firm believer of the power that lies behind the Mercedes-Benz logo, despite the fact that the car has nothing to do with the Stuttgart-based company's models.

Case in point, a Ford Excursion stretch limo dressed on the outside like a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, and we quote the seller:

"With this conversion you will make twice as much per hour than with your regular Excursion. Everybody knows the Excursion runs for ever best SUV Limo never breaks down, it just looks old style. This conversion gives you the opportunity to be on to of your competition!"

If these words touched your heart, you can buy the Mercedes-Benz-faced Ford Excursion for $29,500 on eBay.

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China's Shanxi Victory Likes Itself Some Cadillac, Perhaps too Much…

Cadillac's "Art and Science" design language, which was first seen on a production model on the original CTS sedan before it spread to the entire range, has been a success bringing the Detroit company's styling to the 21st century.

In fact, it's so successful that an unknown state-run company from China named Shanxi Victory has decided to borrow the crispy and edgy design forms and apply them to its vehicle lineup.

There's a 0.00001 percent chance we're wrong, but we're willing to take the risk and say that Shanxi Victory did not ask General Motors' permission to use Cadillac's fascia...

And mind you, it's not only the Cadillac Escalade lookalike pickup truck found by the folks from CarNewsChina on Sohu, as we dug a bit further and discovered two more minivans that like what the wreath and crest brand has done to its 21st century models.

Scroll down for more images and then head over to the comments to voice your thoughts.

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Indian Tuner Transforms Tata Safari Into the Moon Rover Evoque Replica

Custom shops from India rarely make headlines, but when they do, they definitely do it in style (or so to speak…).

After last year's Toyota Corolla-based Ferrari F430 supercar clone from ExecutiveModcarTrends, we are now blessed with a Tata Safari that has been converted into a Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

Coincidentally (or not), Tata Motors is the owner of Land Rover having acquired the British automaker along with Jaguar from the Ford Group in 2008.

The builder of this replica, which is named Moon Rover Evoque [sic], is a New Delhi-based company called BigDaddyCustoms.

The transformation entails a thorough exterior makeover with several new components such as the Evoque-like fascia complete with LED daytime running lamps, a new rear-end with quad tailpipes and custom pain(t) job that mimics the Range Rover's styling theme, while the interior is dressed in red leather.

Story References: BigDaddyCustoms via Indiasautosblog

Hat tip to Kaustubh S.!

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Audi-Faced, BMW-Tailed Subaru Impreza WRX is the Definition of Overkill

We understand that some Subaru owners love their cars for what they are and hate them for what they look like and will try anything to improve their styling, but the British owner of 1993 Impreza WRX may have taken things a bit too far.

The modified Japanese sports car's front end is borrowed from a mid-to-late 2000s Audi A4 (B7) while the rear was made out of bits and pieces from the previous generation, Bangle-styled BMW 5-Series (codenamed E60).

The blistered wheel arches, side skirts, black alloy wheels and the shaved doors are bonus parts.

The mix-and-match of German car components is certainly not to everyone's taste, but we are going to agree with the crew from GTSpirit that everything seems to have been crafted on prudently from a styling point of view.

The Japanese-German WRX is said to be powered by Subaru's 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four with 240-ponnies.

The car is listed for auction on eBay UK with the highest bid the last time we checked being £4,000 or about US$6,200 / €5,100.

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It Came from eBay Hell: Oldsmobile Poses as a 1990s Bentley Continental R

The Continental R coupe built from 1991 to 2003 in just a little over 1,200 units is one of the last old school Bentleys before the Volkswagen Group took over shop and began churning out a contemporary lineup of models like the Continental series.

And as with any other rare and moderately expensive vehicle these days, the Continental R has its own fan club of…doppelgangers.

The one you see pictured here is based on a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe, which we admit, is a rather unusual choice for a donor car, whichever way you see it.

The styling transformation is rather extensive covering both the exterior and interior of the car, with the tuner keeping the stock Oldsmobile's 3.1-liter V6 engine linked to an automatic transmission.

The Continental R coupe clone is currently listed for sale on eBay with 16 people having placed a bid at the time we posted this article, with the highest one reaching $6,360.

If you scroll down, you will find a full gallery of images and a video of a one 'Erl' driving the car.

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New Mitsubishi Proudia and Dignity Luxury Sedans Are…Proud Doppelgangers of the Infiniti M

After many years of absence from the luxury car segment, Mitsubishi is going to give it another try with the revival of the Proudia and Dignity nameplates for the Japanese market.

In a strange turn of fate, whereas the original Proudia and Dignity from the late 1990s - early 2000s were designed by Mitsubishi and co-manufactured with Hyundai, which marketed its own versions as the rebadged Centennial and Equus (not to be confused with the current Equus), Mitsubishi is now the one to rebrand the two models.

To explain, the Proudia and the more luxurious, long wheelbase Dignity are the products of an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) deal with the Nissan Group and are based on the Infiniti M and the China-market Infiniti M35hL LWB (sold as the new Nissan Cima in Japan) respectively.

Mitsubishi tells us that the Proudia moniker is coined from the English words "Proud" and "Diamond" (referring to the company's logo), while the Dignity took its name from "the English word that describes the peerless grandeur and majestic stateliness of the model".

Mitsubishi's contributions to the Proudia and Dignity are limited to the waterfall front grille, the re-sculptured front bumper and the addition of badges.

The Proudia is offered with a choice of two engines, a 3.7-liter V6 delivering 328hp (333PS) in RWD or AWD versions and a 2.5-liter V6 with 222hp (225PS) exclusively with RWD.

The longer wheelbase (+ 5.9-inches or 150mm) and more luxuriously equipped Dignity features the same gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain found on the Infiniti M35h, which links a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine to an electric motor for a total system output of 359hp (364PS).

Both models are available for order in Japan with prices ranging from 4,022,000 Yen (US$50,400 or €40,700) for the Proudia 250 to 8,400,000 Yen (US$105,200 or €85,000) for the single-trim level Dignity VIP.

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This Rolls-Royced Nissan Patrol is So Wrong in So Many Levels…

When you think about Dubai and cars, you probably imagine exotic Italian coupes and über-luxurious limousines and crossovers, some of which possibly draped in shiny chrome foil wraps and tuned by some of Europe's most unapologetic tuning brands.

But there's also another side to Dubai's automotive scene, one less ritzy but equally gaudy at times.

Found for sale on the Dubai Dubizzle site by the crew from GT Spirit, is this pretentious creation trying to apply the looks of a Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine to the body of a 1993 Nissan Patrol SUV.

Moving away from the front we also see that this replica of sorts also gets widened wheel arches, possibly suicide doors (or at least that's what the re-positioning of the rear door handles suggest), a set of tail lamps from a Range Rover Sport and a fully wood-trimmed interior.

The "Rolls-Royced" Nissan Patrol is listed for sale at AED 58,000, which is equal to about US$15,800 or €12,600 at the current exchange rates.

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After the BMW X1, China's Zhonghua Looks for Inspiration in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta

We cannot keep up with all the production and concept models that are coming out from China and the design of which either bluntly copies or is directly inspired from a Western automaker's model(s).

Just recently, a Chinese website caught hold of some pictures of a new prototype model from Brilliance Auto's Zhonghua brand.

You don't have to live in Milan to see that the design of the unnamed compact crossover takes its inspiration from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, be that in the shape of the lights, the hidden rear door handles or the sharp lines on the front and rear fenders.

Zhonghua is one of many brands under the umbrella of Brilliance Auto, which operates a car-making joint venture with BMW and a minibus-making joint venture with Toyota.

The relationship with BMW, however, hasn't deterred Zhonghua from producing a compact SUV like the V5, which borrows its exterior styling from the BMW X1 and its interior design from Audi.

Prototype Photo Credits: Sohu Auto

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Poor Man's Lamborghini Reventon Filmed Cruising Down the Road…

Unless one of the 20 owners of the real $2 million Lamborghini Reventon had a change of heart regarding the Italian exotic's mid opaque grey color, something we humorously doubt, this is a replica based on an unknown donor car.

Nevertheless, it was special enough for one camera phone equipped by-stander to waste 11 seconds to film it passing by. Feel free to do the same by watching the video right after the jump.

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